High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : 3 in County in Spotlight as Finalists

Lisa Innes of Fountain Valley (Fountain Valley High School) and Christina Gibbs of Newport Beach (Futures Pathfinder High School of Independent Study) were recently named classical dance finalists and Kathy Koo-Young Kim of Irvine (Irvine High School) was named a classical instrumental finalist for the third annual Spotlight Awards.

The event, produced by the Music Center Education Division and entertainment industry professionals, attracted nearly 300 teen-agers from Southern California who competed for scholarships in six performance categories.

The competition culminates with performances by the 12 finalists on stage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on March 18. The winners will receive $5,000 scholarships and the runners-up $2,500 scholarships.

After individual auditions were judged in November and December, 60 semifinals (10 in each category) were chosen. The semifinalists then participated in two-day clinics, at the conclusion of which, auditions were held to determine the category’s two finalists.

Runner-up semifinalists from Orange County in the classical dance category were Lisa Cheley of Westminster (Orange County High School of the Arts), Amanda Cramp of Cypress (Los Alamitos High), Kimberly Mikesell of Irvine (OCHSA), Tina Nunues of Garden Grove (Garden Grove High) and Heidi Spruill of Huntington Beach (OCHSA).

Runner-up semifinalists from the county in the classical instrumental category were Corinne Chapelle of Irvine (Oak Meadow School), Olivia Herman of Irvine (University High), So Young Kim of Anaheim (Cornelia Connelly High), Cindy Lin of Irvine (Woodbridge High), Patricia Martellotti of Tustin (Tustin High), Sachiko Tanaka of Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo High) and Jeremy Scott Reinbolt of Anaheim (Savanna High).

Orange County semifinalists in other categories:

* Jazz/modern dance--Carlin Browne of Garden Grove (Los Alamitos High) and Mariah Hyde of Anaheim (OCHSA).

* Jazz/pop vocal--Trisha Rapier of San Clemente (San Clemente High), Jodi Lynn Rosenbaum of Irvine (University High) and Aimee Urmanita of Mission Viejo (Capistrano Valley High).

* Classical vocal--Daniel Charles of Fullerton (OCHSA).

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. final performance and dinner at the Music Center are $150. In addition, 2,500 tickets will be donated to schools to enable participants, parents and peers to attend the performance. For further information, call (213) 972-7567.