Santa Monica High School Student Ryan Roberts Wins Prestigious First-Place Grand Prize in Spotlight Awards

By Christine Peake

Local santa monica high school senior Ryan Roberts was deservedly named the first–place grand prize winner in the classical instrumental category (oboe) at the 26th Annual Music Center Spotlight Awards.

Born and raised in Santa Monica by parents Birgit (Exec producer at HIFI music company) and father Kevin who is a renown Director of Photography, Ryan was surrounded by the arts and music as he grew up as a big brother to pretty sister Maya, herself an accomplished violinist and Marymount High School soccer player.

Roberts at only 17 years old has achieved great success. Currently playing in ensembles which include the American Youth Symphony, YNF Debut Orchestra and the Colburn Honors Woodwind Quintet.

Ryan's musical experience includes touring New York, Washington D.C. (Kennedy Center), St.Petersberg and even the Royal Albert Hall in London with the National Youth Orchestra of the USA under the baton of Valery Gergiev and accompanying soloist Joshua Bell with performances broadcast as part of the BBC Proms concert series ( summer 2013).

Santa Monica patrons were in awe when they heard him flawlessly perform the Mozart Oboe Concerto as a soloist with the Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra at the Broad Stage (2013). In the last 4 years alone Roberts has performed on LACMA's "Sundays Live!" radio program an astounding 14 times as part of various chamber and orchestral ensembles.

Roberts is also the proud recipient of many awards including the Kiwanis Instrumental Competition First Place winner in both 2010 and 2013! He also received the Santa Monica College Concerto Competition winner in 2013. He has dedicated his young life to music and the long hours of dedication rang out loud and clear during his exceptional performance as he performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday, May 26 with other finalists in music, voice, dance, photography, and two dimensional arts. The Spotlight Awards recognize the most talented Southern California high school students in the performing and visual arts, and Ryan Roberts proudly won the award.

What next for the talented Roberts?

He will perform at Carnegie Hall & the Walt Disney Concert Hall in July & August this year and this coming fall, Roberts will attend The Juilliard School on a full-tuition scholarship as a Kovner Fellow.

Roberts has already proven himself and an elegant and classically refined musician, fortunately for all music lovers, he is just getting started!