7 Students Compete for Spotlight Awards

Seven high school students from the San Fernando Valley are among 73 semifinalists in the Los Angeles Music Center’s 13th annual Spotlight Awards competition.

The competition, created in 1988, recognizes top students in six performing arts categories including ballet, classical voice and jazz instrumental. Winners receive monetary awards that can be applied toward furthering their performing arts careers. Semifinalists will attend a session with a master in their field and compete for one of two finalist slots beginning in early February.

Finalists will perform April 17 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Winners will receive $5,000 and runners-up will receive $2,500.

Semifinalists in the Valley area are Bronwyn Banerdt, 16, a home-schooled sophomore; Ashley Lauren Feinsinger, 16, a junior at Agoura High School; Brian Green, 17, a junior at Harvard-Westlake School; Shannon Paige Maynor, 15, a sophomore at Trinity Pacific Christian School; Cory Silva, 17, a senior at Louisville High; Hallie Silverston, 17, a senior at Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies; and Hila Schoffman, 16, a junior at Taft High School.

More than 800 students auditioned this year. Past Spotlight Award winners have gone on to perform with the American Ballet Theater, on Broadway and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.