5 Agoura High School Students Earn Honors From The Music Center

AGOURA HILLS, CA – Five Agoura High School student musicians have been named semifinalists in The Music Center’s annual scholarship and artistic development program.

Charles French, Max Gilbert, Garrett Khatchaturian, Jordan Klein and Jack Lieberman are among 112 Southern Californians to make it to the semifinalist stage of the 35th Annual Spotlight Program. The five, all in the jazz instrumental category, will be able to attend a class taught by highly regarded musicians and each receive a $500 scholarship, according to a news release.

The Spotlight program offers Southland teens expert advice, coaching, auditions, classes and scholarships in seven categories each year: acting, ballet, dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental.

Semifinalists will audition in front of a panel of judges, who will select the two top finalist performers in each category, for a total of 14 grand prize finalists. The finalists will perform at an event at The Music Center on June 8 and each receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Other scholarship opportunities include an honorable mention in each category and ten students in each category will receive the Merit Award.

Among past Spotlight participants are Misty Copeland, the first African American principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre; pop artists Adam Lambert and Josh Groban; and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers (“Bridgerton," “Green Book”).