Two Beverly Hills High School students Bradyn Prisand, left, and Emily Gorin, right, have advanced to the semifinals in an arts contest with more than 1,300 teens across 245 schools. (photo courtesy of the Beverly Hills Unified School District)

Beverly Hills High School students Bradyn Prisand and Emily Gorin were among the 112 high school students across Southern California who advanced to become semifinalists in The Music Center’s 35th Annual Spotlight program, a free, nationally acclaimed performing arts competition and development program for teens. This year, more than 1,300 teens, representing more than 245 schools, 170 cities and eight counties, auditioned for the prestigious program.

A program of The Music Center’s programming arm TMC Arts, Spotlight offers Southern California teens expert advice, coaching, auditions and mastery classes taught by professional artists and arts administrators in seven categories: acting, ballet, dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental. Prisand is competing in non-classical voice and Gorin is competing in acting.

The program recognizes and rewards participants throughout the competition with more than $100,000 in cash awards following three rounds of auditions. The Music Center has given over $2.7 million in scholarships.

All Spotlight applicants receive written feedback from distinguished panels of judges following each audition round to help them improve and gain insight in their performing arts discipline. Spotlight provides students with the opportunity to develop and hone their performance abilities, receive crucial college preparedness skills and gain the confidence to pursue their dreams in the performing arts. Through a supportive environment, students also develop vital life skills, including self-esteem, preparation and perseverance, that benefit them beyond the stage.

“For many participants, Spotlight is their first step in the journey toward a successful future in the arts,” Music Center president and CEO Rachel S. Moore. “We are proud to have provided thousands of aspiring young people with the opportunity to hone their skills and explore their potential. Congratulations to this year’s Spotlight semifinalists for advancing this far in the competition. Your passion for the arts is making Los Angeles – and the world – a better and more joyful place.”

Spotlight semifinalists have the rare opportunity to attend a special mastery class within their discipline with highly regarded artists who share their expertise on performance technique, training and professional life. Experts provide students with invaluable feedback about their performances, offering the students a rich learning experience. Each semifinalist will audition again before a new panel of judges, who will then select the top two finalist performers in each category for a total of 14 Grand Prize Finalists. Judges will also name an Honorable Mention in each category.

The Grand Prize Finalists will perform in The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale on Thursday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

For information, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight or follow @musiccenterspotlight on social media.