Friday’s fifth annual Rockford’s Got Talent Competition packed the high school’s Fine Arts Auditorium, with several performers sharing nearly $7,000 in prize money. The recap, with photos and a video.
Emerging Singer and Songwriter: Aiden Wells won the Youth Division at Rockford’s Got Talent. (Photo/Zach Cranmer)
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Some impressive talent graced a Rockford stage on Friday night, much of it youthful and exuberant.
The fifth annual Rockford’s Got Talent competition packed the Rockford High School Fine Arts Auditorium for performances by a dozen contestants in two categories with thousands in cash prizes at stake.
At the end of the night, a panel of celebrity judges named Grand Rapids-area native and Los Angeles-based pianist Michael Sobie winner of the Open Division worth $1,500 in prize money, with singer-guitarist and Rockford teen Aiden Wells taking home the top prize of $500 in the Youth Division.
Young singer Nora Lamb, who also competed last year, snagged $2,826 in winning the People’s Choice Award, based on online voting by fans. The prize is half of the amount donated through the online balloting. Lamb also won an additional $250 as the second-place winner in the Youth Division, with young singer Shane Baron receiving $100 for third place.
The juggling duo of Josh and Aiden Proefrock (who won the top prize last year) earned $1,000 for second in the Open Division, with Larry Travis winning $750 for third.
Friday Night Lights: The scene in Rockford on Friday night. (Photo/Local Spins)
Other performers on Friday included Finnley Nielson, Murphy Dorais and Hazel Thompson in the Youth Division, and Sahrain Stewart, Zach Ruda and Andrew Harper in the Open Division.
Open Division winner Sobie has carved out a robust career as a pianist, conductor, music director, arranger and composer, including serving as the pops pianist for the Grand Rapids Symphony and performing for Broadway shows. Since moving to Los Angeles from Michigan, he’s also served as keyboardist on tours of the international “Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience” and played on soundtracks for several films. Inspired by Elton John, he’s also created the “Rocket Man: A Live Orchestral Experience.”
Overall, Friday’s event organized by the Rockford Area Community Foundation as a fundraiser for the Krause Memorial Library Expansion in Rockford raised more than $40,000 for the cause.
WZZM 13’s Catherine Behrendt, musician Dennie Middleton, music teacher Erika Rito and restaurateur Jenna Arcidiacono served as judges, with the evening hosted by RGT co-chair Ed Ross and emcee Rick VandeKerkhoff.
PHOTO GALLERY: Rockford’s Got Talent 2026
Photos by Zach Cranmer
