Welcome to The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall! It is a delight to be in this incredible space to experience performances by the 14 amazingly talented finalists in The Music Center’s Spotlight program. You are in for a treat tonight!
As The Music Center recognizes its 60th year, we are uplifting our history and, at the same time, looking to our future. One of the throughlines in that story is The Music Center’s commitment to programs that nurture young people. When Dorothy Buffum Chandler founded The Music Center in 1964, she promised to provide a path to introduce youth to the performing arts, which remains a priority for us today. Cultivating the creative power of the next generation speaks to the heart of our vision to deepen the cultural lives of all Angelenos. Through educational programs, mentorship opportunities and other programs for students, we are sowing the seeds of artistic passion and possibility in the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s leaders.
The Music Center’s Spotlight program is a prime example of that commitment. Introduced in 1988 as part of a “WinterFest” gala for The Music Center, Spotlight is now a nationally recognized performing arts competition, scholarship and artistic development program, which has transformed tens of thousands of lives.
This year alone, more than 1,520 teens—representing 265 schools, 177 cities and eight counties—auditioned for Spotlight, while hundreds of students have gleaned major benefits from their Spotlight journey, including valuable feedback from numerous professional artists and arts administrators, mastery classes and mentorship, all for free. Over the program’s 36 years, The Music Center has awarded more than $2.8 million in scholarships and transformed the lives of more than 54,000 high school students.
It takes a very large village to make this program a success, including our hardworking staff as well as the many extraordinary professional artists and arts educators, who participate in auditions, provide constructive written feedback to participants, lead mastery classes, judge performances and more. The interactions they have with the students are pivotal, helping these young people refine their craft with professional critique and guidance. We are very grateful for the passion these professionals have for their work and their support for Spotlight.
With each ensuing year, Spotlight expands a special community of young people with common interests, who learn from one another and create connections they will carry with them on their individual journeys. Congratulations to all the participants and to the 14 finalists. We know that no matter where you land, you will enrich the world with your talent and passion for the arts.
Our heartfelt thanks for the generosity of the many donors who support Spotlight. Thank you to lead endowment benefactor and founding chairman of Spotlight Fredric Roberts, Helen and Peter Bing, Edgerton Foundation, Terri and Jerry Kohl, Marie H. Song, The Hearst Foundations and an anonymous donor. You make it possible for these young people to dream big and for all of us to delight in their aspirations.
Enjoy the show!
Warmly,
Rachel S. Moore
