~ On the opening night of the Ford Amphitheater, Mayor Yemi Mobolade of Colorado Springs presented the Mayor's Spirit of Colorado Springs Award to Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins, members of the popular band OneRepublic. The band, which was founded in Colorado Springs in 2002, has gained international success and recognition for their music.

Joined by Dena Flanagan, Tedder and Filkins' high school choir teacher, Mayor Yemi praised the duo for embodying the spirit of Colorado Springs through their music. He stated, "Through their music, Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins have taken the spirit of Colorado Springs and shown us the power of following your dreams and using your talents to make a difference in the world."

Tedder and Filkins first met at Colorado Springs Christian School where they quickly bonded over their shared love for music. They then decided to form a band and played small shows at local coffee shops attended by friends and family. After high school, they went their separate ways to attend different colleges but reunited in 2002 to create OneRepublic.

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Their hard work paid off when they were eventually signed by a label and released their first album in 2007. The album was a huge international success, reaching number one in sixteen different countries. Since then, OneRepublic has won numerous awards including Radio Eska's International Band of the Year in 2010 and iHeart Radio Music Award Best Duo/Group of the Year in 2024.

In addition to his success with OneRepublic, Tedder has also won three Grammy Awards for his songwriting credits for artists such as Adele and Taylor Swift. Their music continues to inspire and uplift people from around the world.

The Mayor's Office takes pride in recognizing exceptional individuals within the City of Colorado Springs whose leadership serves as an inspiration to others. The Mayor's Spirit of Colorado Springs Award is presented by Mayor Yemi or an official designee to honor individuals for their influence. For more information on these awards, visit ColoradoSprings.gov/SpiritoftheSprings.

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