Old Lyme — Braiden Sunshine's friends and family erupted into applause and cheers Monday evening after hearing Sunshine won his "Knockout" round and will move on to the next round of NBC's "The Voice."

More than 50 people turned out to a viewing party at the Lyme-Old Lyme High School auditorium in support of the 15-year-old singer from Lyme who is a member of "Team Gwen," chosen by show judge and singer Gwen Stefani.

"Thank you guys so much," Sunshine told his friends and family after the performance via video chat from Los Angeles, where he is preparing for the next round. "I wouldn't be here without you."

His father, David Sunshine, said his son got his start playing at the First Congregational Church in Old Lyme and moved on to play at nearly every spot around town.

His father credited a lot of Sunshine's success to the support he received while performing locally in Old Lyme and New London, which nurtured him as a young musician and gave him the courage to sing on "The Voice."

"His dreams are just coming true one after the other after the other," he said.

On Monday's episode of "The Voice," Sunshine was coached by his mentor, Stefani, and special guest Rihanna.

His friends cheered when he appeared on a large screen, set up at the front of the auditorium, singing Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good" while sporting a new slicked-back hairdo. They also shouted when they saw the pleased reaction of Stefani to Sunshine's performance.

Cole Hamparian, 15, a friend of Sunshine's since sixth grade, said he knew Sunshine was musically talented, from the times he attended his gigs or hit an impromptu note at the lunch table.

"To be honest, I really don't think anyone deserves this opportunity more than him," said Hamparian. "He's a genuine kid, he's very modest and probably the nicest kid you'll ever meet."

Brandon Lee, a sophomore who has watched Sunshine's audition on "The Voice" over and over again on YouTube, said Sunshine has always brought "a lot of light" to his friends.

He said Sunshine has been involved in chorus at school and sang with an amazing voice that other students admired. 

"It made us see how talented he was and how lucky we were to be a close friend of his," he said.

Collin Stalls, 15, a sophomore and one of Sunshine's best friends, said that Sunshine always had the most powerful voice in chorus and is so much fun to hang out with.

"I'm so happy for him," said Stalls when asked what it is like to see his close friend recognized on national television. "It's really hard to explain. It's weird to think that someone you know that close is famous. It's really cool, though."

Stalls said he always knew Sunshine "was going somewhere."

Braiden's grandmother, Angeles Ely, said she records every episode of Sunshine on "The Voice" and watches it at least 10 times. 

"I see him on television and it's like I want to burst — I am so excited and I love it so much," she said.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich