Downey student advances in performing arts competition

The Music Center announced that 114 Southern California high school students advanced to become semifinalists in its free performing arts competition, including a student from Downey High School. 

Celine Bautista will compete in the category of non-classical voice in The Music Center’s 36th Annual Spotlight program. The competition is also a scholarship and artistic development program for teens. This year, more than 1,520 teens, representing 265 schools, 177 cities and eight counties, auditioned for the prestigious program.

Spotlight semifinalists will attend a mastery class within their discipline with artists who share their expertise on performance technique, training and professional life. Experts provide students with feedback about their performances, offering the students 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 (two from each category). Judges will also name an Honorable Mention in each category. The Grand Prize Finalists will perform in The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.

“Congratulations to this year’s Spotlight semifinalists for advancing this far! It is encouraging to see so many young people from throughout Southern California apply for this program, which is testament not only to their talent and potential, but also to their courage and dedication to the performing arts,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. 

To help students interested in applying to the Spotlight 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 videos provide a deep dive into the program’s seven categories and discuss curated topics featuring alumni and experts in the field, including New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck, “Superstore” actress Carla Renata, mezzo-soprano opera singer Suzanna Guzmán and more.

For more information about The Music Center’s Spotlight program, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight or follow @musiccenterspotlight on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and @spotlightawards on X.