ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN

EDITED FOR TELEVISION. THIS

PROGRAM CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT

MAY DISTURB VIEWERS. VIEWER

DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR

THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY

THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED

BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR

THE ARTS AND THE LOS ANGELES

COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS &

CULTURE.

[CHIMES PLAYING]

[RHYTHMIC TAPPING]

[RHYTHMIC CLINKING]

[RHYTHMIC CLICKING]

BOY: [WHISTLES TUNE]

[CLARINET PLAYING TUNE]

GIRL: ♪ I SEE YOU, SEE YOU

SEE YOU EVERY TIME

AND OH, MY, OH, MY

I LIKE YOUR STYLE

SECOND GIRL: YOU MAKE ME, MAKE

ME, MAKE ME WANNA CRY

BOTH: NOW I BEG TO SEE YOU DANCE

JUST ONE MORE TIME

ALL: LET'S DANCE

BOTH: PUT ON YOUR RED SHOES

AND DANCE THE BLUES

ALL: LET'S DANCE

BOTH: TO THE SONGS THEY'RE

PLAYING ON THE RADIO ♪

[GIRLS VOCALIZING]

GIRL: ♪ AHH

SECOND GIRL: AHH

ALL: AHH, AHH

DANCE FOR ME, DANCE FOR ME

DANCE FOR ME, OH, OH, OH

PUT ON YOUR RED SHOES

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY DO

THE THINGS YOU DO BEFORE

LET'S DANCE

MOVE FOR ME, MOVE FOR ME

MOVE FOR ME, AY, AY, AY

AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE I'LL

MAKE YOU DO IT ALL AGAIN

LET'S DANCE

DANCE FOR ME, DANCE FOR ME

DANCE FOR ME, AH, AH, AH

UNDER THE MOONLIGHT

NEVER SEEN ANYBODY DO THE THINGS

YOU DO BEFORE

LET'S DANCE

MOVE FOR ME, MOVE FOR ME

MOVE FOR ME, AY, AY, AY

WHEN YOU'RE DONE I'LL MAKE YOU

DO IT ALL AGAIN ♪

LINDSAY MENDEZ: HI, EVERYONE.

THE AMAZING YOUNG PERFORMERS YOU

JUST SAW IN THAT AWESOME MASH-UP

ARE GRAND PRIZE FINALISTS IN THE

MUSIC CENTER'S SPOTLIGHT

PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTS EMERGING

YOUNG ARTISTS IN SOUTHERN

CALIFORNIA. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T

KNOW ME, I PLAY SARA CASTILLO ON

THE CBS SERIES "ALL RISE." AND

I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO APPEAR IN

A NUMBER OF BROADWAY AND

OFF-BROADWAY SHOWS SUCH AS

"CAROUSEL," "WICKED," AND "DOG

FIGHT." BUT BEFORE ALL THAT, I

WAS A SPOTLIGHT FINALIST WHEN I

WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL LIKE THE

YOUNG PERFORMERS YOU JUST SAW.

MELINDA SULLIVAN: HI, I'M

MELINDA SULLIVAN, ONE OF THE

FINALISTS FROM "SO YOU THINK YOU

CAN DANCE." DO YOU KNOW WHAT

MISTY COPELAND, ADAM LAMBERT,

JOSH GROBAN, AND I HAVE IN

COMMON? AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,

WE ALL PARTICIPATED IN

SPOTLIGHT. THE MUSIC CENTER'S

SPOTLIGHT IS AN INCREDIBLE,

FREE, YEAR-LONG PROGRAM THAT

PROVIDES COACHING AND FEEDBACK,

TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCE

OPPORTUNITIES, AND BIG BREAKS

FOR STUDENT ARTISTS FROM ALL

AROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. BUT

TO MAKE IT TO THE SPOTLIGHT

STAGE, YOU HAVE TO APPLY. 1,400

STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, WHICH

INCLUDES AUDITIONS IN 7

DIFFERENT PERFORMING ARTS

CATEGORIES. AND FROM THAT, 14

STUDENTS ARE CHOSEN AS GRAND

PRIZE FINALISTS. SO IT'S KIND OF

A BIG DEAL. IN ITS 32 YEARS,

SPOTLIGHT HAS LAUNCHED SOME OF

THE WORLD'S LEADING PERFORMING

ARTISTS. AND WHILE MANY GO ON TO

PROFESSIONAL CAREERS IN THE

ARTS, OTHERS TAKE THE EXPERIENCE

AND DISCIPLINE GAINED TO SUCCEED

IN WHATEVER DREAM THEY FOLLOW.

