Spotlight 2020 Coverage Report

The Music Center’s Virtual Spotlight Grand Finale

May 30, 2020

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Music Center Spotlight Program ... Opportunities to receive virtuoso guidance and scholarships '

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Students entering the serrnfina! of the Spotlight program are being taught in the Master Qass.

Wi nners this year. [Provided by MuSic Center] Parents want to give children more talented in art, such as piano, art, and dance, more opportunities. However, it is not easy to find due to limited resources.

There is a program to discover excellent students near Korean town. It is a 'Spotlight' program operated by the LA County Music Center. The Music Center, which is in charge of various performances for the residents of Los Angeles County, auditioned high school students in Southern California since 1988, selected students with outstanding skills, delivered a total of $ 100,000 scholarships, and invited experts for free training. The state runs a 'Spotlight' program. So far, only 49,000 students have gone through this program. This year, 1,400 students from 260 schools in Southern California applied for this program, and 130 of them were selected as semi-finals. During the summer, they take classes taught at the music center and develop their skills.

The Spotlight program is a great opportunity for students with hidden talents to challenge. Above all, students who pass the audition not only have expert lessons, but also have the opportunity to perform at the music center Amanson Theater. The program details how to apply and who can apply.

► Eligibility: Classical musical instruments including theater, ballet, piano, vocal music, jazz instruments, non-traditional dance and non-vocal music. ► Qualification: You must be attending high school in Southern California. You may enroll in a public or private school, home school or online school. The applicant's residence address must be in Los Angeles, Orange County, or Ventura, Santa Barborough, Conn, San Diego, Riverside, or San Bernardino County. ► How to apply: The application process is a little tricky. First, students who pass an online audition by accepting a video of the applicant's performance or performance will take a live audition for the second time. Applicants can apply for multiple fields. If you are doing dance and piano and want to apply for both, you can fill out and submit each application. Application is free.

However, there is only one field that can reach the final. If you have reached the semifinals in all of the fields you have applied to, you have to choose which field to apply for.

-1st Video Audition: Students who applied for audition by video will be judged by judges of famous experts from Southern California. They send out a written testimonial and review of each candidate's video audition. Therefore, video audition is a great opportunity for applicants to find out their skills.

In addition, the Spotlight program guides applicants and parents to get the help they need, and provides information on college applications and contest auditions.

-2nd Live Audition: 1st passers, students who applied to last year to the semi-finals, and students who took Honorable Mentions are included as judges. They skip the first audition and automatically receive the second audition. Therefore, if you reach the semi-finals this year, you will have the opportunity to apply again next year even if you fail the final judging.

F or the second audition, select the date and time and watch the audition in front of the judges. A

They also receive coaches before and after the audition. The goal of the Spotlight program is that these experiences can help students improve their skills.

-Semi-final: Up to 16 players will be selected for each category. They receive scholarships of$ 300 each. You can also listen to an expert-led master class until the final audition is held. Semi-final auditions have a reception for students and families. In this position, finalists in each field and winners of honorable mention awards will be announced. Finalists receive a$ 5,000 scholarship. The Honorable Mention Award winner is also awarded a$ 1,000 scholarship.

-Final: The final winner will perform at the Marmanson Theater. The winner can invite both family and friends to this seat. Music center officials and those who have participated as judges also come. The final winner's performance this year will be held on May 30th. ► Note: If you climb to the final, you must attend the final rehearsal and performance. From this year, only 400 applications will be accepted for each field. Applications are accepted from June and close in October. Therefore, it is a good idea to make a video for the first audition during the summer vacation and submit it as soon as the application is open. ► Website: www.musiccenter.org/education/spotlight/spotlight ► Contact: spotlight@musiccenter.org

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Redlands singer becomes one of 113 semifinalists in The Music Center's Spotlight Mar 19, 2020

MOST POPULAR Gihanna Kelly, a singer from Redlands who attends the Encore High School for the Arts in Riverside, is one of 113 high school students named as semifinalists in The Music Center's 32nd annual Spotlight program.

