Bill Riley Talent Search 8.13.23

Performers Continue to the Next Round of Bill Riley 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 63^rd 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:

Abbie Atkinson, 12, Bloomfield, Contemporary Dance Solo

Jillian Sparks, 12, and Hattie Christensen, 12, Iowa Falls, Lyrical Duet

Graysan Hurley, 9, Altoona, Jazz Dance Solo

Peyton Yocom, 9, Muscatine, Jazz Dance Solo

Abby Lorch, 9, North Liberty, Violin Solo

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

Mary Clare Matthews, 18, Ashlyn Herrig, 18, and Jordyn Linn, 17, Denison, and Elli Heiden, 17, Schleswig, Acro Dance Quartet

Megan Wheelock, 19, Waterloo, Vocal Solo

Catie Christenson, 13, Urbandale, Pointe Solo

Farrah Ganskey, 17, West Des Moines, Lyrical/Contemporary Dance Solo

Jack McInnis, 20, Le Mars, Musical Theater Vocal 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.