COLDPLAY: ♪ 'CAUSE IN A SKY

'CAUSE IN A SKY FULL OF STARS

I THINK I SEE YOU ♪

MENDEZ: OK, OUR FIRST PERFORMER

IS MAYA ALVAREZ-COYNE, A GRAND

PRIZE FINALIST IN THE

NON-CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY.

MAYA ALVAREZ-COYNE: I STARTED

DANCING AT THE AGE OF TWO. AND

TO BE HONEST, I DON'T REMEMBER A

SINGLE THING. BUT AROUND THE AGE

OF 5 WHEN I STARTED IRISH

DANCING, I INSTANTLY FELL IN

LOVE WITH IT. I'VE CHOREOGRAPHED

ALL MY PIECES. I LOVE BEING ABLE

TO CHOREOGRAPH 'CAUSE I'M ABLE

TO INCORPORATE ALL THE DIFFERENT

STYLES OF DANCE THAT I TRAIN IN

WITH IRISH DANCING. SPOTLIGHT

HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH AS AN

ARTIST AND HAS REALLY HELPED ME

GROW. IT HAS TAUGHT ME ABOUT

TENACITY, AND IT WILL ALWAYS

HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY

HEART.

C&C MUSIC FACTORY: ♪ EVERYBODY

DANCE NOW

EVERYBODY DANCE NOW

EVERYBODY DANCE NOW ♪

MENDEZ: THAT WAS AWESOME. OK.

BEFORE YOU SEE OUR NEXT

PERFORMERS, ONE THING YOU WON'T

SEE ARE MUSICIANS ACCOMPANYING

THEM. THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE

STAYING SAFE AND PLAYING AT

HOME. SO ALL THE INSTRUMENTAL

MUSIC ACCOMPANYING THE

PERFORMANCES WERE RECORDED BY

OUR INCREDIBLE ORCHESTRA, EACH

PLAYING THEIR INDIVIDUAL PARTS

IN THEIR HOMES AND ALL BROUGHT

TOGETHER BY OUR MUSICAL DIRECTOR

JAMEY TATE. OK, NOW I WOULD LIKE

TO INTRODUCE SINGER AMELIA

AGUILAR, A GRAND PRIZE FINALIST

IN NON-CLASSICAL VOICE, AND

GUITARIST KAI BURNS, A GRAND

PRIZE FINALIST IN JAZZ

INSTRUMENTAL.

AMELIA AGUILAR: I'VE BEEN

SINGING SINCE BEFORE I COULD

EVEN FORM SENTENCES.

[SQUEALS]

SOMETHING REALLY QUIRKY ABOUT ME

IS THAT I CAN DO PRETTY GOOD

VOCAL IMPRESSIONS.

[AS BRITNEY SPEARS] ♪ MY

LONELINESS IS KILLING ME ♪

THE BEST THING ABOUT SPOTLIGHT

IS JUST HOW ENCOURAGING EVERYONE

IS, AND IT'S JUST BEEN VERY

HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT.

["SOMEONE GETS HURT" PLAYING]

♪ YES, I LOOK PERFECT

ICE QUEEN, THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE

IT'S WHAT THEY ALL

EXPECT FROM ME

BUT IT'S ALL SHOW

FACE IT, YOU USED ME

YOU SAW THE SEXY CLOTHES

MY SUPERMODEL POSE

WHAT DID YOU KNOW?

WAS I A GAME TO YOU?

WAS I A WAY TO BE COOL?

I TRULY CARED

WAS I THE FOOL?

IT'S FINE FOR YOU

IT'S FINE TO FLIRT

IT'S FINE

TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT

TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT

FEEL MY HEART BEATING?

I'M JUST LIKE HER OR YOU

PEOPLE FORGET I'M HUMAN TOO

YES, THEY DO THAT

THIS IS PERFORMANCE

THIS IS ALL SELF-DEFENSE

I THOUGHT YOU HAD THE SENSE

TO SEE THROUGH THAT

WAS I TOO PROUD WITH YOU?

WAS I TOO COLD AND FORBIDDING?

THEN YOU CHOSE HER OVER ME

ARE YOU KIDDING?

POOR LITTLE ME

ALL TRAPPED IN THIS

FABULOUS SHOW

YOU COULD SET ME FREE

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING, GO

IT'S FINE FOR YOU

IT'S FINE TO FLIRT

AND GOD, YOU'RE HOT

WHY DO YOU EVEN WEAR A SHIRT?