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Spotlight has transformed the Jives of 49,000 students across Southern California by being more than just a

• county sued over mask requirement and ban on in-person religious gatherings

competition,An important part of The Music Center's fundamental support for arts education, the arts

• County issues new order on face masks

• RHS graduate launched construction company, then moved to Oregon

training program provides students the opportunity to develop their perfonnance abilities, learn about

• An abundant supply of oranges. avocados at Collinsworth Farm

• At the end, there may be one glimmer of local hope

Since the nationally acclaimed scholarship and arts training program for teens was established in 1988,

careers in arts management and receive valuable college preparedness and workforce readiness skills to pursue their dreams in the perfonning arts.

This year, nearly 1,400 teens representing more than 260 schools, 198 cities and eight counties auditioned for the prestigious program.

• county break:; down coronavirus cases including 1 o in Redlands

• OMV closes field offK:es but will process• COVlD-19 snuffs out July Fourth vehicle registration renewal and title f.--eworks transfers online • Positive tests for COVID-19 in Redlands • Update: Fourteen COVID-19 cases and climbs to 26 one death reported at Plymouth Village

The Music Center named this years' semifinalists in each of seven categories-acting, ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental "Spotlight is a prime example of The Music Center's commitment to deepen the cultural lives of all, in this case empowering young, aspiring artists with the skills and tools to explore their potential," said Rachel Moore president and CBO of The Music Center, "This yearlong journey has the added benefit of helping these students develop critical life skills that can set them on a path to success, whether or not they pursue a career in the arts."

According to Jeri Gaile, director of The Music Center's Spotlight program, "Spotlight is so much more than just a scholarship program, it's an opportunity for young perfonners to discover their full potential and push themselves to continue to achieve their goals. What makes this program so unique is not only the amazing talent that goes through the Spotlight process, but also the individuals who discover a new passion for the arts off stage or behind the scenes."

Semifinalists receive a rare opportunity to attend a special master class in their genre with highly regarded artists, who share their expertise on perfonnance technique, training and professional life. Bxperts provide students with highly valuable feedback on their perfonnances, offering them a rich learning experience. Bach semifinalist will audition again before a new panel of judges, who will then select the top two finalist perfonners 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 perfonn at The Music Center's Ahmanson Theatre in the Spotlight Grand Finale Perfonnance on May 30, 2020 The Music Center's Spotlight program awards more than $100,000 in cash scholarships annually, Both Grand Prize Finalists in each category receive $5,000 scholarships, with one Honorable Mention in each category receiving $1,000. Semifinalists each receive $300. The Music Center also celebrates five students in each category with the Merit Award, which acknowledges students who inspire the judges by their commitment and dedication to their art fonn. Spotlight Merit Award recipients each receive $100. This year, The Music Center is also partnering with Interlachen Center for the Arts to award all Spotlight semifinalists scholarship dollars to lnterlochen's summer camp and Arts Academy for the 2020- 2021 academic year.All participants who were selected to participate in the preliminary second round of Spotlight auditions also received scholarship dollars from Jnterlochen to use toward one of the organization's three- or six-week programs

LATEST E-EDITION Redlands Community News To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left.

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Music Center Awards Scholarships

The Music C enter named two Laguna Beach residents among 113 Southern C alifornia high school students as semifinalists in its 32nd annual Spotlight program. Spotlight is a free nationally acdaimed scholarship and arts training program for teens, the Music C enter said in a statement.

Laguna residents J.J, Lybbert, a student at California Connections Academy will compete in the Jazz Instrumental category and Tatiana Cloobec:k, a student at St, Margaret's Episcopal High School is competing in the Non-Classical Voice category.

The arts training program gives students the opportunity to develop their performance abilities, learn about careers in arts management and receive valuable college preparedness and workforce readiness skills. This year 1,400 students auditioned in seven categories­ acting, ballet, non-classical dance, dassical voice, n o n -dassical voice, classical instrumental and Jazz instrumental.

Semifinalists will attend a master dass in their genre and get feedback on their performances.

