Three local students finish as semifinalists in annual performing arts competition

The Music Center announced 100 of Southern California’s most talented high school students as semifinalists in The Music Center’s 34^th annual “Spotlight” program, a free nationally acclaimed performing arts competition, scholarship and artistic development  program for teens. 

One of the finalists — Tiffany Hsu — is from Arcadia and attends Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus. Two others — Ryan Liddy and Caroline Patterson — are from Pasadena

A TMC Arts program, “Spotlight” provides Southern California teens with expert advice, coaching, auditions and mastery classes taught by professional artists and arts administrators. The program recognizes and rewards all participants throughout the competition with a range of benefits such as individual feedback from industry professionals, performance opportunities and more than $100,000 in cash awards through three rounds of auditions. 

This year, more than 1,300 teens representing more than 256 schools, 181 cities and 8 counties auditioned for the prestigious program. Students compete in seven categories: acting, classical voice, non-classical voice, ballet, dance, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental. All applicants receive written feedback from distinguished panels of judges following each audition round to help students improve and gain knowledge in their particular performance discipline. 

An important part of The Music Center’s fundamental support for arts learning, the program provides students the opportunity to develop their performance abilities, receive valuable college preparedness skills and gain confidence to pursue their dreams in the performing arts. Through a supportive environment, students also develop important life skills, including building self‐esteem, preparation and perseverance that benefit them beyond the stage. 

“After nearly two years of online programming and distanced arts learning, The Music Center is thrilled to bring the ‘Spotlight’ performance and in-person arts experiences back to our campus. ‘Spotlight’ offers participants multiple opportunities for artistic development that help these aspiring young  performers hone their craft and guide their aspirations, whether that be on stage or in the boardroom,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “We want to ensure young people have a supportive and nurturing environment and performance experiences that allow them to develop their talents and determine their path. ‘Spotlight’ offers the means for them to do that.” 

“Despite the limitations we all faced during the pandemic, The Music Center’s ‘Spotlight’ persevered. We were fortunate to be able to continue the program as a completely free competition, and the results are simply spectacular, with so many young people from across the Southland applying and inspiring all of us with their enthusiasm, talent and passion for the arts,” added Jeri Gaile, Fredric Roberts Director of the “Spotlight” program. “While ‘Spotlight’is very much a competition, we also focus on developing each student’s artistic skills and nurturing their growth. Our goal is to support each applicant in every way possible, be that providing detailed notes from a judge on how to  better their performance or showing them alternative careers in the arts beyond the stage.” 

“Spotlight” semifinalists have the rare opportunity to attend a special mastery class in their discipline with highly regarded artists, who share their expertise on performance technique, training and professional life. Experts provide students with highly valuable feedback on their performances, offering them a rich learning experience. 

Each semifinalist will audition again before a new panel of judges, who will then select the top two finalist performers in each category for a total of 14 Grand Prize Finalists. Judges will also name an Honorable Mention in each category. The Grand Prize Finalists will perform in “The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale Performance”on June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre. 

To help students interested in applying to the program, The Music Center created “The Spotlight Academy” as an episodic series of online videos and tutorials. Designed for young artists, parents and educators, the series features 15 webisodes that focus on subjects related to applying for theprogram as well as advice for anyone considering a career in the arts, both on or offstage. The videos provide a deep dive into the program’s seven categories and discusses curated topics featuring alumni and experts in the field, including “Superstore” actress Carla Renata, opera singer Suzanna Guzmán and New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck.

For more information about The Music Center’s Spotlight program, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight or join the conversation on facebook.com/MusicCenterSpotlight/.

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