IT'S FINE

DAMN, YOU'RE FINE

AND IT'S FINE

TILL SOMEONE GETS

TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT

TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT ♪

KAI BURNS: I'VE BEEN PLAYING

GUITAR SINCE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD

BECAUSE I SAW MY FRIEND PLAYING

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY

COOL. I THINK SOMETHING I LIKE

ABOUT PLAYING GUITAR IS IT'S

VERY LINEAR IN THAT IF YOU GO

UP, THE NOTES ARE HIGHER. IF YOU

GO DOWN, THE NOTES ARE LOWER.

AND TECHNICALLY, IT'S A LOT MORE

EASIER TO PLAY IN DIFFERENT

KEYS AND SUCH. MY FAVORITE KIND

OF MUSIC IS FUSION, ALT-ROCK. I

DON'T KNOW, ANYTHING WITHIN

THOSE SLURRED LINES. I'M

DEFINITELY NOT SCARED OF

TECHNOLOGY IN MUSIC.

THE FIRST THING I'M GONNA

DO WHEN I GET OUT OF THE

PANDEMIC IS EITHER ORGANIZE A

JAM SESSION WITH MY FRIENDS THAT

I MISS DEARLY OR GO TO

YOGURTLAND.

[PLAYING GUITAR]

MENDEZ: WOW. KAI, THAT WAS SO

AWESOME. WHOO! ALL RIGHT, NEXT

UP, TWO VERY DIFFERENT BUT

EQUALLY PASSIONATE PERFORMANCES.

ACTRESS TYLA UZO, A GRAND PRIZE

FINALIST IN ACTING, DOES A SCENE

FROM PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING

AUTHOR AUGUST WILSON'S "TWO

TRAINS RUNNING." SHE PLAYS A

BLACK BUSINESS OWNER IN THE

1960s TRYING TO SURVIVE IN A

WORLD WHERE YOU ARE NOT WELCOME.

BUT FIRST UP IS A GRAND PRIZE

FINALIST IN BALLET, ASHLEY LEW,

WHO PERFORMS A SOLO FROM THE

BALLET INSPIRED BY "THE

HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME."

ASHLEY LEW: I STARTED BALLET

WHEN I WAS 3. I ABSOLUTELY FELL

IN LOVE WITH THE POINTE SHOES.

I WAS DYING TO BE EN POINTE. I

ALSO LOVED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO

SPEAK WHEN I DANCED BECAUSE I

WAS REALLY SHY. I LOVE THAT

BALLET MAKES ME FEEL SO FREE. I

FEEL LIKE I CAN BE MYSELF AND I

DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ANY

OTHER CARE IN THE WORLD.

SPOTLIGHT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

THE JUDGES WITH THEIR KIND

COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK TO US HAS

REALLY HELPED ME IMPROVE MY

DANCING. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME SO

MANY AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES AND

HAS HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER

DANCER EVEN IN MY EMOTIONS.

[TAMBOURINE RATTLING]

["ESMERALDA'S VARIATION"

PLAYING]

TYLA UZO: I STARTED PERFORMING

WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD.

WOMAN: OH, YES, INDEED.

UZO: AND AFTER THAT, EVERYONE

WAS LIKE, "WOW, TYLA, YOU

ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING GOING

FOR YOURSELF.

HA HA HA!

IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW MY

LAUGH.

HA HA HA!

MY FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD

TO DO IS GO TO SIX FLAGS. I LOVE

ROLLER COASTERS, AND THERE'S

JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THE UPS AND

DOWNS AND THE CRAZINESS THAT

JUST REMINDS ME OF ACTING AND

ALL THE CHARACTERS I GET TO

PLAY.

I FINALLY HAD SOMETHING GOOD,

AND THEN I HAD TO GO AND DESTROY

IT.

SPOTLIGHT GIVES ME THE

OPPORTUNITY TO BE BRAVE AND TO

BE BOLD, WHICH I LOVE SO MUCH.

IT'S JUST TRAINING THAT YOU WILL

NEVER RECEIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

THAT'S WHAT HALF THE PROBLEM IS.

THESE BLACK POWER ..., THEY GOT

PEOPLE CONFUSED. THEY DON'T KNOW

WHAT THEY DOING THEMSELVES.

THESE ... TALKING ABOUT THEY

WANT FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND

EQUALITY, BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT IT

MEAN. YOU BORN FREE.

IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAINTAIN IT.

YOU BORN WITH DIGNITY AND

EVERYTHING ELSE. THESE ...

TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM,

BUT WHAT YOU GONNA DO WITH IT?

FREEDOM IS HEAVY.

YOU GOT TO PUT YOUR SHOULDER TO

FREEDOM. PUT YOUR SHOULDER TO

IT AND HOPE YOUR BACK HOLD UP.

