Bill Riley Talent Search 8.10.23

Dancers and Singers Top Iowa State Fair Talent Search

Five talented Sprout division acts (ages 2-12) and five Senior division acts (ages 13-21) have advanced to the semi-final round in Bill Riley's 63rd annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Thursday, August 17, Friday, August 18 or Saturday, August 19.

The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the sprouts acts are:

Jordyn Myers, 11, Creston, Jazz Dance Solo

Jocelyn Berges, 8, Waukon, Vocal Solo

Brystol Wiley, 12, Douds, Acro Dance Solo

Julianne Kline, 10, Clive, Baton/Twirling Solo

Olivia Carlson, 8, Des Moines, Lyrical/Contemporary Dance Solo

The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the senior acts are:

Abby Taliaferro, 17, Delmar, Clarinet Solo

Emma Tollari, 17, Altoona, Lyrical Solo

Hayden Miller, 15, Manilla, Acro Dance Solo

Annie Hopkins, 13, Unionville, Vocal and Guitar Solo

Miguel Calles, 16, Mt. Ayr, Lyrical/Contemporary Solo

The Bill Riley Talent Search has put Iowa's young talent on stages across the state each summer since 1960. Nearly 100 local qualifying competitions are held across the state and winners advance to the State Fair competition, where there are seven days of preliminary competition for Sprouts (ages 2-12) and Seniors (ages 13-21), followed by the semi-finals and, ultimately, the selection of one Senior Champion. The Sprouts do not compete beyond the semi-finals, but perform in the Championship Show as Sprout Champions set for Sunday, August 20 at 1:30 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi and media sponsor iHeart Radio.

More than $20,000 will be awarded to the Senior and Sprout divisions combined.