THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
The Music Center’s 35th Annual
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
The Music Center’s 35th Annual
The Music Center’s Spotlight program is a journey to excellence that guides young artists to focus their passions, to strive and to succeed. For 35 years, Southern California high school students have turned to The Music Center for world-class arts training, scholarships and college and career guidance at no cost to them. Spotlight is a program of The Music Center’s programming engine, TMC Arts.
Join The Music Center as we develop tomorrow’s outstanding artists and leaders.
Acting Ballet Dance
Classical Voice
Non-Classical Voice
Classical Instrumental Jazz Instrumental
More than $2.7 M awarded in scholarships
To learn more or get involved, please contact Serena Bernolak at (213) 972-4344 or spotlightsupport@musiccenter.org, or visit musiccenter.org/spotlightsupport.
More than 51,000 alumni
Kris Bowers
Gerald Clayton
Misty Copeland
Danielle de Niese
Josh Groban
Dylan Gutierrez
Derek Klena
Adam Lambert
Lindsay Mendez
Mason Alexander Park
Matthew Rushing ...and more.
Photos: John McCoy for The Music Center.Welcome to The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion! It’s terrific to be back in the original home for The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale. It’s fitting that in our 35th year of this wonderful program, we return to the birthplace of The Music Center to celebrate the success and amazing talent of 14 incredibly gifted young artists. I know tonight will be magical.
There are so many aspects to the Spotlight program, with numerous benefits for aspiring artists as well as for those who may take a different career path. While you will absolutely enjoy tonight’s performances by the finalists, over many months, hundreds of Southern California high school students have gleaned major benefits from their Spotlight journey, including invaluable feedback from numerous professional artists and arts administrators, mastery classes and mentorship, all for free. Plus, we have been able to help many students catapult their career plans by providing them with more than $100,000 each year in cash awards. In fact, to date, The Music Center has given students more than $2.7 million in scholarships.
As a former ballet dancer with American Ballet Theatre, I know first-hand how important it is to have both caring mentors and real-world experiences to help artists navigate the challenges and maximize the opportunities as they pursue their career goals. We are fortunate at The Music Center to have so many fantastic professional artists and arts educators who, as our partners and collaborators, provide critical foundational
support for Spotlight. They sit in on auditions, provide written feedback to participants, lead mastery classes, judge performances and more. We are very grateful for each one of them; they are a true gift to this program. Each year, Spotlight participants create a community that they will carry with them all throughout their lives. All of us at The Music Center thank them for their hard work, perseverance and commitment to their craft; no matter where they end up in their careers—on the stage, backstage, in front of or behind a camera, or in a different field entirely—they have and will continue to enrich the world with their talent, energy and creativity.
We are very grateful for the incredible generosity of our many donors who support the Spotlight program. Thank you to Fredric Roberts, founding chairman of Spotlight ; Helen and Peter Bing; Terri and Jerry Kohl; The Hearst Foundations; Marie Song; the Edgerton Foundation; Pamela and Dennis Beck; the Dorothy B. Chandler Program Fund; Helen Funai Erickson; the Frank Sherwood Performing Arts Fund; the Glorya Kaufman Foundation; HUB; Alexandra Seros and Bruno Seros-Ulloa; and I.N. and Susanna H. Van Nuys Foundation.
Thanks as well to the hard-working, dedicated Music Center staff. Together, you make it possible for us to impact so many lives in numerous ways.
Enjoy the show!
Warmly, Rachel S. Moore President & CEO The Music CenterTemperaments, John Butler’s Carmina Burana and Cinderella. She can be seen as the partner of Mikhail Baryshnikov on the Baryshnikov
Emmy ® winner and original associate artist of LA Opera known for the title role in Bizet’s Carmen, has been hailed by TIME magazine as “a fire-eating singing actress!” She has appeared in many world premieres including Catán’s Florencia, Menotti’s Goya, Yuval Sharon’s Hopscotch and recently Benavides’s Caravana de
Mujeres. Honors include: GRAMMY® nod for Best Classical CD with Southwest Chamber; Nederlanders Lifetime, 1st Place Western Region Metropolitan Opera, Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Actress in Amahl at the Kennedy Center, honorary DMus from Occidental College. Radio host and TV host of the PBS Series Open Call. This season: Abuela Claudia, In the Heights with Rubicon Theatre; Ms. Lynch, Grease ; and Mother Abbess, McCoy Rigby’s The Sound of Music. Visit suzannaguzman.com
Francine Kessler
Lavac is a former soloist with Ballet West and Harkness Ballet Company where she performed both classical and contemporary repertoire. Her principal roles have included Swanhilda in Coppelia, Dew Drop and Sugar Plum in Nutcracker, leads in Balanchine’s Pas de Dix, Irish Fantasy, Serenade, Four
Television Special for CBS with choreography by Michael Kidd. Kessler Lavac regularly teaches master classes and private instruction plus group classes. She was recently invited to attend a teacher’s workshop at School of American Ballet, as one of 10 teachers selected nationally. She has been a Spotlight judge for 22 years!
Luca Mendoza is a multi-genre pianist, composer and producer and a 2016 Spotlight Finalist in Jazz. As a LA Phil Composer Fellow and a two-time Downbeat SMA best soloist, he has had multiple premieres in The Music Center’s Walt Disney Hall and toured across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. Mendoza’s
music fuses Contemporary Classical music, Modern Jazz, Hip-Hop and Electronic music. His new two-hour ballet-form Jazz quartet premieres this fall, as well as a new project, Lumen, featuring Electronic music “scored” by a CG animated film.
Accolades include: National YoungArts Foundation Finalist; Monterey NextGen Jazz Festival Triple Crown Winner; USC Thornton Presser Award (2021). He is also the musical director for the Grammy ® songwriting program and nominee events and is a lecturer at USC.
Carla Renata was last seen on Broadway playing Gary Coleman in the Tony ® Award winning musical Avenue Q. Other Broadway credits include The Lion King (NAACP Theatre Award Nominee), Smokey Joe’s Café, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and The Who’s Tommy. A graduate of Howard University, Renata recurred on the
hit NBC sitcom Superstore for five seasons; her book An Actors Guide to Self-Marketing: How to Brand and Promote Your Unique Image is available at Amazon, and her award-winning weekly film podcast The Curvy Critic with Carla Renata can be seen on YouTube. As a former background vocalist for Tracy Chapman, Michael Bolton and more, Renata is proud to have served as a Spotlight judge for over 10 years.
Suzanna GuzmánTHURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Opening Number All Finalists
Creator/Director/
Editor: Nicole Alexander
Poem by:
Raul Herrera Jr.
Choreography by: Cherice Barton
Aubrey Abella
Dance
Whatever Lola Wants
From the musical:
Damn Yankees
Music & Lyrics by: Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Choreography by: Jimmy Peters
Maya Clayton
Non-Classical Voice
None of My Business
Music & Lyrics by: Maya Clayton
Nathaniel Yue
Classical Instrumental Dance of the Green Devil
Composed by:
Gaspar Cassadó
Ruby Moncrieff-Karten
Acting
Everything is Wonderful
Character: Miri
Written by: Chelsea Marcantel
Tiffany Hsu
Classical Voice
Il Mio Bel Foco
Composed by:
Benedetto Marcello
Accompanied by: Dr. Louise Thomas
William Schwartzman
Jazz Instrumental
Darn that Dream
Composed by:
Jimmy Van Heusen & Eddie De Lange
Arranged by: William Schwartzman & Jamey Tate
Accompanied by: David Hughes & Jake Reed
Campbelle Malicse
Ballet
Kitri’s Variation
From the ballet: Don Quixote
Composed by:
Ludwig Minkus
Choreography by:
Marius Petipa
Millie Liao
Acting Gloria
Character: Kendra
Written by: Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins
Calli Perryman
Dance
The First Time Ever
I Saw Your Face
Music & Lyrics by: Ewan MacColl
Choreography by: Justin Pham
Erica Wang
Classical Instrumental Fantaisie
Composed by: Philippe Gaubert
Accompanied by: Dr. Louise Thomas
Chase Rogers
Ballet
Basilio’s Variation
From the ballet: Don Quixote
Composed by: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography by: Marius Petipa
Liliana Mindel
Classical Voice
Willow Song from The Ballad of Baby Doe
Composed by: Douglas Moore
Accompanied by: Dr. Louise Thomas
Jackson Petty
Jazz Instrumental It Could Happen to You
Composed by: Jimmy Van Heusen
Arranged by: Jackson Petty & Jamey Tate
Accompanied by: David Hughes, Jake Reed & Alan Steinberger
Brooke Bailey
Non-Classical Voice Try a Little Tenderness
Music & Lyrics by: Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly & Harry M. Woods
CONTENT ADVISORY: Performances may contain profanity, racial themes and epithets and references to violence. The Music Center does not censor original theatrical material.
Aubrey Abella (Dance), 15, is a freshman at Great Oak High School and has been dancing since she was twoyears-old. She trains at Temecula Dance Company with Jimmy Peters, Hannah Gallagher, Leah Silva, Davin Lawson, Michelle Kelly, Kayla Girard, Annelise Ritacca and Talia Dunlap. Awards include: Petite Miss Star Systems (2017); Radix Choice Artist Award (2018) and Core Performer, Finalist (2019); KAR Miss Teen Dance, Runner Up (2021); The Countdown Competition, Title (2022) and 1st Overall Teen Soloist (2023); Miss Teen Energy Dance (2022); and Hip-Hop International, gold medals (2021 & 2022). Aubrey is represented by MSA Agency and is a Weissman model. She thanks her parents and grandma for their love and support and her teacher, Jimmy Peters, for his guidance. This is Aubrey’s first year participating in Spotlight
Brooke Bailey (Non-Classical Voice), 18, is a senior at John Burroughs High School where she sings in the national award-winning choir Powerhouse, directed by Brendan Jennings. She is also president of the Neo Chromatics acapella group. Brooke studies voice with Joyce Warman. Roles include: Witch in Into the Woods and Joanne in RENT. Awards include: Best Soloist at Burbank Blast, Hart Encore and Eastern Show Choir competitions (2023); and a Jimmy Award nomination for Into the Woods (2022). Brooke is excited to announce her next music venture, Honey. This vocal trio will debut their original R&B and Neo Soul sound later this year. She would like to thank her parents, teachers and mentors Brendan Jennings, Jennifer Oundjian and Tony Redman, for their support and encouragement. This is Brooke’s first year participating in Spotlight
Maya Clayton (Non-Classical Voice), 17, is a senior at CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts. She studies voice with Steve Kronauer and acting with Renato Biribin. Her recent roles and performances include: Baker’s Wife in Into The Woods, Touchstone in As You Like It, Medda Larkin in Newsies, Schwartzy in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Fantine in Les Miserables, and America’s Got Talent background singer. Maya enjoys writing and recording her own songs and working with her dad to produce them. Awards include: YoungArts Honorable Mention in Voice/ Popular (2022). She wants to thank her dad, mom, brother, Steve, Mr. Biribin and her best friends for their love and support. She plans to study performing arts and African Studies in college. This is Maya’s first year participating in Spotlight
Tiffany Hsu (Classical Voice), 15, is a sophomore at Mayfield Senior High School. She has been singing since she was eight-years-old. Tiffany studies classical voice with Mariné Ter-Kazaryan at Pasadena Conservatory of Music. Performances include TV shows in China: Singing Kids CCTV4, CCTV3, Wonderful6+1 (2017-18); and American Protégé Competition at Carnegie Hall (2020). Awards include: American Protégé Competition platinum awards for classical voice, musical theater and folk singing (2020); World Championships of Performing Arts, gold award (2021), Spotlight semifinalist in classical voice (2022). She thanks her teacher Mariné Ter-Kazaryan for being such a great role model and her Chinese opera teacher, Ding Hong, for being her first vocal inspiration. Tiffany is grateful to her family for supporting her passions and many interests. This is Tiffany’s second year participating in Spotlight
