Through a new cultural partnership with the Music Center – Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County, Crystal Cruises is showcasing some of tomorrow’s brightest stars “today.” Beginning this summer, Crystal’s new Emerging Artists Experiences of Discovery cruises will boast performances by Grand Prize Finalists of the center’s coveted Spotlight Awards.
Like Crystal, The Music Center has long been a leader in its field, having fostered the development of arts education and mentored young talent for more than two decades. The Music Center Spotlight Awards is one of the nation’s most acclaimed performing and visual arts education programs for teens, awarding over $100,000 in scholarships annually. Each year, more than 2,000 high school students audition in ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental, and jazz instrumental before professional judges. Students receive feedback preparing them for careers in the performing arts and finalists perform at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Many alumni have joined or performed with professional companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theatre, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York Philharmonic and even American Idol. (Finalist Adam Lambert is a winner.)
For each Emerging Artists cruise, Spotlight Awards Director Jeri Gaile has personally selected three recent alumni, most of whom are still teenagers.
June 30, Crystal Symphony – Stockholm to Copenhagen
* Garret Lang, Jazz Bassist
* Kelsey Porter, Vocalist
* Melinda Sullivan, Tap Dancer
July 28, Crystal Serenity – Venice to Athens
* Athena Sterig, Contemporary Dancer
* U-Jung Jung, Classical Pianist
* Anna Schubert, Soprano
September 14, Crystal Serenity – Istanbul to Venice
* Julia Metzler, Mezzo-soprano
* Phillip Golub, Jazz Pianist
* Timo Nunez-Bellamy, Flamenco Dancer
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with The Music Center and Spotlight Awards to present such an astounding caliber of talent aboard Crystal Cruises,” says Christopher Escamilla, senior production coordinator, entertainment. “With the world’s most fascinating cultural centers as a backdrop, Crystal guests will be introduced to some of the best as-yet-unknown talent.”