AND IF YOU AROUND HERE LOOKING

FOR JUSTICE, YOU GOT A LONG

WAIT. AIN'T NO JUSTICE. THAT'S

WHY THEY GOT THAT STATUE OF

HER OVER THERE AND GOT HER

BLINDFOLDED. COMMON SENSE WOULD

TELL YOU IF ANYBODY NEED TO SEE,

SHE DO. THERE AIN'T NO JUSTICE.

JESUS CHRIST DIDN'T GET JUSTICE.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU GONNA

GET IT? THAT'S JUST THE NATURE

OF THE WORLD. THESE ... TALKING

ABOUT THEY WANT FREEDOM,

JUSTICE, AND EQUALITY. EQUAL TO

WHAT? HELL, I MIGHT BE A BETTER

MAN THAN YOU. WHAT I LOOK LIKE

GOING AROUND HERE TALKING ABOUT,

"I WANT TO BE EQUAL TO YOU"? I

DON'T KNOW HOW THESE ...

THINK SOMETIMES.

TALKING ABOUT BLACK POWER WITH

THEIR HANDS AND THEIR POCKETS

EMPTY. YOU CAN'T DO NOTHING

WITHOUT NO GUN. NOT IN THIS DAY

AND TIME. THAT'S THE ONLY KIND

OF POWER THE WHITE MAN

UNDERSTAND. THEY THINK THEY

GONNA TALK THEIR WAY UP ON IT.

IN ORDER TO TALK YOUR WAY, YOU

GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING UNDER

THE TABLE. HMM. THESE ... DON'T

UNDERSTAND THAT. IF I TELL YOU

TO GET OUT MY YARD AND LEAVE MY

APPLES ALONE, I CAN'T TALK YOU

OUT. YOU SIT UP IN THE TREE AND

LAUGH AT ME.

BUT IF YOU KNEW I MIGHT COME

OUT WITH A SHOTGUN, THAT'D BE

SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

YOU'D HAVE TO THINK TWICE

WHETHER YOU WANTED SOME APPLES

OR NOT. HEH HEH. THESE ...

AROUND HERE TALKING ABOUT

THEY BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL. SOUND

LIKE THEY TRYING TO CONVINCE

THEMSELVES. YOU GOT TO THINK

YOU UGLY TO BE RUNNING AROUND

HERE SHOUTING YOU BEAUTIFUL. YOU

DON'T HEAR ME SAY THAT. HELL, I

KNOW I LOOK NICE. GOT GOOD

MANNERS AND EVERYTHING.

MENDEZ: NEXT I WANT TO INTRODUCE

YOU TO VIOLINIST ALBERT GANG, A

GRAND PRIZE FINALIST IN

CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL.

ALBERT GANG: I STARTED PLAYING

WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD. I FIRST

CAME ACROSS THE VIOLIN WHEN I

WAS WATCHING THIS OLDER GROUP OF

STUDENTS PLAYING IN AN

ORCHESTRA, AND I JUST THOUGHT

THAT THE VIOLIN SEEMED LIKE THE

COOLEST THING IN THE WORLD. AND

SO I ASKED MY MOM IF I COULD

START, AND THAT'S HOW IT BEGAN.

SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD

NEVER GUESS ABOUT ME IS THAT I

AM OBSESSED WITH "DOWNTON

ABBEY." I JUST LOVE THE MUSIC, I

LOVE THAT OLD ARISTOCRATIC

LIFESTYLE. I LOVE EVERYTHING

ABOUT IT. 10 YEARS FROM NOW I

WANT TO BE PERFORMING ALL OVER

THE WORLD AND PERFORMING FOR AS

MANY AUDIENCES AS POSSIBLE.

[PLAYING TCHAIKOVSKY SCHERZO

OP.42 NO.2]

MATTHEW RUSHING: HI, I'M

MATTHEW, AND I AM A SPOTLIGHT

ALUM. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE

TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

SPOTLIGHT GRAND FINALISTS. NOW

WE'RE GOING TO AN OPERA SINGER,

RENA MADURO. RENA IS A GRAND

PRIZE FINALIST IN CLASSICAL

VOICE. AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO

SEE BERGUNDI LOYD. BERGUNDI IS A

GRAND PRIZE FINALIST IN

NON-CLASSICAL DANCE, BUT DREAMS

OF BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL

BALLET DANCER. I MEAN, I GET IT.

NOWADAYS THERE'S SO MANY

DIFFERENT GENRES AND STYLES OF

DANCE, BUT NOT ENOUGH LIFETIMES.

LET'S TURN IT OVER TO RENA AND

BERGUNDI.