Millie Liao (Acting), 18, is a senior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) in the theatre department. She has been acting for over 10 years, starting with small community productions in her hometown of Novi, Michigan. Roles include: Emily in Our Town, Edna in Waiting for Lefty and Desdemona in Othello. Awards include: Asian Pacific American Friends of the Theatre Youth Actor Scholarship (2021). Millie is pursuing a professional film and television career, recently starring in Brat TV’s online web series Charmers. She would like to thank her family and her mentors Elizabeth Dennehy, Kevin Kane and Israel Lopez for their support. Millie plans to double major in theatre and global affairs at Yale next year. This is Millie’s third year participating in Spotlight
Campbelle Malicse (Ballet), 16, is a junior at Palos Verdes Distance Learning Academy. She began dancing at threeyears-old at the School of Dance and Music and now studies ballet at Peninsula School of Performing Arts with Vera Ninkovic and Tita Boulger. Campbelle also trains with Katya Viola and Alla Khaniashvili. Awards include: Youth American Grand Prix, top 12 (2020-2022) and top three (2023); California Dance Classics medal placements (2022 & 2023); and YoungArts Finalist in Ballet (2023). Summer Intensives include: The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Her primary goal is to dance professionally. Campbelle would like to thank her past teachers for nurturing her love for dance and her current teachers for their direction and guidance. This is Campbelle’s second year participating in Spotlight
Lilliana Mindel (Classical Voice), 16, is a junior at Orange County School of the Arts in the Classical Voice Conservatory. She studies voice with Kathleen Martin and also works with Vera Calabria and Bill Vendice. Awards include: Opera Buffs Young Artist Competition, 4th Place (2023); Schmidt Vocal Competition, 3rd Place (2023); Music International Gran Prix, LA District, 2nd Place (2023); and National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Cal-Western, 3rd place (2023). She performed a youth principal role in LA Opera’s Las Tres Mujeres de Jerusalem (2022) and is an ambassador of LA Opera Connects. Lilliana would like to thank her parents, Kathleen Martin and her team and her dog Daisy for all of their love and support throughout her musical journey. This is Lilliana’s first year participating in Spotlight
Ruby Moncrieff-Karten (Acting), 17, is a junior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she performs with The Opera Company and the Musical Theater Ensemble. Roles include: Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, and Queenie in The Wild Party Film work includes: The Keeping Hours opposite Carrie Coon. Awards include: National Youth Arts (NYA) Best Actress for Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (2020) and Spotlight Non-Classical Voice Semifinalist (2022 & 2023). Ruby enjoys assembling a killer cheese board, re-watching Fleabag and conversing with her cats. She thanks her parents, grandmothers, friends and teachers (Erica Robson, Alison Andreas, Suzanna Guzmán, Chris Hunter and Chanel Castaneda) for their guidance and support. This is Ruby’s third year participating in Spotlight
Calli Perryman (Dance), 15, is a sophomore at Murrieta Valley High School, where she is on the Varsity Dance Team. She trains at Murrieta Dance Project and Academy of Ballet Arts. Calli has been training in dance for 12 years. Her dance mentor is Justin Pham, a talented choreographer and Spotlight alum. Awards include: Spotlight Semifinalist in Dance (2022) and a Radix and Nuvo National Dance Convention Teen Core Performer (2021). Calli loves the emotion of dance and is inspired to make people understand the story behind the choreography. Outside of dance, she loves animals and visiting new places. Calli would love to dance professionally in a contemporary company. She would like to thank her family, teachers and friends for their support. This is Calli’s second year participating in Spotlight
Jackson Petty (Jazz Instrumental), 15, is a sophomore in the Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High School under Director Philip Topping, where he plays guitar in the A Combo and A Band. He studies with Kevin Kanner and Lee Secard and is mentored by piano player Lou Foresteri. Coming from a family of professional musicians, Jackson plays piano, cello and guitar and composes and arranges, but began focusing on Jazz guitar in seventh grade at Walter Reed Middle School. He has played with the All City Jazz Band at the Hollywood Bowl and attended Jazz in the Pines at Idyllwild Arts, receiving an Outstanding Performance Scholarship (2022 & 2023). His two main influences are Wes Montgomery and his father Dan Petty. This is Jackson’s first year participating in Spotlight
Chase Rogers (Ballet), 18, is a senior at California Preparatory Academy and has been dancing since he was nine-years-old. Chase trains at the San Francisco Ballet School, under the direction of Patrick Armand with Pascal Molat. Awards include: Spotlight Honorable Mention (2021) and YoungArts Finalist (2022). He has also trained with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Ballet West, and Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy. Chase thanks his parents for their constant support helping him navigate through life. He also thanks his teachers Amanda Cobb and Julie Binowtiz for their guidance. Chase has performed in leading children’s roles with ABT productions and student roles in San Francisco Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Giselle and Cinderella. Chase plans to dance professionally next year with Tulsa Ballet II. This is Chase’s second year participating in Spotlight
William Schwartzman (Jazz Instrumental), 18, is a senior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where he plays in the Big Band and Blue Note Combo under Alex Hahn. He has studied Jazz piano with Taylor Eigsti, Tyler Henderson, Daniel Rotem and the late Mike Lang. He is a member of Colburn School’s Thursday Night Band under Lee Secard. William played at the 2022 Monterey and Vail Jazz festivals and will play at Carnegie Hall and tour Europe with the National Youth Orchestra Jazz this summer. Awards include: DownBeat Magazine Jazz Soloist and Composition Student Music Awards (2022-2023); National YoungArts Honorable Mention in Jazz Piano (2022). He thanks his parents, teachers and friends.
