Local students named grand-prize finalists
The Music Center of Los Angeles recently named several San Diego youths as grand-prize finalists for its 34th annual Spotlight Program.
The students are among 14 grand-prize finalists chosen from more than 1,300 applicants to the program, a free nationally acclaimed performing arts competition, scholarship and artistic development program for teens. Throughout the competition, students are rewarded with benefits that include individual feedback from industry professionals, performance opportunities and more than $100,000 in cash awards through three rounds of auditions.
The 14 Spotlight Grand Prize winners are two finalists in each of seven categories: acting, ballet, dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental. In addition to performing in the finale June 15, each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship.
In San Diego County, the grand prize finalists are: Acting: Michael Davis, 18, Chula Vista, a senior at San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts; and Classical Voice: Lia Zheng, 17, San Diego, a junior at San Diego Canyon Crest Academy. Also, Victoria Curet, 15, San Diego, a student at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, received an honorable mention in the Classical Voice category and a $1,000 scholarship.
“The Music Center’s Spotlight provides Southern California teen artists with the tools and guidance to hone their craft and build a community with whom they can share their passion for the arts. We were so pleased that, after a two-year absence, we are able to bring back many of the in-person Spotlight auditions and workshops where the talent, hard work and perseverance of these 14 amazing finalists could shine,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center, in a statement. “The Spotlight Grand Finale is the last step in the finalists’ journey and a chance to celebrate each teen as they take the stage before a large audience at The Music Center.”
The Spotlight Grand Finale will be at 7 p.m. June 15 at the center’s Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets are available for $5 each. Visit musiccenter.org/spotlight.