BERGUNDI LOYD: I STARTED BALLET

DANCING WHEN I WAS 11. I LEARNED

THAT DANCING AND BALLET WAS WHAT

I NEEDED TO DO IN MY VERY FIRST

CLASS. I'M DEFINITELY A TYPE "A"

PERSONALITY. ONE OF MY BIGGEST

LESSONS THAT I'VE LEARNED DURING

SPOTLIGHT WAS TO NOT BE SCARED

IN THE MOMENT, TO JUST FEEL, AND

THEN THAT'S THAT. GETTING INTO

THE SPOTLIGHT GRAND FINALE MADE

ME FEEL REALLY DETERMINED TO

CONTINUE MOVING AND SHOW THE

WORLD WHO I AM.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]

RENA MADURO: I STARTED SINGING

AND PLAYING PIANO WHEN I WAS 7

YEARS OLD. IT SEEMED FUN.

[LAUGHS]

I LOVE HOW VULNERABLE SINGING

IS. THE SECOND YOU STEP ON

STAGE, THERE'S LIKE THIS ENERGY

THAT CLICKS IN YOUR BODY. AND

IT'S LIKE--IT'S EXCITEMENT, BUT

IT'S NERVE-RACKING. YOUR VOICE

IS YOUR WHOLE BODY. THERE'S BEEN

MOMENTS WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVERY

VOCALIST FEELS LIKE THEY'RE NOT

GOOD ENOUGH, AND ESPECIALLY ME,

I'VE FELT THAT. AND SPOTLIGHT

HAS GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO

PRACTICE AUDITIONING. SO WHEN I

AUDITIONED FOR COLLEGES, IT FELT

LIKE I HAD ALREADY DONE THIS

BEFORE BECAUSE OF SPOTLIGHT. IT

FEELS LIKE MY HARD WORK HAS PAID

OFF.

["VILLANELLE" PLAYING]

[SINGING IN FRENCH]

[VOCALIZING]

[SINGING IN FRENCH]

MENDEZ: WATCHING THESE FINALISTS

BRINGS BACK AWESOME MEMORIES FOR

ME. SO I WANTED TO CATCH UP WITH

ANOTHER SPOTLIGHT ALUM AND SEE

WHAT HE THINKS.

JOSH GROBAN: HELLO TO ALL THE

AMAZING 2020 SPOTLIGHT

FINALISTS. I'M JOSH GROBAN, A

FELLOW SPOTLIGHT FINALIST LIKE

YOURSELVES. I DID NOT MAKE IT

PAST THE FINALS, BUT THAT'S OK.

FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS

FOR GETTING AS FAR AS YOU HAVE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING

ARTISTS, ON BEING ABLE TO DIVE

INTO YOUR ARTISTIC PATH AND THE

UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF THE ARTS,

SOMETHING THAT WE NEED MORE IN

THIS COUNTRY, MORE IN THIS WORLD

THAN EVER BEFORE. SO MANY YEARS

WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, I WAS

ALWAYS LISTENING AT THE DOOR,

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PEOPLE

WANTED, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT IT WAS THAT COULD MAKE ME

STAND OUT OR WHAT IT WAS THAT I

THOUGHT WOULD ALLOW ME TO FIT

IN. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MANY

YEARS LATER THAT I REALIZED THAT

THOSE THINGS THAT I VIEWED AS

FRINGE FOR MYSELF OR THINGS THAT

I VIEWED AS IMPERFECTIONS WERE

THE THINGS THAT MADE ME UNIQUE.

AND SO BE DILIGENT ABOUT YOUR

CRAFT, STUDY, WORK HARD,

CONSTANTLY PUSH YOURSELF TO GET

BETTER, BUT ALSO BE

UNDERSTANDING AND BE KIND TO

YOURSELF ABOUT THOSE THINGS

BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS

THAT ARE GONNA SET YOU APART AND

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE

GONNA MAKE YOU NOT HAVE TO

LISTEN AT THE DOOR. YOU'RE GONNA

WALK THROUGH THE DOOR. SO

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. I

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF

YOU OUT THERE ONE DAY

PERFORMING. AND IT'S A REAL

HONOR TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO

CONGRATULATE YOU, AND ESPECIALLY

AS A LACHSA ALUM, TO MY FELLOW

LACHSA ALUMS. WISHING YOU GUYS

ALL THE BEST. ALL RIGHT. BE WELL

AND BE HEALTHY.

MENDEZ: OH, HEY, LACHSA

STUDENTS, HE CALLED YOU OUT.