William will attend The Juilliard School this fall. This is William’s third year participating in Spotlight
Erica Wang (Classical Instrumental), 17, is a senior at Canyon Crest Academy. She studies flute with Pam Martchev and Linda Chesis. As the principal flutist of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA 2022), she has performed at Carnegie Hall and toured Europe under the direction of Daniel Harding. Erica is a Wm. Haynes Co. International Young Artist. Awards include: the National Flute Association High School Soloist Competition’s Deveau Scholarship (2020); Goodlin Scholarship Competition, 1st place (2022); and San Diego Flute Guild Youth Artist Competition, 1st place (2019). Erica has participated in Beyond the Masterclass and the Domaine Forget International Music Festival. She has performed in masterclasses with Emmanuel Pahud, Julien Beaudiment, Jim Walker, Denis Bouriakov, Jennifer Gunn and Demarre McGill. This is Erica’s second year participating in Spotlight
Nathaniel Yue (Classical Instrumental), 16, is a sophomore at San Marino High School. He studies cello with Vardan Gasparyan and Ronald Leonard, chamber music in Colburn School’s Ed and Mari Edelman Honors Chamber program and is the American Youth Symphony’s Anne Warsaw Cello Chair. Performances include: NPR’s From the Top; Meadowmount School of Music Student Recital Series; L.A. County Museum of Art’s Sunday’s Live; and Colburn Honors Recitals. Awards in 2023 include: Music Teacher’s National Association’s National Finalist and YoungArts Merit Winner. He is the Back to Bach Project co-regional director and Tuesday Musicale Juniors’ president and enjoys being on his school’s robotics team. Nathaniel thanks his family, teachers and mentors for their support and guidance. Special thanks to Georg Eittinger of Hans Weisshaar Violin Makers. This is Nathaniel’s second year participating in Spotlight
The Music Center is pleased to recognize and thank the following donors for their endowment and planned gifts in support of the Spotlight program:
The Ashkenas and Fabian Family
Kathryn A. Ballsun
Pamela and Dennis Beck
Mary Levin Cutler
The Dorothy and Sherrill C. Corwin Fund
The Sylvia Kunin Piano Grant
Diane and Leon Morton
James B. Pendleton Foundation
Fredric Roberts
Mary H. Shambra
By creating an endowment fund or including The Music Center in your will, you will create a lasting legacy for Spotlight students for generations to come. For more information, or to develop a plan that meets your philanthropic goals, contact Debra Beadle at (323) 972-3358 or email dbeadle@musiccenter.org
Lead Endowment Benefactor
Fredric Roberts
Principal Scholarship Benefactors
Helen and Peter Bing
Principal Benefactors
Marie H. Song
The Hearst Foundations
Terri and Jerry Kohl
Benefactors
Edgerton Foundation
Anonymous
Visionaries
Pamela and Dennis Beck
Dorothy B. Chandler Program Fund
Helen Funai Erickson
Glorya Kaufman Foundation
Alexandra Seros and Bruno Seros-Ulloa in memory of Walter Ulloa
Frank Sherwood Performing Arts Fund
I.N. and Susanna H. Van Nuys Foundation
Ambassadors
Maria V. Altman Foundation
Teresita and Shelby Notkin
Albert Parvin Foundation
James B. Pendleton Foundation
Julia Strickland and Timothy Wahl
Cathy Stone
Alyce de Roulet Williamson
Advocates
Louise and John Bryson
Michael Dreyer
Bobbi and Henry Fields
Suzanne and Richard Kayne
Anita Mann Kohl and Allen D Kohl
Natsuo Kawada
Beth and Leslie Michelson
Thomas Weinberger and Leslie Vermut
Susan and Josh Wieder
Patrons
Judith Jenkins
Michael Patzakis
Nan Rae
Mildred Rotter
Supporters
Marcy Gross
Special thanks to Broadway
Dreams and Interlochen Arts Academy for providing scholarships to attend summer camps.
*Gifts and commitments as of May 15, 2023
Enthusiasts
Anthem
Susan Baumgarten and David Totheroh
Mary Ann Hunt-Jacobsen and Eric Jacobsen
Jane Jelenko and Paul Greenberg
Nancy Huang-Sommer
Alan Oppenheimer
Rodriguez, Horii, Choi & Cafferata LLP
Rose and Michael Pagano
Mimi Rotter
Margaret (Peggy) Parker Grauman was a long-time advocate, patron and volunteer for the arts. She enjoyed a lifelong love of music, especially the piano. She dedicated her talents to The Music Center in numerous ways, including serving as a member of The Blue Ribbon since 1978.
Peggy chaired the Winterfest Gala 35 years ago, which launched the creation of The Music Center’s Spotlight program. After Winterfest, Peggy went on to chair many more Spotlight galas, helping to foster over three decades of young artists. Her passion for the arts and gracious spirit will live on through the students whose lives are touched by Spotlight
Walter Ulloa was a trailblazing force, dedicating his life to increasing the representation of Latino communities across the United States. He championed Latinx voices not only through his career as cofounder, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Entravision Communications Corporation, but also through his many generous philanthropic pursuits.
Walter was a longtime patron and friend of The Music Center where he served on the Board of Directors. As a champion of young artists, he was a dedicated supporter of the Spotlight program. In 2017, Walter received The Music Center’s Leadership Award for his incredible work in business and the community. His legacy will be felt for generations to come.
The mission of The Music Center’s Spotlight program is to provide a supportive environment in which high school students can develop the skills needed to pursue their dreams, with an emphasis on self-esteem, preparation and perseverance. Spotlight is a key part of The Music Center’s commitment to providing artistic excellence and advancing quality arts education. Whether or not these students pursue a career in the arts, Spotlight empowers them with the confidence and presentation skills that are vital in any field. Tonight’s performance is the culmination of an intensive, year-long educational process that includes the following components:
1 2 3 4
Students submit audition videos and advance to live auditions based on the recommendations of distinguished panels of judges. Each student who auditions receives a personal letter with detailed feedback from the judges, identifying strengths and suggesting areas for improvement. Cash scholarships called Merit Awards are provided to select students in each preliminary category.
