Sunday, May 1, 2022

Altadena Student Announced as Grand Prize Finalist in The Music Center’s 34th Annual Spotlight Program

STAFF REPORT

The Music Center in Los Angeles has selected a 17-year-old Altadena student as one of 14 Grand Prize finalists in its 34th annual Spotlight program, a nationally acclaimed performing arts competition, scholarship and artistic development program for teens.

Oscar Yum, 17, a junior at Flintridge Prep School in La Cañada who resides in Altadena, was selected as the Spotlight Grand Prize Finalist for Classical Voice. He will be performing at the Spotlight Grand Finale at the Music Center’s Ahmanson Theater on June 15, showcasing his talent and providing a behind-the-scenes look at his artistic journey through the Spotlight program.

In addition, Yum will receive a $5,000 scholarship, like the other 14 finalists.

Spotlight is a Music Center arts program that provides Southern California teens with expert advice, coaching, auditions and mastery classes taught by professional artists and arts administrators. The program recognizes and rewards all participants throughout the competition with a range of benefits, such as individual feedback from industry professionals, performance opportunities, and more than $100,000 in cash awards through three rounds of auditions.

Held in person for the first time since 2019, this year’s Spotlight Grand Finale will showcase the talents of each of the individual finalists and offer a look into their lives, including how they went through multiple rounds of virtual auditions, improved their technical skills with detailed feedback by industry experts, and learned about their craft by attending classes with world-renowned experts in their discipline.

The 14 Spotlight Grand Prize winners – chosen from a field of 1,300 applicants – include two finalists in each of seven categories: acting, ballet,  dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental.

The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theater is at 135 N Grand Ave. in Los Angeles. The Grand Finale on June 15 begins at 7 p.m.

For more information about the 34th Annual Spotlight program, visit www.musiccenter.org/experience-learn/experience-learn/for-high-school-students-young-adults/spotlight.