PBS SoCal and KCET announced the airing of Southland Sessions Special, The Music Center’s 33rd Spotlight Grand Finale, which premieres on Sept. 8 on PBS SoCal and KCET on Sept.11.
The audience will get to experience performances by some of Southern California’s high school artists in dance, music and more, as they culminate a year-long journey in The Music Center’s artistic development program. Hosted by award-winning singer/songwriter and Spotlight alum, Josh Groban. The special will also show how each performer improved their skills based on detailed feedback from industry experts while learning about their craft by attending classes with world-renowned experts.
About 1,500 teens, from eight different countries, auditioned for the spotlight program. According to PBS SoCal, this is the second year in a row where The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale will take place as a virtual event. The showcase will feature two finalists from seven categories: acting, ballet, dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental, and jazz instrumental; and will award students with a $5,000 scholarship.
The Grand Finale is a special continuation of the Southland Sessions series which spotlights artistic voices and culture around Southern California. The event made its virtual debut in the summer of 2020, which allowed for the Los Angeles community to experience their reginal arts and cultural institutions from a distance. With the broadcast and digital initiative, it not only brought famous voices but also a front-row seat experience for viewers.
Southland Sessions was originally supported in part by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and other institutional funders – who prefer to remain anonymous. The Music Center’s 33rd Spotlight Grand Finale airs on Sept. 8 on PBS SoCal and KCET on Sept.11.
