Press Release – “Spotlight on Talent” Competition - Finalists Chosen

Press Release – “Spotlight on Talent” Competition  - Finalists Chosen
 
                                                                        Contact Person: 
Barbara Friedman 352-424-0135
                                                                        spotlight@heritagearts.org 
 
           
The “Spotlight on Talent” performing arts competition is continuing a 43-year history.  On Saturday, Feb. 28, over 150 talented students K – 12 auditioned to be in one of the two final shows on Saturday, March 28.  The 12 noon show will be younger performers – soloists and groups, and the 7 pm show is older solos and groups.  Both entertaining shows are open to the public and held at Pasco Hernando State College’s beautiful IPAC theater in Wesley Chapel on Old Pasco Road.  Heritage Arts Center Association is the non-profit arts group that produces this regional competition.
 
            The group annually has presented a $1,000 “Pasco Heritage Scholarship” which goes to the graduating Pasco County senior who receives the highest judges’ scores.  This year again because a generous grant from Suncoast Credit Union was renewed, there will be two $1,000 scholarship winners named!   Last year's recipients were vocalist Larkin Mainwaring and pianist Conway Theel.   
 
The performing arts competition includes two final shows because of the huge numbers of applicants and quality of the talent.  The top 63 scoring acts, 104 students, were chosen to perform.  Our emcees will be County Commissioner Seth Weightman and Larry Quinn.   Tickets for adults will be $15 or both shows for $25, students through high school are $7 or both for $12 (under 5 is free). Tickets can be purchased ahead at heritagearts.org, or at the door.   
 
 This competition is a regional one, with contestants coming from Pasco County and beyond – Tampa, Odessa, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Spring Hill, and Thonotosassa. There will be many different teachers and studios represented, who have been working with these students all year in preparation.  All of the final performances will be awarded a trophy, and two professional panels of judges will have the task of selecting winners for cash prizes.  In total over $4,000 in cash, trophies, and ribbons will be presented to winners in eight different categories. The finalist performances vary greatly in style.  The audiences will enjoy piano music from Rachmaninoff to ragtime; songs from Broadway to Bruno Mars, violin, and all types of dance – Sugar Plum Fairy to jazz and contemporary.
 
With its long history, this competition has now come “full circle”.  Spotlight “alums” are now in positions of responsibility for the production.  One is President of the Heritage Arts Board of Directors, several are now judges, and a regular dance contestant now owns her own studio and is sending her students!  The Spotlight competition costs over $23,000 to produce and would not be possible without wonderful sponsorship from generous area businesses and individual supporters. The web site at heritagearts.org has a ”Donate” portal open now!   Executive producer, Barbara Friedman invites all from our area who love the arts and young people to attend these most exciting and inspiring shows.  She will be glad to answer any questions at spotlight@heritagearts.org  or 352-424-0135.

Spotlight on Talent 2026 Finalists
Saturday March 28, 2026
Matinee – 12:00pm
Category 1 – Grades 2nd-6th Category 2 – Grade 7th
Jolee Beach – Dance Addison Ashmore – Lyrical Dance
Lyla Chen – Piano Maddie Frassrand – Vocal
Adelynn Erickson – Contemporary Dance Kaylynne Garofolo – Vocal
Ruhika Kerkar – Vocal Payton Lamoureaux – Vocal
James Li – Violin Christine Park – Piano
Oscar Molla - Piano Rhys Ricardo – Musical Theater
Addie Pereira – Piano Keeley Sutton – Dance
Raphaela Ricardo – Musical Theater Kayden Williams – Vocal
Ruby Ricardo – Musical Theater
Audrey Sachs – Dance Category 3 – Grades 8th-9th
Orrin Schaeffer – Vocal Chloe Adams – Jazz Dance
Penelope Wilson – Contemporary Dance Layla Ford – Vocal
Chloe Xu – Piano Srihitha Neralla – Vocal
Adina Polley – Vocal
Category 4 – Younger Groups Lennon Schaeffer – Vocal
AIM Melodic Stars - Vocal Vidhun Sivakumar – Piano
Jolee & Keeley – Dance Gabriella Tigley – Piano
Christine & Layla – Piano Duo Michelle Wang – Piano
Evening – 7:00pm
Category 1 – Grade 10th Category 2 – Grade 11th
Katt Baudoin – Vocal Aarna Bar – Piano
Jacob Burkett – Piano Katherine Canton - Vocal
Kennedy Kring – Pointe Dance Madison Fang - Piano
Alicia Pierazzo – Piano Tavin Groomes – Musical Theater
Sophia Rivera – Vocal Jerry Lee – Piano
Caitlyn Siers – Ballet Dance Rio Ricardo – Musical Theater
Dishita Srivastava – Vocal
Penelope Whipple – Lyrical Dance Category 3 – Grade 12th
Manuel Cordeiro - Vocal
Category 4 – Older Groups Hailey Garcia – Vocal
AIM Harmonic Stars – Vocal Isabel Geskey – Jazz Dance
Michelle & Alicia – Piano Duo Makenna Henry – Contemporary Dance
Star Company – Jazz Dance Anna Hutchinson – Contemporary Dance
Velvet Voices – Vocal Bomin Kwon - Piano
We Love George Gershwin – Piano Duo Naomi Lopez – Lyrical Dance Robert Martinez-Casiano - Piano
Srikruthi Neralla – Vocal
Maelee Scaglione – Contemporary Dance
Alonzo Tigley - Piano
Maris Willers – Lyrical Dance