They then audition again before a new panel of judges, who will 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 at The Music C enter's Ahmanson Theatre in the Spotlight Grand Finale Performance on May 30.

Both grand prize finalists in each category receive $5,000 scholarships, with one Honorable Mention in each category receiving $1,000. Semifinalists each receive $300, Five students in each category will receive the Merit Award worth $100.

The Music C enter in partnership with Interlachen C enter for the .Arts will award all Spotlight semifinalists scholarships dollars to Interlochen's summer camp and arts academy for the 2020- 2021 academic year. AJI participants in the preliminary second round of Spotlight auditions also received scholarships from Interlachen to use toward one of the organization's three- or six-week programs.

For more information, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight

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� The day coronavirns canceled prom and everything else for an L.A. high school singer Op-Ed: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Dorn understand the protests? What you're seeing is people pushed to the edge

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Mozzaplex, Petil Trois and other restaurants hit with looting, vandalism during protests Estefani lop,,z i.s a juniM at the Los An&eles Counfy High School for the Art!. Before the pandemic, she commuted more than three hour:. from River:.ide to Eut L.A. on a typical day.

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When the sky is still dark with night, Estefani Lopez awakens.

Her mother, Azucena "Susy" Lopez, prepares the day's lunch in the kitchen while Lopez, 17, brushes her teeth in the bathroom and carefully inserts her contacts, her eyes still heavy with sleep. It is Thursday, March 12, one day before.L2.s..Ang00 school officials will announce school shutdowns to slow the spread ofCOVID-19 and a week before Mayor EricGarcetti's Safer at Home order.

On this day, like so many others during the school year from Monday to Thursday, at s:30 a.m. on the dot Lopez and her mother bolt out of their Riverside home and drive 20 miles north to San Bernardino Depot, where Lopez catches the Metrolink to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LA.CHSA) in Los Angeles' Eastside.

It's a 1 ½-hour commute to school, and the train is nearly always prompt, departing exactly at 6:03 a.m. Any minor morning delays at home could cause Lopez to miss the train. And that would mean her mother has to drive more than so miles to drop her off at school on time, then drive another so miles home. In traffic.

So sometimes, Lopez worries. "lEstamos bien de tiempo?" Lopez asks her mother in the car, looking out the window

at the dimming stars. �Are we OK on time?" �si," her mother reassures her sweetly. "Estamosmuy bi.en detiempo. No hay trO.fico." ''Yes. We're doing great on time. There's no traffic."

Lopez is a junior studying music at LACHSA,...a....frn.e_�gh...Kb.QQl that offers rigorous, conservatory-style training to students preparing for careers in dance, theater, music (vocal and instrumental), visual art and cinema1ic arts. �gh....s..rn.o..onufurming arts were shut down by coronavirns wm it derail students' careers-> Four days a week since freshman year, Lopez has set her alarm at s a.m. and rushed out the door to attend the distinguished school on the campus ofCal State L.A., where school starts at B a.m. (On Fridays, classes don't begin until 10 a.m., so she relishes a little extra sleep.)

On a normal day, Lopez gets home from school around 7 p.m. But some days, if she's rehearsing for a performance, she's at school until 6 p.m. And on tech weeks, she doesn't leave campus grounds until 9:30 p.m., arriving home around midnight.

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Before the pandemic, E:;tefani Lo�2 performs durinz a final dress rehearsal of "Amahl and the Nizht Visitors• at Los Anzeles County Hizh School for the Art:. on Novemtler lS, 20m (D11ni11 Mnxwell / Los Anzeles Times)

Every year, about 900 students from more than 90 cities and 40 school districts in L.A.County and beyond audition and submit portfolios for about 150 spots for ninth and 10th graders across all the specialties.

Few students, however, commute as far as Lopez.

Before stepping out into the chill of the March morning, Lopez and her mother pray for health and safety.For frontline workers of the coronavirus. For those who have fallen ill from COVID-19 to recover. And Azucena asks God to take care of her daughter.

"Wherever we go, we pray you're with us," she says in Spanish.

