Southland Sessions

The Music Center’s Spotlight Virtual Grand Finale
Experience performances by some of Southern California’s most talented high school artists in dance, music and more. Celebrate with them as they culminate a year-long journey through The Music Center’s Spotlight program, which offers classes with experts, audition opportunities and advice on navigating today's unprecedented challenges.
TRANSCRIPT
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.
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