THAT WAS SO AWESOME. ALL RIGHT,

WELL, ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS,

EVAN KLEIN, IS A GRAND PRIZE

FINALIST IN ACTING. HE'S DOING A

SCENE FROM THE PULITZER-PRIZE

WINNING PLAY "SWEAT," PLAYING AN

EX-CON WHO RELUCTANTLY AND

SURPRISINGLY OPENS UP TO HIS

PAROLE OFFICER ABOUT HIS

STRUGGLES TO ESCAPE HIS PAST.

AND THEN WE HAVE ETHAN AVERY ON

TRUMPET, A GRAND PRIZE FINALIST

IN JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL. LAST YEAR

ETHAN WAS A SEMI-FINALIST JUST

LIKE JOSH. AND I HAVE TO SAY,

TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL FOR JOSH.

EVAN KLEIN: I'VE BEEN ACTING

EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER. MY

MOM ALWAYS SAID LIKE, EVEN WHEN

I WAS A LITTLE KID I WOULD BE

LIKE DRESSING UP AND LIKE

CREATING DIFFERENT CHARACTERS.

AND I WAS ALWAYS CREATING MOVIES

WITH MY FRIENDS AND ALWAYS

WANTED TO BE A PART OF SCHOOL

PLAYS. AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN I

REALIZED LIKE, THIS IS WHAT I

WANT TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY

LIFE. I KNOW IT'S KIND OF WEIRD,

BUT I LOVE, LIKE LOVE,

COLLECTING PHYSICAL PLAYS, LIKE

THE PHYSICAL SCRIPTS. I HAVE A

COLLECTION OF OVER 100, AND I

JUST--I TRULY CANNOT GET ENOUGH

OF IT. I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL TO

SPOTLIGHT FOR HELPING ME GROW

AND LEARN AS A PERSON AND AN

ARTIST AND FOR THEIR ALWAYS

INCREDIBLE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.

I RAN INTO CHRIS. YEAH. THE

WHOLE TIME INSIDE I PUSHED ...

CHRIS, ALL OF IT, OUT OF MY

HEAD.

YOU KNOW, AND THEN I ... SAW

HIM. HEY, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN

THINKING.

I'VE BEEN THINKING, AND I

AIN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT DAY

IN THE BAR IN A LONG TIME, YOU

KNOW. AND NOW...NOW I CAN'T GET

AWAY FROM IT.

IT'S LIKE EVERY PLACE THAT I

WALK IN THIS CITY REMINDS ME OF

THAT DAY. IT'S LIKE--IT'S LIKE

THE WHOLE TOWN WAS IN THAT BAR

THAT NIGHT AND GOT TURNED UPSIDE

DOWN THE SAME WAY THAT I DID.

I MOVED OUT.

YEAH, OF MY MA'S PLACE. IT WAS

TOO DEPRESSING. AND A FRIEND OF

MINE GAVE ME A TENT AND A

SLEEPING BAG. SO YOU KNOW, I'VE

JUST BEEN CAMPING OUT IN THE

WOODS WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER

GUYS. IT'S EASY. IT DON'T COST

ME NOTHING. IT'S BETTER THAN

PLAYING MUSICAL BEDS AT THE

SHELTER, ALL RIGHT. NOBODY CALLS

ME OUT. YEAH, I KNOW IT'LL GET

COLD, BUT I'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE

WHEN I GET THERE. IT'S JUST THAT

EVER SINCE I RAN INTO CHRIS,

I...I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO

FOCUS. YOU KNOW, AND I'VE JUST

BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED. AND ALL

I REMEMBER IS THE FURY, THE

BLIND ... FURY, AND I HAVEN'T

BEEN ABLE TO SHAKE IT. YOU KNOW,

IT'S LIKE A WOOL JACKET THAT I

WEAR ALL THE TIME.

SOMEONE LOOKS AT

ME WRONG AND I'M GONNA BASH THEM

IN THE FACE, AND I DON'T KNOW

WHY.

BUT CHRIS, I MEAN, HE WAS...

I DON'T KNOW. IT'S ALL I CAN...

IT'S ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT, YOU

KNOW.

ETHAN AVERY: I GUESS I STARTED

PLAYING THE TRUMPET BECAUSE MY

DAD'S A TRUMPET PLAYER. SO I

GREW UP LISTENING TO MUSIC AND

WATCHING MY DAD'S BAND PERFORM.

[PLAYING TRUMPET]

I PLAY JAZZ TRUMPET BECAUSE WHEN

I'M IMPROVISING AND INTERACTING

WITH OTHER MUSICIANS IN THE

MOMENT, IT'S THE MOST AMAZING

FEELING IN THE WORLD BECAUSE

IT'S NEW EVERY TIME.

