Murfreesboro native Caleb Mitchell has been selected as a top 10 finalist in a worldwide talent search called Give My Regards.

Spot-On Arts Academy, a unique multidisciplinary virtual art academy taught by award-winning artists, presents the Give My Regards competition. In August, organizers narrowed down a list of 20 entrants from a pool of emerging artists spanning 46 states and seven countries. The top 10 contestants were recently selected after mentorship and training from Spot-On Arts Academy teaching artists, internal judging and a popular public vote.

Mitchell said this marks a significant shift in his life, as he feels it is the first time he is being taken seriously as an artist.

“I’ve made it a big point to show everyone I’m capable of more than what they think I am,” he said.

This has been a great opportunity to keep training and working towards his dreams of a professional performance career, he said.

In the coming months, a panel of judges will review each contestant and reduce the field to five, all of whom will perform a concert in an iconic New York City venue, and then to a grand-prize winner, who will be awarded a featured role in a symphony concert on the west coast in 2021.

Judges include Kate Flannery (The Office, Dancing With the Stars), Broadway composer Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, Smash), TV star and Broadway legend Anthony Rapp (Rent, Star Trek: Discovery), Broadway and film actor Phillip Johnson Richardson (Hamilton, Little Voice), Broadway and recording artist Marisha Wallace (Dreamgirls, Waitress, Top 20 UK charts) Tony Award winner Faith Prince (Guys and Dolls, The Little Mermaid), Broadway director and choreographer Gerry McIntyre (Once on This Island, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), funny girl Christina Bianco, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and recording artist Steven Brault and famed caricature artist Justin “Squigs” Robertson.

Other Top 10 contestants include D’Marreon Alexander of Detroit, Michigan; Chelle Denton of San Mateo, California; Natasha Hoeberigs of London, U.K.; Lyle Mackston of Los Angeles; Tyler Evick of Nashville; Mason Olshavsky of Newtown, Pennsylvania; Veronica Stern of Pelham, New York; Nicole Sumlin of Cleveland, Ohio; Alicia Ault of Toronto.

“Our top 20 worked tirelessly over the last few months to roll up their sleeves and dive into the content of their original submissions,” said competition founder Scott Coulter. “Their tremendous growth and exploration of their craft during this time of extended closures for the arts community has reinvigorated the hope of the stars of tomorrow who remain undeterred from the uncertainty of the future.”

Established by Coulter, Spot-On Arts Academy is an online training platform for students and pre-professional performers looking to establish connections and relationships in the performing arts industry. Offering one-on-one coaching and classes in technique, the academy also offers leadership, business and career management.

For more information on Give My Regards and the Spot-On Arts Academy, visit spot-onartsacademy.com.