Ten Students Recognized as 2019 OC Register Artist of the Year Semi-Finalist in Music; Eilyssa Mclean Named Finalist

Updated June 2019

Eilyssa Mclean was recently named the Orange County Register Vocal Artist of the Year AND a The Music Center’s Spotlight Awards Grand Prize Finalist!

This year, over 500 students were nominated by teachers and private instructors from 88 Orange County high schools and arts organizations in theater, dance, film, vocal music, instrumental music, 2D visual arts and 3D visual arts. Once nominated, the students submitted applications with videos of performances, samples of artwork and answers to questions about their work as artists.

Eilyssa received a cash prize and was named as a 2019 Grand Prize Finalist in the Music Center Spotlight Awards.

Spotlight is a scholarship and arts training program, which empowers students by emphasizing preparation, courage, critical thinking and perseverance while providing an invalueable opportunity for students to hone their skills.

On June 4, 2019, Eilyssa sang during Music Center’s 31st annual Spotlight Grand Finale Performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall! This event culminated a process that began last September, when 1,600 students participated in the Spotlight program.

Congratulations to our six students who have been recognized as 2019 Orange County Register Artist of the Year Semi-Finalist in Instrumental Music and four students who have been recognized in Vocal Music!

The Instrumental Music discipline has been divided into five specialties: commercial music, jazz, piano and stings, winds and percussion, and world/cultural music. The semi-finalists in each specialty will be chosen by a panel of instrumental music teachers.

Instrumental Music Semi-Finalists:
Zheyuan “Andy” Zhuang, Alto Saxophone and Soprano Saxophone of Aliso Niguel High School
Kyle Dennis Wade Zagala, Drum Set of Tesoro High School
Megan Martono, Violin of Aliso Niguel High School
Pearleen Wang, Piano of Tesoro High School
Shannon Zhuang, Violin of Tesoro High School
Tayler Hinrichsen, Violin of Dana Hills High School

The Vocal Music discipline has been divided into three specialties: classical voice, commercial voice, and non-classical voice. The semi-finalists in each specialty will be chosen by a panel of vocal music teachers.

Vocal Music Semi-Finalists:

Eilyssa Mclean, Classical Voice of Aliso Niguel High School

Hannah Anastasi, Commercial Voice of Tesoro High School
Lorelei Blau, Classical Voice of Tesoro High School
Sasha Zahradnik, Classical Voice of Dana Hills High School
Will Campisano, Commercial Voice of Dana Hills High School

Included in the articles below are endorsements from each student’s nominating teacher, the primary instrument(s) they play and a link to the student’s work, where available.

Read More (Instrumental Music)

Read More (Vocal Music)

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