Each year, Spotlight presents mastery classes for our Semifinalists with renowned artists in all program categories. Most classes are open to all students and are designed to help them develop artistry and musicality.
Semifinalists audition before panels of distinguished judges and receive feedback and cash scholarships. One student in each category is named Honorable Mention, and two students are selected as Grand Prize Finalists. The 14 Grand Prize Finalists go on to perform at the Spotlight Grand Finale
Students have access to an episodic series of online tutorial videos created to help aspiring young artists gain valuable insights on arts careers, workforce development skills and tips on how to apply to Spotlight
To apply to The Music Center’s Spotlight program and for more information, visit musiccenter.org or email spotlight@musiccenter.org.
For the last two years, The Music Center’s Spotlight program has embarked on a quest to discover how we might broaden our impact by supporting a wider array of participants as they pursue their creative potential, not only onstage, but also offstage through careers in the creative economy. We recognize there is a whole world of discovery for young people interested in a career in the entertainment and creative industries such as production, costuming, media arts, marketing, writing and beyond!
To that end, we worked with the Monitor Institute by Deloitte to better understand the workforce readiness needs and skills that employers in these fields see as critically important; most identified the need for greater development of social and creative intelligence, including:
● Communication — to support presentation and interview skills;
● Resiliency — to support professional risk-taking;
● Curiosity — to support creative problem solving;
● Adaptability — to support navigating workforce politics; and
● Confidence — to support healthy boundaries.
Studio: Creative Futures was designed to offer students a learning-based curriculum that focuses on social-emotional skills, meeting a specific workplace need and providing participants with life skills they can benefit from, no matter their career choice. Following our research and curriculum design phases, last year we began to embark on a series of workshops where Spotlight staff and teaching artists help young adults, ages 17–21, create stronger social bonds, learn about career awareness, and develop greater emotional and mental wellbeing to take the next steps to a fulfilling career.
This free program helps participants chart a path toward their first “offstage” opportunities in the creative industries.
Daniel Guzman
Broadway and Touring include: Cyrano, The Musical, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita
Jacqueline Obradors
Actor, TV credits include, Daisy Jones and the Six, Freeforms’ The Watchful Eye, NYPD Blues.
Gita Reddy
Actor, writer. TV credits include: Marvel’s Iron Fist, Silicon Valley, Orange Is the New Black ; Films: Eat, Pray Love
Lee Taylor-Allan
Actor, teacher and lecturer. Off Broadway, Young Playwright’s Festival, Yale Drama.
Randy Thompson
Actor and Educator. Off Broadway, regional and international productions.
Ballet
Ellen Bauer
Former Soloist/ Principal: National Ballet of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet.
Molly Bogunovic
Former dancer: Pennsylvania Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet. Faculty: USC Gloria Kaufman School of Dance
Lorin Johnson
Former Soloist: American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet. Faculty: CSU Long Beach.
Francine Kessler Lavac
Former Soloist: Ballet West, Harkness Ballet Company.
Adrian Blake Mitchell
Former Soloist: Mikhailovsky Theater. Artistic Director of Dance in Color.
Dr. John Burdett
Faculty: Azusa Pacific University, Director
Instrumental Studies,
Director of Bands, Graduate Music Education.
Dr. Susan Helfter Faculty: USC, Chair, Music Teaching & Learning Dept., Director, Thornton Community Engagement.
David Scott
Faculty: Chapman University, Adjunct Professor, Instrumental Conducting.
Dr. Simeon Simeonov
Faculty: Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSU Long Beach, Director of String Studies.
Dr. Louise Thomas Faculty: Chapman University, Assoc. Dean, College of Performing Arts, Dir. of Keyboard Collaborative Arts
Classical Voice
Dr. Peter Atherton Faculty: Chapman University, Chair of Music and Director of Operatic Studies; LA Opera.
Luvi Avendano
Artist, Conductor, Educator; The Industry, Pacific Opera Project, Opera Santa Barbara
Melodee Fernandez National Assoc. of Teachers of Singing LA Chapter, LA Opera Zarzuela Project featured soprano.
Patricia Gee
Artist; Faculty: Chapman University, University of Redlands, Adjunct Professor of Voice; Operafestival di Roma.
Marco Schindelmann Artist; Faculty and Director: University Opera, University of Redlands. Arts Council President, Long Beach City
Dance
Macarena Gandarillas Faculty: CSU Fullerton. Film, TV, Broadway tours, Las Vegas performer.
Bill Goodson
Dancer, Director.
Choreographed for Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Paula Abdul.
Dee Kaye Klega
Co-founder: Teatro Electrio Dance, Italy. Lead Dancer: Canali 5, the Rai in Italy.
Gabrielle Ruiz
Stars on The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; Broadway: If/Then, Evita, In the Heights
Mike Weir
Former Principal: Omaha Ballet Company, Manning Freed Dance Theater. Broadway/Tours: Evita, A Chorus Line
Jazz Instrumental
Kristen Edkins
Saxophonist, recording artist, teacher. Member: MONK’estra, Clare Fischer Band, Mandel’s band.
Dr. James Ford
Trumpet player.
Performances with Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, MONKestra, Benjamin Wright Orchestra.
Thomas Luer Saxophonist. Performances with Poncho Sanchez, Gordon Goodwin, Queen Latifah. Faculty: Cal Poly Pomona
Otmaro Ruíz
GRAMMY® nominated Venezuelan pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and recording artist.
Aarón Serfaty
Session and touring drummer. Faculty: USC, Cal Arts, Los Angeles Music Academy.
Barrett Foa
Stars in CBS’ NCIS LA
Broadway: Avenue Q , The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Mamma Mia!
Daniel Guzman
Broadway and Touring include: Cyrano, The
Musical, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita
Carly Hughes
Broadway and TV actor including ABC’s American Housewife. Princess Grace Award recipient.