Inside the train, Lopez and LACHSA freshman AydaletRamirez from Banning walk to their usual booth and car, the one that doesn't get too cold in the mornings or too hot in the afternoons, Lopez says. Plus, the others she says, "smell weird."

Lopez has remarkably steady hands. When she doesn't catch up on homework or squeeze in some sleep during the ride, she does her makeup. �It's therapy for me," she says. Glitter is her favorite.

Her eyebrows are always first. ("You're going to see me with some crazy eyebrows," she says laughing, lining her dark brows with a brush. "It's just a warning.") Her eyelids come next. She closes one eye and gently brushes a peach-colored powder on it, talking nostalgically about the 1990s. "I wish I was born in 1998," she says, holding up a small cracked mirror. "My sister listened to a lot ofR&B and that was a good time for that. Those were the good days."

Lopez has long dreamed of being a singer.

At age 7, she started playing the violin. When she was 12, Lopez made it to the final rounds of Telemundo's "La VozKids" and won third place in "Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento" in 2017. This year, Lopez and 19 other UCHSA students were invited to perform .'.1..Sing�y� at the Grammys alongside megastars like Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello and Common. She also won this year's Music Center Spotlight Award in classical voice, a scholarship and an arts training program for Southern California students that comes with a $5,000 reward. Plus, she has a Youiube channel where she posts videos of herself singing (mostly) Spanish songs for her 28,700 subscribers.

"I make my dad really proud because he wanted to be a musician in Mexico," says Lopez, whose father, Joel, abandoned his dream after moving to the United States

from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in 2003.

Just after 7:20 a.m., Lopez steps off the train and hops on a short bus ride that drops her offjust steps away from her high school. If she's lucky, she has a few minutes to spare before classes begin.

First stop: French class.

Then it's musical theater after nutrition, where for the next three hours or so, Lopez and her classmates rehearse for the school's production of"West Side Story." (The original plan was drastically changed after schools dosed because ofthe coronavirus.)

Alondrn Snntos in the role of Mnrin nnd more cnst members of "West Side Stof'/· rehenrse inside Cnroline's Loft at LACHSA before the coronavirus closed the school and online clll5Se5 bez,n. A shorter, prerecorded performllrice of the 5how will 1,unch Mlly 22.

(Je5;,;ica Chen/ Lo5 Anzeles Time,;)

"Can we do homework?" a student asks theater chair Lois Hunter from the bleachers at the start of class. "Because I really need to catch up."

Hunter, stern yet loving, points to him and says: "If you miss one cue, I'm going to call every college you applied to and tell them."

Gathered around a piano inside the theater, music director Cassandra Nickols Gonzalez strikes chords while students warm up their voices, buzzing their lips and meowing octaves. Then, spread out across the theater, they stretch and do planks and jumping jacks to Pharrell Williams' "Happy" and Miley Cyrus' pop hit "Party in the U.S.A." It was shaping up to be a regular day at school, but midway through class a wave of gasps and curse words quietly echoed through the theater: Prom, scheduled for the following day, was canceled. The seniors were devastated, angry and confused.

Lopez was supposed to go to prom too, but she knew she still had next year. "I feel really bad for the seniors," she later says.

Litefani Lo�2. rii!lt, with fellow LACHSA itudenu Drew Harris, left, Alondra Santo!, center. They were rehellrsinz for the "Romeo ,nd Juliet"·inspired piece "Stllr-crossed Love· before the pllndemic forced schools to ciose. (Jessica Chen/ Los Anzeles Times)

Before dismissing students for lunch, Hunter addresses the prom's cancellation and the uncertainties around the production they've worked tirelessly on. "These are rough and different times," she says, �and we have to be there for each other."

Standing near her classroom's doorway, opera teacher Suzanna Guzmiin hands Lopez and her peers disinfectant wipes. No way is the coronavirus getting into her classroom. Guzmiin is dynamic and animated, and she expects the best from her singers. Always.

