Local talent in the Spotlight

The Music Center of Los Angeles County has announced the 90 high school student performers chosen as semifinalists for the 18th annual Music Center Spotlight Awards. Students were selected from among more than 985 Southern California applicants who auditioned in ballet, nonclassical dance, classical voice, nonclassical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental music.

Each semifinalist will be given an opportunity to work with professional artists who will offer in-depth insight on performance technique, training and professional life. 

The 15 semifinalists in each category will audition again to become one of the two finalists who will perform at the Music Center on April 29.  

Grand prize finalists (firstplace and runner-up) will receive $6,000 and $3,000 respectively.

Semifinalists include the following:

Los Angeles County

Dylan Gutierrez, 15, of Van Nuys (ballet) is a sophomore at Indian Hills High School, Calabasas.

A.J.Holmes, 15, of Agoura Hills (nonclassical voice, musical theater) is a junior at Agoura High School.

Danny Janklow, 16, of Agoura Hills (jazz instrumental, tenor saxophone) is a junior at Agoura High School.

Jordan Seigel, 17, of Westlake Village (jazz instrumental, piano) is a senior at Agoura High School.

Ventura County 

Erika Bandy, 17, of Thousand Oaks (ballet) is a senior at Thousand Oaks High School.

Dorothy Chen, 17, of Westlake Village (nonclassical dance, lyrical) is a senior at Westlake High School.

Christian Denice, 17, of Westlake Village (nonclassical dance, lyrical) is a senior at Oak Park High School.

Lexi Howerton, 15, of Simi Valley (nonclassical dance, lyrical) is a sophomore at Agoura High School.

Emily Lange, 17, of Simi Valley (nonclassical dance, jazz) is a senior at Royal High School.

Gabrielle Mandel, 17, of Moorpark (classical voice, soprano, lyric or coloratura) is a senior at Thousand Oaks High School.

London O’Donnell, 16, of Westlake Village (nonclassical dance, jazz) is a junior at Agoura High School.

Karissa Smith, 17, of Moorpark (nonclassical dance, lyrical) is a senior at Moorpark High School.

Rachael Wood, 14, of Camarillo (classical voice, soprano, lyric or coloratura) is a sophomore at Newbury Park High School.