FOR ME, I THINK I IMPROVISE WELL

WHEN I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT

I'M PLAYING. SO IF I'M JUST

FULLY IN THE MOMENT AND PLAYING,

THAT'S WHEN THE GOOD STUFF

HAPPENS. SO IF I'M TOO IN MY

HEAD, IT'S NOT--I'M NOT GONNA

IMPROVISE WELL. OR AT LEAST I'M

NOT GONNA [INDISTINCT]. SO. I

REALLY LIKE TO ROCK CLIMB.

I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE

THIS GREAT HONOR. THIRD TIME'S

THE CHARM, SO HERE I AM, FINALLY

A SPOTLIGHT WINNER.

[PLAYING TRUMPET]

RACHEL MOORE: WHAT A JOY IT IS

TO WATCH OUR SPOTLIGHT ARTISTS

EXCEL YEAR AFTER YEAR. THANK YOU

FOR JOINING US FOR THIS UNIQUE

MUSIC CENTER SPOTLIGHT GRAND

FINALE. AT THE MUSIC CENTER, WE

BELIEVE IN ARTS THAT INSPIRE.

COMING UP, WE HAVE A VERY

SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT ALUM WHO KNOWS

A THING OR TWO ABOUT BALLET. BUT

FIRST, LET'S CONTINUE WITH OUR

NEXT PERFORMER, A GRAND PRIZE

FINALIST IN CLASSICAL DANCE,

JACOB JOVANNI ALVARADO.

JACOB JOVANNI ALVARADO: WHEN I

WAS 5, AT PARTIES I WOULD ALWAYS

START DANCING. SO MY MOM STARTED

ME IN BALLET CLASSES, AND FROM

THERE, THE REST IS HISTORY. MY

PARENTS NEVER DANCED, BUT MY

BROTHER DOES DANCE. HE'S IN THE

NATIONAL THEATRE OF BELGRADE.

AND I ALWAYS GREW UP WATCHING

HIM DANCE, AND HE MADE ME AS

PASSIONATE AS I AM. I WANT TO

INSPIRE CHILDREN ALL AROUND THE

WORLD. I WANT IT TO BE

ACCESSIBLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES

THAT DON'T HAVE IT. FOR WINNING

THIS AWARD, IT REALLY TELLS ME

THAT I'M ON THE RIGHT PATH OF

WHERE I NEED TO BE IN MY CAREER,

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR IT.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]

MISTY COPELAND: HI, IT'S MISTY

COPELAND HERE. I WANT TO SAY

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 14 OF YOU

INCREDIBLE FINALISTS. AND YOU

KNOW, I JUST KNOW THAT MY

EXPERIENCE WITH THE SPOTLIGHT

AWARD, THOUGH I WON IN 1998, IT

FEELS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, AND

SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF

THE ORGANIZATION ARE LIKE FAMILY

TO ME. SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.

I'LL BE THINKING OF YOU. DO YOUR

BEST AND HAVE FUN. [KISS]

MENDEZ: SPEAKING OF WHICH, WE

ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH OUR

NEXT TWO PERFORMERS, ESTEFANI

LOPEZ, A GRAND PRIZE FINALIST IN

CLASSICAL VOICE WHO ALSO SINGS

MARIACHI, AND ANOUCH POGOSSIAN,

A GRAND PRIZE FINALIST IN

CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL WHO MAKES

MUSIC A FAMILY AFFAIR.

ESTEFANI LOPEZ: I FIRST BEGAN

SINGING WHEN I WAS 3 YEARS OLD.

I WAS LISTENING TO A SONG ON THE

RADIO AND JUST OUT OF NOWHERE I

LEARNED IT, AND EVER SINCE THEN,

I'VE LOVED SINGING. MY DAD WAS

ONE OF 11 CHILDREN, AND 8 OF

THOSE CHILDREN WERE ACTUALLY IN

A GROUP IN MEXICO, SO MUSIC HAS

BEEN PASSED DOWN TO ME. OPERA'S

ACTUALLY NOT BIG IN MEXICO. I

WAS BORN HERE IN AMERICA, BUT I

WOULD LOVE TO GO TO PERFORM IN

MEXICO AND MAKE IT WELL KNOWN.

SPOTLIGHT HAS BEEN SUCH AN

INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.

IT HAS ENCOURAGED ME AND

MOTIVATED ME TO CONTINUE TO WANT

TO PURSUE MUSIC AS A PERFORMER.

♪ SUMMER HAS FLOWN

THE LEAVES ARE FALLING

I HEAR A VOICE

YOUR VOICE CALLING

I SEE A FACE

YOUR FACE PLEADING

I FEEL A HEART

YOUR HEART BLEEDING

TELL ME

OH, BLUE, BLUE SKY

WHY DID WE PART?

