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Holly Lacey, a rising senior at South Pasadena High School, has won the prestigious Music Center Spotlight Competition in the classical instrumental category. “It was a dream come true,” Lacey tells us. “Especially for the opportunity to make my debut performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.” On June 4, 2024, Lacey joined the other Spotlight winners for a live performance at the renowned Los Angeles concert venue. “Growing up in Southern California, Walt Disney Concert Hall was the venue for me where all the great musicians came to perform. From a young age, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend performances at this iconic venue, witnessing esteemed artists like Itzhak Perlman and Hilary Hahn grace its stage time and time again. It was truly an honor and privilege to perform on this same stage.”
Along with Lacey, 13 other Southern California students, from Los Angeles to San Diego counties, were named Grand Prize finalists in The Music Center’s 36th Annual Spotlight program, a nationally acclaimed free performing arts competition, scholarship and artistic development program for teens. Each finalist receives a $5,000 scholarship. This year’s Grand Prize finalists were selected from more than 1,520 applicants who competed in seven artistic catergories: acting, classical instrumental, classical voice, contemporary instrumental, dance and non-classical voice.
“The scholarship provided to us by the generous donors is also deeply appreciated, especially as I begin working on college applications and auditions this next school year,” says Lacey. “The Spotlight Competition was also very good practice for college auditions because there were several stages over many months we had to undergo including a video audition, and then two live rounds of auditions before we were named grand prize finalists.”
It’s a huge feat and honor to be named one of only two classical music grand finalists, something not lost on Lacey. “It means so much to win and be recognized for the years of hard work we have all put into our art. I am so grateful to my teacher, Margaret Batjer, for all of her dedication and patience and to the Colburn School.”
Lacey also recognizes the support she received right here in South Pasadena. “I would like to give a shout out to Ms. Ashley Diggs, who since my time at Marengo Elementary and South Pasadena Middle School really encouraged us and supported the instrumental program in South Pasadena. I am really grateful for her investment in our school programs and in our community.”
During the monthslong competition, which began in fall 2023, the young artists were able to meet with each other during a range of audition and performance, received feedback from industry professionals and more than $100,000 in cash was awarded. To date, The Music Center has awarded more than $2.8 million in scholarships.
“I especially loved meeting the other winners in their respective disciplines in dance and voice and acting and contemporary voice,” says Lacey emphatically. “Engaging with other winners who are extraordinarily talented and accomplished in their disciplines was truly a highlight. The Spotlight Team of Jeri Gaile, Monique Caroll, and Jordan Adelman to name a few were truly amazing to work with.”
This summer Lacey will be attending two music festivals, including the Meadowmount School of Music, and in the fall, she will be heading into her senior year here at South Pasadena High School and her college application process.
With two students winning in each of the seven categories, this year’s Spotlight Grand Prize finalists are:
Acting: Harry Orenstein, 18, and Skyla Woodard, 17, both 12th grade students at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Ballet: Amelie Bott-Suzuki, 14, a 9th grader at California Connections Academy; and Isabella Howard, 16, a 10th grader at Nevada Virtual Learning Academy.
Classical Instrumental: Holly Lacey, 17, an 11th grade student at South Pasadena High School; and Kyle Yeung, 16, a 10th grade student at Pacific Academy.
Classical Voice: Meghan Linnington, 17, a 12th grader at California Connections Academy; and Callie Chae Pyken, 16, a 10th grader at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Contemporary Instrumental: Jack Lieberman, 18, a 12th grade student at Agoura High School; and Savannah Tweedt, 18, a 12th grade student at Orange County School of the Arts.
Dance: Andrea Martínez, 16, an 11th grader; and Isabella Silva, 16, a 10th grader—both attending Orange County School of the Arts.
Non-Classical Voice: Mia Rivera, 17, a 12th grade student at San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts; and Kai Wright, 17, an 11th grade student at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
“Congratulations to the 2024 Spotlight Grand Prize finalists for their exceptional achievement! The countless hours of auditions and rehearsals during their yearlong journey have paid off magnificently,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “Dorothy Buffum Chandler, who founded The Music Center 60 years ago, was a fervent advocate of instilling the values of the performing arts in young people. She would be overjoyed to know that tens of thousands of local youth benefit from Spotlight and have made their families, schools and communities immensely proud. I commend all of this year’s applicants for their dedication during the competition, and I wish each of them continued success in their artistic accomplishments.”
The Grand Prize finalists showcased their incredible talents at The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, the first time in five years that the finale was held in the iconic venue. The finale offered a look into each of the finalists’ lives, with behind-the-scenes footage detailing their artistic journey and Spotlight experience.
“What an honor it is for the Spotlight team to have inspired and guided more than 54,000 young artists in Southern California for 36 years!” said Jeri Gaile, Fredric Roberts director of The Music Center’s Spotlight. “The students’ perseverance and passion for the performing arts are praiseworthy—I give all of them a standing ovation for being able to juggle school, rehearsals and Spotlight.”
In addition to the 14 Grand Prize finalists, The Music Center also named one honorable mention in each of the seven categories. This year’s honorable mentions, who garnered a $1,000 scholarship, include: Callie Chae Pyken, a 10th grade student at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, in acting; Alfredo-Totocani García, a 12th grader who is homeschooled, in ballet; Minji Choi, a 9th grade student from Northwood High School, in classical instrumental; Madison Becerra, an 11th grader at Orange County School of the Arts, in classical voice; Logan Macy, a 9th grade student at Orange County School of the Arts, in dance; David Lim, a 10th grader at Idyllwild Arts Academy, in contemporary instrumental; and Lena Embry, a 12th grade student at California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley, in non-classical voice.
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; 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.
For more information about The Music Center’s Spotlight program, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight or follow @musiccenterspotlight on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and @spotlightawards on X.
