Agoura, Calabasas high school music students under the spotlight


Five Agoura High School musicians and three Calabasas High Schools students have been named semifinalists in the Music Center’s 35th annual Spotlight program.

The local students are among 112 Southern California musicians to be recognized in the free performing arts competition, scholarship and artistic development program for teens. More than 1,300 students auditioned for the program.

The Aagoura High students recognized are sophomores Charles French and Jordan Klein, and juniors Jack Lieberman, Max Gilbert and Garrett Khatchaturian. All five advanced in the jazz instrumental category.

At Calabasas High, senior Cassidy May Benullo and sophomore Jesse Brasler advanced in the acting category. Senior Dakotah Faunteroy advanced in dance.

Each semifinalist will audition again before a new panel of judges, who will 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 finalists will perform in the Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale at 7 p.m. Thurs., June 8 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Spotlight offers Southern California teens 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.

The program rewards participants with more than $100,000 in cash awards following three rounds of auditions. To date, the Music Center has presented more than $2.7 million in scholarships.

Semifinalists receive $500. Finalists receive $5,000 scholarships. One honorable mention in each category will receive $1,000. The Music Center also grants 10 students in each category with the $100 Merit Award, which acknowledges youth who inspire the judges by their commitment to their art.

For more information about the program, go to musiccenter.org/spotlight.