Every year since she was 10, Katie Ditter (11) has gone to the Broadway San Diego Awards, watching her friends compete for the winning title.

Like every year prior, Ditter attended this year’s awards, but in a different sense.

The Broadway San Diego Awards is an annual performance where 20 high-school actors compete to attend The Jimmy Awards in New York. The Jimmy Awards is also known as The National High School Musical Theater Awards, where one actor and one actress are given an award each year. Ditter and David Azcona (12) were selected as two of the 20 finalists. 

Judges attended Westview’s Spring production, Beauty and the Beast, and decided which students they’d like to see at callbacks for the Broadway San Diego Awards. Three Westview students were chosen; among these performers were Ditter and Azcona.

“When I found out about the callbacks, I was really nervous,” Ditter said.

 For callbacks, they were instructed to sing a song from the show and an additional contrasting song. They performed in front of the competition’s artistic director and three judges. 

Azcona sang “Purpose” from Avenue Q, which he used for college auditions, so he felt he had an advantage going into the callback. 

“I felt pretty good after the audition, but this competition is a singing competition, and I was sure there were at least 10 actors with better singing skills than me,” Azcona said.  

After callbacks, Ditter and Azcona had to wait three days before learning that  they each earned spots as finalists. 

The finalists weren’t announced to the public yet, so Ditter and Azcona had to keep their accomplishments to themselves. 

“I opened the email and just started jumping up and down,” Ditter said. “I immediately ran to my parents, and we were all so excited. They wanted to text everyone about the news, but we had to keep it a secret.” 

The awards were on May 28, where the 20 finalists sang a solo and a group medley to open the show. Although the show is a competition, it’s curated to showcase the talent as a group as well. 

“As a group, we’re very talented, and they want to showcase that talent,” Ditter said. “At the same time, they have to pick someone to send to New York to represent San Diego.” 

After the solos, three actors and three actresses are selected to sing their contrasting song. From those remaining six, the winner is chosen. 

Going into the performance, Azcona hoped to give a performance he was proud of, regardless of the result. 

“It’s scary, because there is a big audience and I don’t want to mess it up,” Azcona said. “But, I love performing, and this is just another chance to do what I love.” 

Similarly, Ditter was excited to be a part of something that she has long admired.

“Watching the awards every year has always been a cool experience, especially when my friends are in it,” Ditter said. “I’ve always wondered if I’d ever be up there performing, and now that it’s my chance, I’m very excited.”

In the opening medley, both Ditter and Azcona sang solos. They both also sang their solos, Ditter’s being “A Change in Me,” and Azcona’s being “If I Can’t Love Her.” 

Although Ditter and Azcona didn’t advance to The Jimmy Awards, they both feel like they gained a lot from the experience. 

“Performing the opening medley with everyone was genuinely the most fun I’ve ever had doing theatre,” Azcona said. “It was an incredible experience being surrounded by such a talented and accepting group of people.”