Young Talent, Big Stage

The annual Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards have scored an impressive record in the years since director-producer Walter Grauman launched the showcase for young talent in 1988. The program has gained national recognition for its development of stellar performers with winners and runners-up going on to careers on Broadway, in opera houses and concert halls here and abroad. Along the way, eight of the finalists have been named Presidential Scholars.

Twelve finalists appeared before a sold-out audience on April 17 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Jeff Margolis produced the show, co-sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Pacific Bell, and emceed by John Lithgow. Winners in the six performance categories receive $5,000 and runners-up $2,500 in scholarships, which are underwritten by Helen and Peter Bing.

This year’s winners: Juliana Ashley Hansen in nonclassical voice; Holly Zimmerman in ballet; Gerald Clayton in jazz instrumental music; Suren Hazarian in classical voice; Xibei Jia in classical instrumental; Josette Wiggan in jazz/modern dance.