A TMC Arts Program About Spotlight

The Music Center's Spotlight

Southern California high school students of ALL skill levels are encouraged to apply for FREE to The Music Center’s Spotlight competition! Nationally recognized, Spotlight provides students with both performing arts scholarships and artistic development through expert advice, coaching, auditions and mastery classes taught by professional artists and arts administrators. Apply for this program and get an opportunity for cash scholarships and the chance to hone your artistic skills and gain other life skills such as preparation, courage, critical thinking and perseverance. We award $100,000 in cash scholarships to students each year and also offer personalized feedback, mastery classes with world-renowned artists, performing arts workshops and more!

COVID-19 REQUIREMENT: The first round (Preliminary 1) of Spotlight is online. All students who advance to subsequent rounds, including Preliminary 2, Semifinals and Grand Prize Finals must be fully vaccinated.

Categories: Acting, Ballet, Dance, Classical Instrumental, Classical Voice, Contemporary Instrumental and Non-Classical Voice

  • Preliminary 1 (First Round) auditions will be online video submissions.
  • Preliminary 2 and Semifinal rounds will be live auditions.
  • Spotlight Semifinalists and Honorable Mention awardees from the previous year will automatically bypass Preliminary 1 and advance to Preliminary 2 auditions.
  • Spotlight Merit Awardees from the previous year will automatically bypass Preliminary 1 but must submit a video in their application.

View Category Rules

By applying to Spotlight, you are eligible for:

  • Cash awards up to $5,000
  • Written feedback from our distinguished panel of judges
  • Mastery classes with world-renowned artists or artistic directors
  • College and career preparation
  • Live audition experience and coaching
  • Grand Prize Finalist performance
  • School achievement recognition
  • News and social media coverage opportunities
  • Online access to The Spotlight Academy

Cash Awards

The Music Center's Spotlight program awards over $100,000 in cash awards annually to Grand Prize Finalists, Semifinalists, Honorable Mentions and Merit awardees.

Fourteen Grand Prize Finalists are chosen; two from each category.

Grand Prize Finalists $5,000 cash awards
Honorable Mentions $1,000 cash awards
Semifinalists $500 cash awards
Merit Awards $100 cash awards

Discover Why Spotlight is For You

Why You Should Apply

Whether or not you pursue a career onstage, offstage or something outside the arts, Spotlight can help you explore your professional goals and increase your confidence. Participating in Spotlight can help you gain self-esteem and build confidence by challenging you to step out of your comfort zone and shine a light on who you truly are. Our alumni are dancing with the world’s best dance companies, performing with top orchestras, jamming in the leading jazz clubs, singing in the leading opera houses, and starring on Broadway! They’re also top executives behind-the-scenes in arts schools, non-profit organizations and cultural institutions and businesses.

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