LACHSA co-director of the perform;ng arts hi£h 1.chool opera company ii Su211nn11 Gu2m;!,n, 11 me220-iopr11no who hu �rfromed around the world. At:>o11e, she performs in Yu1111I Sharon's 2015 o�ra "Hopscotch." (Anne CuS11ck / Los An£eles Times)

"Don't settle for fine," she reminds her students before starting practice for "Star­ CrossedLove," a production that was scheduled for last month. "Be great."

For the next several hours, until 6 p.m., the students do their best, all things considered.

Back on the train,Lopez looks out the window, the sky a vivid pink and orange. On the ride back home, she often fights the urge to nap. She fell asleep on the train once and missed her stop; she won't let it happen again.

When the train arrives, she's tired, but she still has mariachi practice.

Inside Arizona Middle School a few blocks fromLopez's home, practice is already in full swing. Her instructor, "maestro" Antonio Castaiieda, knows to expectLopez's tardiness.

The young singer walks hurriedly to the empty chair on stage, picks up her violin, and starts to play "Aires del Mayab" with her five band mates, two of whom are her siblings. For the next hour, until 9:30 p.m., the six young musicians fill the auditorium with music, their parents sitting idly by, beaming with pride.

By 9:45 p.m.,Lopez is finally home.

But before sitting at the dining table to eat molletes with her family,Lopez changes into her pajamas and can be heard singing in her room.

"Sigue cantando. Todo el di.a Estefani esta cantando," Azucena says with a smile.

"She keeps singing. All day, Estefani sings."

Still, the long days and nights haven't been easy for Lopez. "It's really, really hard," she says. At times she's thought about quitting, about attending a school closer to home.

"I don't know how I've been doing it these past years," she says, laughing nervously.

"There's definitely been a lot of emotional stress. A lot of crying."

But she's pushed through it. Because she knows her hard work will pay off and because she's long dreamed of being a singer. "Honestly, I feel like that school is going to help me a lot in my future," she says confidently.

Of course,Lopez's daily routine came to a grinding halt on March 16 when schools closed their physical doors and classes moved online to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

These days, her alarm goes off at 7:30 a.m. She has breakfast, brushes her hair and teeth, and only puts on mascara if she feels like it.

She has a full day of Zoom classes, and enjoys homemade lunches with her mom and sister. She's still rehearsing for a condensed, virtual version of �west Side Story," which she says is "going relatively well," all things considered.

"We're trying to do our best out of a bad situation," she says, and is excited to see how the alternate production plays out.

After school at 4 p.m., she has more time to do homework and practice her singing.

The mariachi practices and occasional gigs have ceased indefinitely.

But despite the many disappointments brought on by the pandemic,Lopez's confidence has flourished. She's still pursuing her dream of being a mariachi and opera performer, but she's shifted her focus to opera.

"After winning Spotlight, it has really encouraged me to pursue [opera] more," she says. "Prior to Spotlight, I really thought that because I started so late, I wasn't able to

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THE MUSIC CENTER'S 32ND SPOTLIGHT GRAND FINALE TAKES PLACE ONLINE MAY 30TH Posted by Jeff Slayton I May 22, 2020

The Music Center announced that its 32nd SPOTLIGHT GRAND Fl NALE on Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 7:00 pm will feature performances by award-winning Southern California high school students along with SPOTLIGHT ALUMNI Lindsay Mendez, Matthew Rushing, Misty Copeland, and Josh Groban. The difference this year is that due to COVID-19, for the first time ever the presentation will take place virtually. Directing this special production of the Spotlight Grand Finale is Nicole Alexander.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Music Center's youth arts program rose to the challenge and quickly adapted by transitioning to hosting online auditions. Although the 2020 Spotlight Grand Finale cannot take place in one of The Music Center venues, it is committed to honoring the hard work and dedication of these extraordinarily talented students by presenting the performances virtually rather than cancelIing them.

The 2020 featured alumni include Misty Copeland, Principal Dancer for American Ballet Theatre; Lindsay Mendez, Tony Award winning Broadway actress, Matthew Rushing.

