A TMC Arts Program History & Alumni

The Music Center’s Spotlight was launched in 1988 as part of a “WinterFest” gala produced by Walter Grauman. Recognizing its long-term potential for arts training and advocacy, Spotlight Founding Chairman Fredric Roberts championed the cause. He developed the strategy and operating plan, and, for many years, raised the funds necessary to establish The Music Center’s Spotlight as the nationally recognized performing arts competition, scholarship and artistic development program it is today. For over 35 years, The Music Center’s Spotlight has awarded more than $2.8 million in scholarships and transformed the lives of more than 54,000 high school students.

Numerous Spotlight participants have gone on to successful professional careers. For example, nearly two dozen finalists are Presidential Scholars, and many more have joined or performed with professional companies, such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Notable Spotlight alumni include Misty Copeland, who made history in the dance world as the first African American principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre; recording artists Adam Lambert and Josh Groban; Oscar and Emmy® Award-winning composer Kris Bowers, whose work includes the scores for Bob Marley: One Love, Bridgerton, Green Book and Dear White People, and who is the co-director of the Academy Award winning short documentary The Last Repair Shop; Lindsay Mendez, Tony Award® winner for her role in the Broadway revival of Carousel and star of Broadway’s Merrily We Roll Along; Erin Mackey, star of Broadway’s Wicked, Sondheim on Sondheim, Anything Goes, Chaplin, and Amazing Grace; Matthew Rushing, interim artistic director for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Yao Guang Zhai, associate principal clarinet of the Toronto Symphony; and Gerald Clayton, GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz recording artist; among numerous others.