Carla Renata
Broadway: Avenue Q , The Lion King (NAACP Theatre Award Nominee), Smokey Joe’s Café
Gabrielle Ruiz
Stars on The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; Broadway: If/Then, Evita, In the Heights
Christopher Youngsman
Broadway and Touring include: Urinetown, Grease!; Films: Across the Universe.
Jukka Aromaa
Molly Bogunovic
Melissa Bowman
John Burdett
Leslie CarothersAromaa
Julietta Corti
Michael Davis
Margaret Dehning
Joanne DiVito
Patricia Gee
Ilene Graff
Daniel Guzman
Susan Helfter
Susan Kim-Pedroza
Dee Kaye Klega
Andrew Langham
Andrea Lassakova
Francine Kessler Lavac
Marie France Levesque
Lee Lindenlaub
Mark Antonio Lopez
Thomas Luer
Adrian Blake Mitchell
Kim O’Rourke
Jacqueline Petitto
Carla Renata
Greg Sadler
Marco Schindelmann
Simeon Simeonov
Marek Szpakiewicz
Jamey Tate
Amy Tatum
Louise Thomas
Randy Thompson
Sakura Tsai
Mike Weir
Gary Woodward
Leif Thomas Woodward
Christopher Youngsman
Acting
Carla Renata
Award-winning Broadway and TV actor. Host of The Curvy Film
Critic
Ballet
Sascha Radestsky
Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Soloist, American Ballet Theatre.
Classical Instrumental
Bernadene Blaha (Piano) Faculty: USC, Keyboard Studies.
Steven Becknell (French Horn) Faculty: USC, Winds & Percussion.
Ben Hong (Cello)
Associate Principal: LA Phil.
Carolyn Hove (Oboe) LA Phil, English Horn soloist.
Catherine Karoly (Flute)
Associate Principal: LA Phil. Faculty: USC, Winds & Percussion.
Shawn Mouser (Bassoon) Associate Principal: LA Phil.
Joann Turovsky (Harp) Principal: LA Chamber Orchestra, Faculty: USC, Strings.
Bing Wang (Violin) Associate Concertmaster: LA Phil.
Classical Voice
Suzanna Guzmán Mezzo-soprano. Original Associate Artists of LA Opera. GRAMMY® nominated.
Dance
Kyle Abraham Faculty: USC, Glorya Kaufman School of Dance; Founding Director Abraham.In.Motion.
Jazz Instrumental
Paul Cartwright (Violin) Recording artist; LA Phil soloist at the Hollywood Bowl.
William Cunliffe (Piano) Grammy Award-winning composer, arranger, pianist.
Alexander Iles (Trombone) Artist & Clinician. Faculty: Cal Arts, Azusa Pacific College, CSUN.
Ronald McCurdy (Trumpet) Faculty: USC, Jazz Studies, Assistant Dean.
Roy McCurdy (Drums) Faculty: USC, Jazz Studies, recording artist.
Darek Oleszkiewicz (Bass) Faculty: USC, Jazz Studies.
Bob Sheppard (Saxophone) Faculty: USC, Jazz Studies, recording artist.
Nick Stoubis (Guitar) Faculty: USC, Chair, Studio Guitar Program.
Non-Classical Voice
Douglas Sills Broadway and TV Actor, HBO’s The Gilded Age; Tony® & Drama Desk Award nominations.
Acting
Classical Instrumental
Anaiya Asomugha*
Cassidy May Benullo
Jesse Brasler
Noella Egelsee
Henry Erhard
Emily Gorin
Alexis Helmer
Giovanna Martinez
Micah MikoLevine
Rebekah Raphling
Ana Rodriguez
Marielle Rose
Mae Ryness
Elim Uraimov
Ballet
Emma Chen
Aimee Cho
Calder Feinstein
Alfredo-Totocani
Garcia*
Julianna Hatton
Pavel Kulev
Madeleine Lee
Michelle Lu
Fiona Poth
Clara Riggs
Stella Stulik
Preston Walker
Haven Anneliese Ward
Towako Wunsch
Acting
Amalia Goshtigian
Philly Kang
Itzel Meza-Ruiz
Joseph Morgan
Grace O’Neil
Zoe Parker
Bradyn Prisand
Addie Schumacher
Emerson West
George Zemla
Ballet
Luke Alcaraz
Tatum Bolton
Josephine Chung
Mai Ishiyama
Ivy Lanhardt
Addison Leitch
Salvatore Lodi
Paige Minton
Jacqueline Navarrete
Hayley Winslow
Em Ellis
Anais Feller
Ariana Kim
Subin Kim
David Kwon
Calene Lee
Kristine Lu
Jessica O’Brien
Alvin Wang
Kyle Yeung*
Joseph Yoo
Helaine Zhao
Chunyi Zhou
Classical Voice
Asher Bartfeld
Allen Cai
Victoria Curet*
Jaxson Glowacki
Madison Heinle
Grace Huynh
Michaela Lau
John Leslie
Ryan Liddy
Callie Pyken
Felicity Robles
Viveka Saravanan
Nakshatra Srinivasan
Genevieve Velarde
Dance
Sammi Chung
Ayanna Dowell
Dakotah Faunteroy
Avery Hall
Annabel Kohn
Ivy Lanhardt
Andrea Martínez
Mallory McKenna
Christine Ng
Sage Reeves
Megan Reta*
Isabella Silva
Rianne Thomas
Lila Tsang
Luciana Vun
Jazz Instrumental
Keilani Akina Bolhuis
Aiden Daneshrad
Charles French
Max Gilbert
Garrett Khatchaturian
Jordan Klein
Taylor Lee
Jack Lieberman*
Joseph Mintz
Ian Shin
Quinn Sims
Stellan Swanlund
Nathan Tatsuta
Daniel Wijedasa
Classical Instrumental
Hannah Cho
Galileo Skye
Chrisman Caro
Ian Fleck
Ashley Interiano
Mira Kardan
Lucie Kim
Minjae (Jaden) Kim
Hannah Webb
Zheng Hua Xia
Kailey Yun
Classical Voice
Mia Baron
Trinity Dela Cruz
Melanie Juniel
Samara Kohne
Danny Mendieta
Joon-Hyung Noh
