By Sharon Caughil, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind

Four Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™ students recently participated in local competitions.

Arantza Espinoza and Eddy Camacho won the group instrumental/vocal category in the Young Talent, Big Dreams competition sponsored by The Children’s Trust and Actors’ Playhouse. Arantza and Eddy, both legally blind, beat hundreds of other ensembles competing in various categories. The Young Talent, Big Dreams competition follows the popular TV talent show model with judges prominent in the performing arts community. A total of 88 acts made it to the semifinals, and 22 advanced to the finals.

In addition, two more students from the Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production ProgramTM recently participated in Miami Dade College’s Music Competition. Renaldo (Rey) Sanchez came in first out of six finalists in the MDC Piano Sonata competition. Matthew Smith’s “Hominis Noturna” placed second out of eight finalists in the Jane Pyle Music Composition Competition.

The Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program was the recipient of a 2009 Knight Arts Challenge Grant.