Associate Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; and Josh Groban, Grammy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, and actor. The Music Center Spotlight is recognized nationally and has awarded over $3 million in scholarships to over 40,000 high school students. Since its establishment in 1988, the Spotlight Awards has become the launching pad for many now famous artists above and beyond those mentioned above. This years Virtual Grand Finale and Benefit will showcase the talents of the creme de la creme from 14 high school students in the categories of Acting, Dance, Music, and Vocals.

Nearly 1,400 teens representing more than 260 schools, 198 cities and eight California counties auditioned this year; each having the opportunity to attend the Spotlight Academy, "a free day-long series of seminars and workshops led by outstanding professionals and arts educators". The finalists were chosen after they had participated in three rounds of auditions and attended numerous master classes. These classes were taught by leading professionals who provided invaluable one-on-one coaching and feedback that artists require to improve their technical and performance skills.

Meet The Spotlight Grand Prize Finalists - Photos courtesy of The Music Center

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CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US OR SU BSCRI BE1

In addition to extensive mentoring throughout the year-long program, each finalist receives a $5,000 cash scholarship. The Music Center's youth arts program adapted to the 11ew environme11t, transitio11i11g to hosti11g online auditions and providing these aspiri11g students with a global online stage for the program's Grand Finale performance in its commitme11t to ho11ori11g them and celebrating their incredible artistry and dedicatio11.

Other recipients of their Spotlight Award who turned their dream into a reality i11clude Danielle de Niese (Spotlight Classical Voice, 1995) is now a major i11ternatio11al opera star; Adam Lambert (Spotlight, No11-classical voice, 2000) was nomi11ated for a Grammy as a recording artist Miles Mosley (Spotlight Jazz Instrumental, 1998) is an internationally­ acclaimed jazz bassist and vocalist; Michelle Kim (Spotlight Classical l11strumemal, 1990) has become an Assistant Co11certmaster with the New York Philharmonic; a11d Joshua Winograde (Spotlight Classical Voice, 1992), is the Associate Artistic Administrator of the Metropolitan Opera.

You may watch the Spotlight Annual Fi11ale on Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 7:00 pm Pacific Time 011 musicce11ter.org/spotlightfinale and YouTube.com/MusicCenterLA. Written byJeffSlayton for LADC, May 22, 2020.

Feature image: The Music Center Spotlight Finalists - Collage photo courtesy of The Music Ce11ter - Added features by LADC

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Tha11ks to the LA community LADC has been busy during the COVID-19 lockdown!

ABOUTTHE AUTHOR Jeff Slayton

Jeff has had a long and influential career as a dancer, choreographer, a11d educator. Born in Virginia in 1945, Slayton began dancing as a child in order to correct his conditio11 of hip dysplasia. He e11joyed a performance career in New York dancing for Merce Cunni11gham, Viola Farber and others. In 1978 he moved to Long Beach, CA. where began teachi11g at California State University, Long Beach as a part time faculty member. He became a full time faculty member in 1986 and conti11ued to teach at CSU LB until 1999. Jeff Slayton was 011e of the faculty members that helped design the Dance Center at CSU LB as well as develop and implement the BFA. MFA and MA degree programs. While in Long Beach, he formed his own company, Jeff Slayton & Da11cers, that operated from 1978 to 1983. He is also the author of two books, "The Prickly Rose: A Biography of Viola Farber" and "Da11ci11g Toward Sanity". For more information on Jeff Slayton please visit jeffslayton.org

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master classes with world renowned artists, performing arts workshops and more are included in the process, culminating in this, our Grand Finale!ďż˝ To add a bit of starry cool to the affair, there shall be celebrity cameos. Josh Groban and Misty Copeland are both slated to appear, and the happening will be hosted by Lindsay Mendez, a Tony winner (and, indeed, a Spotlight alum, too).

There are 14 finalists in all, which will give at-home viewers a vast range of the performing arts.

And these artists will go on to join a larger legacy, one that includes over three decades of spotlighting superb showmanship in the performing arts.

Are these the actors and singers and musicians you'll be enjoying for decades to come on stages around Los Angeles, the United States, and the world? Count on it.