Eliza Tait
Sophia Thompson
Lavinia Watkins
Jeffrey Yang
Dance
Junxin Chen
Ryan Edge
Devin Glass
Madeleine Lee
Mia Lopez
Paige Minton
Jaden Mooney
Kaitlyn Ortega
Madison Ortega
Tyler Washington
Jazz Instrumental
Devan Aguirre
Michael Blasi
Julian Chiu
Andrew Doerr
Cruz Anthony Herrera
Ariel Meron
Allie Molin
Maxwell Rubin
Luciano Soriano
Lia Tompkins
Aria Gunn
René Harris*
Lexi Hoek
Giovanna Martinez
Helen Martinez
Ruby Moncrieff-Karten
Maxine Park
Joan Park
Kennedy Percival
Sophie Pollono
Bradyn Prisand
Callie Pyken
Jassir Rivera
Drew Tillman
*Honorable Mention
Sophie Beck
Maya Bishop
Chloe Cruz
Anna Lisa Gnielinski
Cole Kaller
Keegan McGowan
Desirae Montoya
Candace Porter
Mia Rivera
Eden Wright
Nicole Alexander is an Australian transplant by way of NYU’s film program. She spent several years as a director/ creative-producer at MTV, and in 2016, founded Hashtag, You’re It, where she creates multi-platform content for networks, production houses, agencies, brands and artists. She helped launch Instagram’s video channel; has directed and produced for Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, NBC-Universal, PBS and iHeart Radio; and has produced TV tentpole events including the L.A County Holiday Celebration, The Comedy Awards and Eddie Murphy: One Night Only. She is currently the co-executive producer on Netflix’s Number #1 Reality Show Selling Sunset following the role of producer/shooter on Hulu’s The Kardashians (Seasons 1-2). Nicole produced, directed and edited the 2020 and 2021 digital Spotlight shows and the video content for the 2022 live show.
Jamey Tate is a highly sought-after drummer, composer/arranger, producer and musical director. He has toured and/or recorded with artists such as David Benoit, Al Jarreau, Mindi Abair, Jane Monheit, The New York Voices and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. He can be heard on NBC’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar featuring John Legend and Sara Bareilles. Jamey has recorded on films such as Pixar’s Purl, Disney’s Us Again, Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys and Netflix’s The Gray Man. He has also written music for a wide-ranging list of clients including Walt Disney World Resort, AT&T, McDonalds, ESPN, ABC Television and many more. Tate is a performing artist with Sakae Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks and ProLogix Practice Instruments.
Dawn Comer Jefferson is an awardwinning writer, producer, author and teaching artist. She has written and produced for studios and networks including Starz, 20th Century Fox, Disney, CBS, TeenNick and MTV and developed a pilot at NBC/Universal. She has written Emmy ®-winning arts programming for PBS, is developing a scripted series based on the PBS documentary, Mr. Barney Ford, and is writing a limited series for producers Suzanne de Passe and Willette Klausner. Author of several books, Comer Jefferson’s essays have been featured in the travel anthology, Go Girl: The Black Woman’s Guide to Travel and Adventure, an Oprah Magazine book pick, and its sequel coming out in 2023. Comer Jefferson teaches screenwriting at Stephens College and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
A choreographer, director, creative producer and educator, Cherice Barton’s creative projects include work with Julie Taymor, George Lucas, Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry, Franco Dragone, Jeremy Scott and Vincent Paterson. Credits also include the GRAMMY ® Awards, America’s Got Talent, Dragone Productions Le Rêve, Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark on Broadway, Lucasfilm Animation, American Ballet Theatre, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Dance Camera West and The Juilliard School, among others. She is the co-founder of Axis Connect, an educational platform for professional dancers.
Raul Herrera Jr. is a Mexican-American playwright, educator and spoken word artist who has been involved with the Los Angeles-based education nonprofit, Get Lit Words Ignite. His writing is featured in Get Lit Rising, Coiled Serpent published by Tia Chucha Press, LA Press. He is the author of Dante, a modern Hip-Hop adaptation of Dante’s Inferno, produced by Tim Robbins and The Actor’s Gang. Herrera was featured as a writer and performer in the film Summertime, directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.
