Valleywide

A Calabasas girl and a North Hollywood boy won the top prize at the eighth annual Music Center Spotlight Awards, which were presented Tuesday night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Jessica Tivens, 15, a freshman at Calabasas High School, won in the classical voice category, while drummer Tony Austin, 17, of North Hollywood, a senior at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, won in the jazz instrumental category. Each won $5,000.

The competition initially drew hundreds of entrants from schools throughout Southern California. By Tuesday night, the field had been narrowed to 12.

Two other Valley students, Sam Sadigursky, 16, a saxophonist who attends Agoura High School, and Jean Sayeg, 16, of Glendale, a ballerina from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, placed second and received $2,500 each.

Jessica said Wednesday that she was so excited that she was having trouble concentrating in school. Winning, she said, has encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a professional opera singer.

“Opera is my life and my passion,” said Jessica, who began studying classical opera five years ago. “That’s what I want to do.”

Tony couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday, but his mother, Jennifer Martin, said he is thrilled.

After the awards, she said, “I drove home with him in the car and he was just so animated.”

She said Tony plans to attend CalArts in Valencia, where he will study jazz.

Jessica’s advice for students thinking about entering the contest next year: “Go for your dreams and reach for the moon and the stars. Who knows, you could own them someday.”