Enjoy an early look now, so you can say you saw these talented performers way back when.

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The Music Center’s 32nd annual Spotlight Grand Finale

The Music Center’s 32nd annual Spotlight Grand Finale (Spotlight) performance goes virtual for the first time to celebrate the artistic talent and perseverance of Southern California’s most promising teens as they complete their Spotlight journey. Spotlight is a nationally recognized annual arts training and scholarship program that is free to all high school students from Santa Barbara to San Diego. In addition to extensive mentoring throughout the year-long program, each finalist receives a $5,000 cash scholarship. Spotlight is a steppingstone for students to hone their talent and achieve their dreams of a life in the arts. In addition to performances by this year’s finalists, the event will be hosted by Tony Award® winner and Spotlight alum Lindsay Mendez with special appearances from notable Spotlight alumni including Misty Copeland and Josh Groban.

When: • •

Sat, May 30, 2020 7:00 pm — 7:00 pm

Where:

The Music Center 135 N. Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012 More Info: •

https://www.musiccenter.org/spotlightfinale

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https://www.pbssocal.org/events/music-centers-32nd-annual-spotlight-grand-finale/

KATE SPAULDING BALLET DANCER

"I signed up for a ballet class at my local dance studio in first grade (PSPA), unaware that it was the home of world class instructors who trained at some of the most renowned ballet companies in the world.

Ballet turned out to be a great match for me physically and temperamentally. I loved it and I thrived in it. Ballet became my motivation to leave the house, face my fears, and eventually overcome them.

It also gave me a place where I felt valued and successful.”

PV ARTS AND CULTURE

PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NAMED SEMIFINALIST IN THE MUSIC CENTER'S 32ND ANNUAL SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM

Kate at her first NY Finals

"This is my first year competing in Spotlight. (I started the process last year, but had to drop out before the second round due to injury). I love the Spotlight experience! The judges’ feedback is encouraging, specific, and constructive, and it is helpful to have the opportunity to work on their corrections between each round of competition. Between that and the intimate master classes (mine was taught by Mikko Nissinen, the artistic director of the Boston Ballet), it truly feels like more of an educational experience than just a competition."

Kate recently won first place in the senior classical category at the Youth America Grand Prix in Los Angeles. She also won first place in the junior category at this competition in 2018. Based on her first place wins, she was invited to the international finals in New York both years. Kate has also won first place at California Dance Classics and performed in their inaugural gala.

"I am not sure what the future holds. I wish the arts were set up more like athletics, so I could go to college and still pursue a professional career in ballet. However, I know at some point I will need to make a choice. For now, I’m trying to keep both options open. I’m still at Palos Verdes High School (versus homeschooling), trying my best to keep up my grades. No matter what I decide, I’m sure that somehow my life will include ballet." Kate goes on to say, “I want to thank my instructor Vera Ninkovic, of PSPA not only for teaching me the technicalities of ballet and for her wonderful eye for detail, but for believing in me through my ups and downs, pushing me to do my best, and generously, though probably incorrectly, interpreting my emotions as a sign of creative genius."

Spotlight is a scholarship and arts training program, which empowers students by emphasizing preparation, courage, critical thinking and perseverance while providing an invaluable opportunity for students to hone their skills! $100,000 in cash scholarships are awarded each year to students. Personalized feedback, master classes with world renowned artists, performing arts workshops and more!

As Los Angeles’ performing arts center, The Music Center has served millions of patrons for more than five decades and is one of the largest and most respected performing art centers in the nation. With four world-class resident companies and five exceptional venues, we have enjoyed bringing Los Angeles the very best in music, dance, opera and theatre. musiccenter.org

A normal maintenance schedule is about 15 hours a week, but that can go up to 30+ hours a week leading up to competition or performances.

June 2020| PVMAGAZINE | 25

BROADCAST COVERAGE KTLA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; KTLA 5 Morning News at 9am Aired 05/28 (Teaser ran at 9:39 a.m. and the segment ran at 9:44 a.m.)