Announcing the 2015 Big Brain Finalists

It's time for some well-deserved applause, Phoenix. Today we're announcing the 2015 Big Brain Award finalists.

Each spring, these awards put the spotlight on emerging creatives and give them cash to keep up the good work. After sifting through a long list of Big Brain nominees, we've narrowed the field to 15 finalists.

We'll reveal this year's winners (one from each category) on Saturday, May 9, at Monarch Theatre during Artopia, our annual soiree of art, music, food, and drinks. Tickets, $25, are on sale now via Ticketfly.

Leading up to Artopia, we'll profile all of the finalists on New Times' arts and culture, music, and food blogs, in addition to featuring them in the paper on April 30.

Without further ado, your 2015 Big Brain Award finalists are:

Music

Ichi Sound Clandestino Teneia

Culinary Art

Case Coniglio Uptown Farmers Market Kallen Mikel Schmerler

Visual Art

Jorge Ignacio Torres Sophie May Hook J. Slim

Performing Art