TELL ME

OH, WHISPERING WIND

BREATHE ON MY HEART

BREATHE ON MY LONELY HEART

THAT TOO HAS BLED

TELL WHAT IS LEFT IN LIFE

SINCE LOVE HAS FLED

SINCE LOVE HAS FLED

TELL ME

TELL ME

TELL ME, OH, BLUE, BLUE SKY

TELL ME

OH, BLUE, BLUE SKY ♪

ANOUSH POGOSSIAN: I WAS BORN

INTO CLASSICAL MUSIC, QUITE

LITERALLY, BECAUSE MY MOM WAS

SUPPOSED TO GIVE A PERFORMANCE

ON THE NIGHT I WAS BORN. BUT

BOTH MY PARENTS ARE PROFESSIONAL

MUSICIANS, AND MY SIBLINGS ARE

STUDYING IN A CONSERVATORY. I'VE

HAD A REALLY INTERESTING

EXPERIENCE THROUGH THIS WHOLE

QUARANTINE BECAUSE I BASICALLY

HAVE A CHAMBER GROUP INSIDE MY

HOME. I HAVE MY PARENTS WHO ARE

VIOLINISTS, A BROTHER WHO'S A

CELLIST, AND A SISTER WHO'S A

VIOLIST, AND TOGETHER WE CAN

PLAY SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE

CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE. WHAT

SPOTLIGHT MEANS TO ME IS THAT

IT'S A CHANNEL. IT'S A WAY FOR

ME TO LEARN. AND IT'S JUST BEEN

A REALLY INCREDIBLE WAY FOR ME

TO SHOW MY MUSIC TO OTHER

PEOPLE.

[PLAYING CLARINET]

MENDEZ: THESE YOUNG ARTISTS ARE

UNBELIEVABLE. I WANT TO GIVE A

BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL OF THE YOUNG

PERFORMERS OUT THERE. BELIEVE IN

YOURSELF, KEEP GOING, TAKE A

SHOT. NOW BRINGING US HOME IS

DAISY TYE, A GRAND PRIZE

FINALIST IN NON-CLASSICAL VOICE.

DAISY TYE: I STARTED SINGING

WHEN I WAS 3 YEARS OLD. MY DAD'S

A MUSICIAN, SO I GUESS IT JUST

RUNS IN THE FAMILY. AND THEN MY

MOM SIGNED ME UP FOR MUSICAL

THEATER.

♪ EACH THING I TALK ABOUT IS

YOU ♪

IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY THING

THAT, LIKE, MAKES ME TRULY HAPPY

IN LIFE. [LAUGHS]

["EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES"

PLAYING]

♪ I HAD A DREAM

A DREAM ABOUT YOU, BABY

IT'S GONNA COME TRUE, BABY

THEY THINK THAT WE'RE THROUGH

BUT, BABY

YOU'LL BE SWELL

YOU'LL BE GREAT

GONNA HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD

ON A PLATE

STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW

HONEY, EVERYTHING'S

COMING UP ROSES

CLEAR THE DECKS

CLEAR THE TRACKS

YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO DO

BUT RELAX

BLOW A KISS

TAKE A BOW

HONEY, EVERYTHING'S

COMING UP ROSES

NOW'S YOUR INNING

STAND THE WORLD ON ITS EAR

SET IT SPINNING

THAT'LL BE JUST THE BEGINNING

CURTAIN UP

LIGHT THE LIGHTS

YOU GOT NOTHING TO HIT

BUT THE HEIGHTS

YOU'LL BE SWELL

YOU'LL BE GREAT

I CAN TELL

JUST YOU WAIT

THAT LUCKY STAR I TALK ABOUT

IS DUE

HONEY, EVERYTHING'S COMING UP

ROSES FOR ME

AND FOR YOU

YOU CAN DO IT

ALL YOU NEED IS A HAND

WE CAN DO IT

MAMA IS GONNA SEE TO IT

CURTAIN UP

LIGHT THE LIGHTS

WE GOT NOTHING TO HIT

BUT THE HEIGHTS

I CAN TELL

WAIT AND SEE

THERE'S THE BELL

FOLLOW ME

AND NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US

TILL WE'RE THROUGH

HONEY, EVERYTHING'S COMING UP

ROSES AND DAFFODILS

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP

SUNSHINE AND SANTA CLAUS

EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE

BRIGHT LIGHTS AND LOLLIPOPS

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES

FOR ME

AND FOR YOU ♪

MENDEZ: WHOO-HOO!

ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR

THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY THE

CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT

OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED

BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR

THE ARTS AND THE LOS ANGELES

COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS &

CULTURE.