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High school students from Southern California interested in the performing arts are invited to apply for the 37th Annual Spotlight competition organized by the Music Center and the Los Angeles Performing Arts Center.

The competition is a longstanding, free, nationally acclaimed competition that awards more than $100,000 in performing arts scholarships and artistic development for students each year. In addition applicants will have the opportunity to take mastery classes taught by professional artists and arts administrators, as well as perform in public performances.

As the West Coast’s leading performing arts destination, The Music Center has provided students with over $2.9 million in scholarships to date. Applying for The Music Center’s Spotlight is free; students of all skill levels are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Monday, October 14, 2024.

The Music Center’s Spotlight is part of the performing arts organization’s commitment to help all students gain outstanding arts learning experiences in their schools and communities.

Application Process:

First Round Auditions: Students submit an online video audition in one or more of the following categories: Acting, Ballet, Dance, Classical Instrumental, Contemporary Instrumental, Classical Voice and Non-Classical Voice. All who apply will receive personalized written feedback from distinguished panels of judges. NOTE: Spotlight Merit, Semifinalists and Honorable Mentions from the previous year will bypass online First Round Auditions and advance automatically to live Second Round Auditions.

Second Round Auditions: Students who advance to this round will audition live before distinguished panels of judges and receive personalized feedback from a panel of industry experts.

Semifinal – Mastery Classes/Auditions: Spotlight judges will invite 16 semifinalists in each category to participate in mastery classes to gain feedback prior to their semifinal auditions. Following the semifinal auditions, The Music Center will announce two Grand Prize finalists and an Honorable Mention in each category. All participating students are invited to observe selected mastery classes.

Grand Finale – Spotlight will conclude with a live Grand Finale evening performance featuring the 14 Grand Prize finalists at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre on Saturday, June 7, 2025. More details to be announced soon!

For more information, including details on how to apply in each category, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight.

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