FAQs

Applications for Spotlight 2026 will open on June 6, 2025. Your application and uploaded video for each category you want to apply to must be submitted by the deadline on October 13, 2025. We are not able to receive applications after this deadline.

Please refer to our Eligibility & Category Rules page for full details.

In order to apply to Spotlight, you must complete an online application and submit a video audition. There are no fees to apply to Spotlight. The process is easy and can be done online.

No. You are able to start an application and complete it at a later date. The information you have entered will be saved, and your application will be available to you until you complete the submission process. Please submit a video that has been recorded sometime between November 2024 - October 2025. Just make sure your application is complete and submitted by the deadline on October 13, 2025.

No. Permanent residents and international students who are studying in the U.S. are also eligible to apply.  Students must meet the eligibility guidelines listed above. For International Students: The award may be subject to 30% federal tax withholding, depending on the student's circumstances.

Yes, you can apply to as many categories as you want! For example, If you play an instrument in both jazz and classical, dance contemporary and ballet, sing musical theater and opera, as well as act, then apply to all seven categories!

Yes, you can apply twice to instrumental categories. For Contemporary Instrumental, if you play jazz saxophone and piano, you can apply with both instruments.  If you play rock drums and jazz piano, you can apply with both instruments in Contemporary Instrumental.

For Classical Instrumental, if you play both harp and viola, you can now apply with both instruments in Classical Instrumental. Of course, you can also apply in both Contemporary Instrumental and Classical Instrumental. 

Spotlight judges come from both the academic and professional worlds and bring an immense wealth of knowledge and expertise with them. They share those insights in student feedback letters and in the live auditions. Click on the category for the list of judges.

Spotlight Preliminary Judges - 2025:

• Acting
• Ballet
• Dance
• Classical Voice
• Non-Classical Voice
• Classical Instrumental - Piano
• Classical Instrumental - Strings
• Classical Instrumental - Brass, Woodwind, Percussion
• Contemporary Instrumental

Spotlight Semifinal Judges - 2025

• Acting
• Ballet
• Dance
• Classical Voice
• Non-Classical Voice
• Classical Instrumental
• Contemporary Instrumental