Young Artists Shine at 16th Music Center Spotlight Awards
Gala dinner raises more than $250,000 for acclaimed teen talent showcase

Los Angeles – The Music Center of Los Angeles County bestowed top honors on 12 brilliant young performing artists and four top visual artists at the 16th annual Spotlight Awards Saturday, April 17 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Winners received $6,000 and runners-up $3,000. The evening was hosted by actress Mary Steenburgen and actor Jason Ritter, who star on TV’s Joan of Arcadia. Ritter introduced a special tribute to his late father actor John Ritter who hosted the Spotlight Awards in the past. The sold-out event was followed by a gala dinner in the Grand Hall of the Pavilion for nearly 900 that raised more than $250,000 to support the nationally acclaimed teen talent showcase and mentoring program. Dinner co-chairs from Brentwood were Joan & Allan Burns and Leslie Vermut & Tom Weinberger; from Beverly Hills Pamela & Dennis Beck and Carolynne & Ze’ev Drori; and from Bel Air Denise & Tom Decker.

For the first time, a past Spotlight winner returned as a judge, Matthew Rushing, acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principal dancer who got his audition with the company as a direct result of becoming the first non-classical dance winner in 1991, returned to judge that category.

Gregory Arakelian, 18, of Glendale, a senior at Arshag Dickranian Armenian Academy made history as the first male dancer to win the ballet award; runner up was Nicole Haskins, 16, of Venice, a 10th grader at Crossroads School.

Non-classical dance winner was tap dancer Melinda Sullivan, 16, of Newbury Park in Ventura County, an 11th grader at Laurel Springs School; runner-up was Chinese folk dancer Shamrock Clifton, 16, of Monterey Park, an 11th grader at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.

Jazz winner was Victor Gould, 16, of Simi Valley, an 11th grader at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; runner-up was Kristopher Bowers, 15, of the West Adams community of Los Angeles, a 10th grader also at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.

Classical instrumental winner was clarinet player Yao Guang Zhai, 18, of China currently living in Idyllwild in Riverside County, a 10th grader at Idyllwild Arts Academy; runner up was violinist Steven Chen, 17, of Cypress, a 12th grader at Fairmont Preparatory Academy.

Classical voice winner was soprano Devon Guthrie, 17, of Claremont, a senior at St. Lucy’s School; runner-up was baritone Nicholas Boragno, 14, of Corona del Mar a 9th grader at Orange County High School of the Arts.

Non-classical voice winner was Erik Altemus, 17, of Trabuco Canyon in Orange County, an 11th grader at Orange County High School of the Arts; runner-up was Cayt’lan Wayt, 18 of El Segundo a 12th grader at El Segundo High.

Photography winner was Paul Kratt, 17, of Blue Jay in San Bernardino County, an 11th grader at Rim of the World High; runner-up Michael Kim, 17, of Wilshire Park in Los Angeles, a 12th grader at University High School. Two dimensional design winner was Esther Hwang, 16, of La Crescenta, an 11th grader at Crescenta Valley High; runner-up Alyssa DeVille, 17, of Claremont, an 11th grader at Claremont High.

More than 1,200 initially auditioned or submitted art work for the 16th Annual Spotlight Awards. The evening’s celebrity judges were:

Ballet: Gerald Arpino, Helgi Tomasson, Rebecca Wright
Non-Classical Dance: Marguerite Derricks, Donald McKayle, Mathew Rushing
Classical Instrumental: Martin Chalifour, Jorge Mester, David Weiss
Jazz Instrumental: George Duke, Kevin Eubanks, Patrick Williams
Classical Voice: Suzanna Guzmán, Paul Salamunovich, Greg Fedderly
Non-Classical Voice: Kelly Bishop, Marc Geiger, Sam Harris

Academy Award winning actress Liza Minnelli attended with good friend non-classical voice judge Sam Harris; visual arts judge and acclaimed artist Robert Graham attended with his wife Academy Award winning actress Anjelica Huston.

The Spotlight Awards program, begun in 1988, is a premiere artistic competition for gifted Southern California high school students planning performing or visual arts careers. The program added a visual arts competition in 1996 and photography in 1999. Fredric M. Roberts is Spotlight Awards Founding Chairman, Allan Burns is Chairman, Walter Grauman is Creator/Executive Producer, and Jeff Margolis is producer.

Supporters: Principal Program Sponsor Bank of America, Principal Foundation Sponsor The California Community Foundation, Principal Benefactors Helen and Peter Bing, Max H. Gluck Foundation, KB Homes & Occidental Petroleum, Walter Lantz Foundation, Eloise G. Goodhew Barnett, Wal-Mart, Claire and Theodore Morse Foundation, Dorothy B. Chandler Program Fund, James B. Pendleton Foundation, The Young Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The Carsey Family Foundation, The J. Paul Getty Trust, Ralph W. & Leona B. Gerard Family Trust, Winnick Family Foundation, Arletta Tronstein Buchman, The Blue Ribbon Board of Directors.

The program is a support project of the Fraternity of Friends, a volunteer membership organization of businessmen and entertainment professionals who support the Music Center. In 1993, the Fraternity began the Spotlight Mentor Program, chaired by Richard Wilson, to pair student finalists with members who provide support, encouragement and direction.