Eight Young Musicians Advance to Sonic Spotlight Semi-Finals
The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery announced eight semi-finalists for its fifth annual Sonic Spotlight competition, narrowing down the field of emerging Northern Colorado musicians competing for mentorship opportunities and live performance slots.
The semi-finalists are Lilly Mae, Arkwave, Third Turn, Brendan Nichols, Heliotrope, Choam Nomsky, Kidd $tallon and PROPSECT. All artists are age 22 or younger and hail from Larimer or Weld Counties, according to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
The competition will announce its final three performers on January 28 during a live broadcast on 105.5 The Colorado Sound. Those finalists will then perform at the Sonic Spotlight Showcase on March 24 at 7 p.m. at The Armory in downtown Fort Collins.
General admission tickets for the showcase go on sale November 7 at 10 a.m.
Sonic Spotlight was established in 2020 as a partnership between the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and the Bohemian Foundation to support young musicians in the region. The program provides participants with industry mentorship, radio airplay, music video production opportunities and live performance experience.
The Armory venue, located at 314 East Mountain Avenue, is a 200-seat listening room housed in a historic 1907 National Guard armory building. The venue recently began an expansion with a new 6,960-square-foot building connected by interior passageways.
The program structure includes two competitive rounds. During the Sonic Round, artists receive radio features and participate in judged auditions broadcast on 105.5 The Colorado Sound. The Spotlight Round culminates in the final showcase featuring music video premieres and live performances.
According to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, the program's timeline was adjusted in 2024 to run from November through March based on participant feedback about scheduling conflicts. The competition now spans five months rather than occurring earlier in the year.
Past winners have received music production support, promotional materials, financial awards and continued mentorship from music industry professionals who serve as judges and advisors throughout the competition.