Caleb & Jenna, David Wyatt and Mary Salo won big at Saturday’s 13-act West Michigan contest spotlighting impressive emerging talent. Plus, browse photos from several other weekend concerts across the region.
Top Performers: Jenna Olson and Caleb Waldvogel took first place in the Open Division on Saturday. (Photo/Ray Nard Imagemaker)
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In an evening highlighted by audience-pleasing, acrobatic dog tricks and father-son juggling routines, an 11-year-old singer and a seasoned indie duo walked away with the top prizes at the third annual Rockford’s Got Talent competition.
But the biggest winner of the evening may have been a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Rockford’s Roguewood Elementary School — singer and guitarist Mary Salo — who not only snagged second place based on judges’ voting in the Youth Division, but also landed the grand prize of more than $2,000 based on popular online voting and donations to Rockford Area Community Endowment by fans.
In the Open Division, the Rockford High School alumni duo of Caleb Waldvogel and Jenna Olson — who once performed together in the band Political Lizard — took home the top prize of $1,500 after performing the first song they ever wrote together six years ago.
Young and Talented: Mary Salo had a big night. (Photo/Ray Nard Imagemaker)
Singer Audrey Walker, performing a tune from “Little Shop of Horrors,” earned $1,000 for second place, with Rockford singer-guitarist Lily Harper (who’s now won awards in the competition three years in a row) taking home $750 for third place with her rendering of an entrancing original song.
In the Youth Division, singer and ukelele player David Wyatt, 11, charmed the audience and judges with his song, “Hey There Mister,” earning the $500 top prize.
Salo, who sang an an original song and whose guitar instructor happens to be Waldvogel, took home $250 for second place, followed by dog trainer Katelyn McDonald, 13, whose Golden Labradoodle, Sky, and Chihauhau mix, Spot, drew cheers from fans with their tricks and agility.
All 13 contestants drew favorable responses from the judges panel and audience. Other performers in the Youth Division were electric guitarist Gwen Andrejczak, singer Laila Wilson (who performed a poignant rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” in tribute to her late stepfather) and pianist Winston Allen, with jugglers Joshua & Aden Proefrock, singing duo T&C (Timothy & Chorissa), singer-keyboardist Porter Kenyon and country singer Ryan Ernest rounding out the Open Division.
This year’s judges were WZZM TV-13’s Catherine Behrendt, Fox 17’s Elliot Grandia, musician Dennie Middleton, Rockford Public Schools Director of Bands Brian Phillips and Local Spins publisher/editor John Sinkevics.
The show — sponsored by the Rockford Area Community Endowment as a fundraiser for the Krause Memorial Library in Rockford — also featured a rousing, impressive performance by The Rockford Aces a cappella vocal group.
As emcee Bob Wells so aptly put it, it was “a great night.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Rockford’s Got Talent 2024
Photos by Ray Nard Imagemaker
SATURDAY
PHOTO GALLERY: See You Next Tuesday, Mouthful of Locusts, Meth, Deaf Club
The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
PHOTO GALLERY: Zion Lion’s Mardi Gras Party at Old Dog Tavern in Kalamazoo
Photos by Derek Ketchum
