Each year The Music Center’s Spotlight holds three rounds of auditions for approximately 1,500 Southern California high school applicants to select fourteen finalists to perform on the annual grand finale highlights their talents in acting, singing, ballet, dance, and instrumentals. This free artistic development program provides over $100,000 in scholarships along with valuable professional readiness for the participating teens. Each of the fourteen finalist receives a $5,000 cash scholarship, plus the opportunity to perform in the Finale.
Hosted by GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter, and actor Josh Groban, The Music Center’s 33rd annual Spotlight Grand Finale will air on KCET on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at 8:00 pm (PT), and again on its sister station PBS SoCal on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 7:00 pm (PT). The hour-long program will feature the talents of the finalists from seven categories.
2021 Finalist collage – Top LtoR: Jordan Anderson, Daniel Bae, Emmy Cheung, Megan Colton, Tyler Dorey, Selena Hamilton, Caterine Johnston – Bottom LtoR: Fengyang (William) Ju, Ava Kuntz, Santiago Lopez, and JJ Lybbert, Hannah Nordberg, Mia Schlosser, Natalie Steele – Photo courtesy of TMC
The 2021 finalists include: Acting: Jordan Anderson, 18, Los Angeles County High School and Hannah Nordberg, 16, Campbell Hall. Ballet: Mia Schlosser, 15, Westlake High School and Natalie Steele, 14, JSerra Catholic High School. Dance: Emmy Cheung, 17, Orange County School of the Arts and Selena Hamilton, 16, home schooled. Classical Voice: Catherine Johnston, 17, Orange County School of the Arts and Ava Kuntz, 17, Classical Voice Conservatory at Orange County School of the Arts. Non-Classical Voice: Megan Colton, 17, The Rancho Learning Center and Christian Tyler Dorey, 17, California School of Arts-San Gabriel Valley. Classical Instrumental: Fengyang (William) Ju, 16, Colburn Music Academy and Daniel Bae, 18, iQ Academy. Jazz Instrumental: Santiago Lopez, 18, Los Alamitos High School and JJ Lybbert, 16, Los Angeles High School for the Arts.
The Music Center’s 33rd annual Spotlight Grand Finale – Photo courtesy of TMC
Just a sample of The Music Center’s Spotlight alumni who have gone on to have distinguished careers in the arts include: Misty Copeland (Spotlight Ballet, 1997), Principal Dancer for American Ballet Theatre; Danielle de Niese (Spotlight Classical Voice, 1995), major international opera star; Adam Lambert (Spotlight, Non-classical voice, 2000), Grammy-nominated recording artist; Miles Mosley (Spotlight Jazz Instrumental, 1998), internationally-acclaimed jazz bassist and vocalist; Michelle Kim (Spotlight Classical Instrumental, 1990), Assistant Concertmaster with the New York Philharmonic; and Joshua Winograde (Spotlight Classical Voice, 1992), Senior Director, Artistic Programs of the LA Opera.
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WHAT: Music Center’s 33rd annual Spotlight Grand Finale
WHERE/WHEN: Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. (PT) on KCET and again on Saturday. September 11, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. (PT) on PBS SoCal
For more information about The Music Center’s Spotlight program and to apply, click HERE.
To learn more about The Music Center, click HERE.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: The Music Center’s 33rd annual Spotlight Grand Finale – Photo courtesy of TMC