Derek Christiansen is a theatrical designer and practitioner of interactive entertainment. Ruby O’Brien is a craftsperson, theatrical designer and visual artist. Based in Los Angeles, d.purpurea studio is the theatrical and interactive entertainment design partnership of Christiansen and O’Brien. They utilize their theatrical experience in projections, lighting and scenic design to enhance an audience’s interaction with the narrative of theatre and live performance, film and broadcast media, and interactive entertainment experiences. More information at dpurpurea.studio
Cherice Barton Choreographer, Opening Number Raul Herrera Jr. Poet, Opening Number Derek Christiansen & Ruby O’Brien ProjectionSpotlight Finale
Creative Team
Jeri Gaile
Executive Producer, Fredric Roberts, Director, Spotlight
Nicole Alexander
Creative Producer/ Video Director/Editor
Dawn Comer Jefferson Writer
Jamey Tate
Music Director
Derek Christiansen & Ruby O’Brien
Projection Designer
Azra King-Abadi
Lighting Designer
Ben Kanselbaum
Sound Designer
Dr. Louise Thomas Collaborative Artist
Barbara Donner
Stage Manager
Meredith Greenburg
Stage Manager
Cherice Barton
Choreographer, Opening Number
Raul Herrera Jr. Poet, Opening Number
Production Staff
Jordan Adelman Coordinator, Spotlight
Lily Alia General Manager, Producing
Monique Carroll Associate Producer, Manager, Spotlight
Noah Gladstone
Music Contractor
Evan M. Greenspan Inc. Music Clearance
U-Jung Jung Coordinator, Producing
John McCoy
Photographer
Patrick Traylor
Associate Producer, Senior Manager, Producing
Jasira Woods
Senior Coordinator, Producing
Hashtag You’re It
Nicole Alexander Director/Producer/ Editor
Gareth Taylor Director of Photography
Luka Stemberger VFX/Graphics
Marcos Contreras Sound
David Shearer Sound
Kenny Valera Production Assistant
The Music Center Executive Staff
Rachel S. Moore President and CEO
Howard Sherman
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Josephine Ramirez Executive Vice President, TMC Arts
William Taylor
Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Shelby D. Boagni Senior Vice President, People and Culture
Bonnie Goodman Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Cheryl Brown Interim Senior Vice President, Advancement
The Music Center Staff
Belby Aguillon Coordinator, Advancement
Michelle Alfonso Controller, Finance
Serena Bernolak Director, Events and Stewardship, Advancement
Laura Canon Accounts Payable Specialist, Finance
Jason Clark Director, Production
Gil Diaz Manager, Media Relations
Hannah Doerr Coordinator, Advancement
Lisa Ducore Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Brand Communications
Megan Gillespie Outreach Advisor, Spotight
Liliana Gonzalez Senior Event Operations Coordinator
Stephanie Kao Mgr. Web Content & Digital Analytics
Hillary Litherland Social Media Strategy and Content Manager
Victoria McElroy Human Resources Director, People & Culture
Mayra Medina Clerk, Donor Records
David Modisett Manager, Financial Planning
Corisa Moreno Manager, Studio: Creative Futures, Spotlight
Marisol Moro Garcia
Scheduling and Lease Events Administrator
Cindy Rauch Manager, Accounts Payable/Receivable
Sofia Saenz Coordinator, Marketing and Brand Communications
Marielle Shrock Marketing Specialist, Marketing and Communications
Laurie A. Selik Senior Director, Institutional Giving
Sharon Stewart Director of Scheduling and Events
Melissa Tan Assistant Vice President, Ticketing and Marketing Strategy
Ken Tally Senior Scheduling Administrator
Melanye Taylor Assistant Director, Data and Analytics
Carolyn Van Brunt Vice President, Guest Services
Keith Wyffels
Associate Vice President, Education
Spotlight Facilitators:
Aynsley Bubbico
Emily Cruden
Dee Kaye Klega
Spotlight Feedback
Letter Writers
Megan Adcock
Molly Bogunovic
Aynsley Bubbico
Alex Budman
Chelsea Chaves Tan
Emily Rumack Cruden
Dee Kaye Klega
Jeremiah Lussier
Kyla McCarrel
Jean-Pierre Mora
Meg Rumsey-Lasersohn
Jared Storz
Leaha Villarreal
Spotlight Orchestra
Katisse Buckingham
Nick Daley
Jeff Driskill
Jamie Hovorka
David Hughes
Jake Reed
Matt Rohde
Rob Schaer
Justin Smith
Alan Steinberger
Dorothy Chandler House Staff
House Manager
Robert Devis
Head of Carpentry
Tim Conroy
Head of Properties
Dennis Holbrook
Head Electrician
Ryan Lebetsamer
Head of Audio/Video
Todd Reynolds
Head Ushers
Demetra Willis and Santa Roman-Garcia
The stage crew, wardrobe crew, makeup artists & hair stylists, and box office staff are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States of America and Canada, AFL-CIO, CKC, Local Numbers 33, 768, 706 and 857, respectively. The House Managers employed by The Music Center are represented by the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers.
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Officers
Cindy Miscikowski Chair
Robert J. Abernethy Vice Chair
Darrell R. Brown Vice Chair
Rachel S. Moore President & CEO
Diane G. Medina Secretary
Susan M. Wegleitner Treasurer
William Taylor Assistant Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Charles F. Adams
William H. Ahmanson
Jill C. Baldauf
Susan E. Baumgarten
Phoebe Beasley
Thomas L. Beckmen
Dannielle Campos
Amy R. Forbes
Greg T. Geyer
Jeffrey M. Hill
Carl Jordan
Terri M. Kohl
Kent Kresa
Lily Lee
Cary J. Lefton
Keith R. Leonard, Jr.
David B. Lippman
Susan M. Matt
Elizabeth Michelson
Darrell D. Miller
Shelby Notkin
Teresita Notkin
Michael J. Pagano
Cynthia M. Patton
Karen Kay Platt
Joseph J. Rice
Melissa Romain
Beverly P. Ryder
Maria S. Salinas
Lisa See
Mimi Song
Matthew J. Spence
Johnese Spisso
Philip A. Swan
Timothy S. Wahl
Alyce de Roulet
Williamson
Jay S. Wintrob
General Counsel
Rollin A. Ransom
Wallis Annenberg
Peter K. Barker
Judith Beckmen
Ronald W. Burkle
John B. Emerson **
Richard M. Ferry
Brindell Gottlieb
Bernard A. Greenberg
Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr.
Glen A. Holden
Edward J. McAniff
Fredric M. Roberts
Richard K. Roeder
Claire L. Rothman
Joni J. Smith
Lisa Specht **
Cynthia A. Telles
James A. Thomas
Andrea L. Van de Kamp **
Thomas R. Weinberger
** Chair Emeritus
TMC Arts creates inclusive arts and cultural experiences that champion the diverse voices and communities of Los Angeles. Offering distinctive performances and events that will delight and surprise you, many of which are free and low-cost, TMC Arts curates participatory and immersive experiences and opportunities to express your creativity. You’ll find a connection with others in the community who participate in these experiences, be they artists, performers or fellow participants.
With programs for all ages in a wide range of types and genres, TMC Arts programs take place outdoors on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center and in Grand Park, inside the theatres on The Music Center campus, as well as in schools and neighborhoods all over L.A. County. For more information, visit musiccenter.org/tmcarts