The fifth annual Rockford’s Got Talent will have a dozen contestants in two categories competing for hefty cash prizes. The lowdown at Local Spins.
RGT 2026: Who’ll be in the spotlight and take home this year’s top prizes? (Photo/Local Spins)
It’s back for the fifth year, with a dozen widely talented West Michigan performers vying for more than $5,000 in prizes.
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The annual Rockford’s Got Talent competition returns Friday (Jan. 23) to the Rockford High School Fine Arts Auditorium with some new faces and singers, as well as a few familiar performers from past years.
Six acts in two different categories – Open Division and Youth Division – will strut their stuff for judges and online voters starting at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets to the event are $10 and available online here.
Hazel Thompson, Finnley Nielsen, Shane Baron, Murphy Dorais, Aiden Wells and Nora Lamb will face off in the Youth Division, with Aiden and Josh Proefrock (last year’s winners), Sahrain Stewart, Andrew Harper, Larry Travis, Zach Ruda and Michael Sobie competing in the Open Division.
Prize money in the event – hosted by the Rockford Area Community Foundation as a fundraiser for the organization and the Krause Memorial Library expansion – amounts to $1,500 for first place in the Open Division, $1,000 for second and $750 for third. The Youth Division winner will receive $500, with $250 awarded for second place and $100 for third place.
One contestant will also receive a share of thousands in donations made by online voters as part of balloting for the People’s Choice Award.
Performers will include singers, musicians and jugglers, with WZZM 13’s Catherine Behrendt, musician Dennie Middleton, music teacher Erika Rito and restaurateur Jenna Arcidiacono serving as celebrity judges. The evening is hosted by RGT co-chair Ed Ross and emcee Rick VandeKerkhoff.
Last year, a juggling duo – Joshua Proefrock (Mr. Juggling Man) and his son, Aiden – took home the top prize in the Open Division, with North Rockford Middle Schooler and singer Mary Salo earning top honors in the Youth Division. Salo also won the People’s Choice Award based on online voting, with the youngster earning half of the $5,637 that voters donated to the cause as part of their balloting.
Online voting can occur during the event via the QR code below. Check out Local Spins’ coverage of past Rockford’s Got Talent shows here.
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