Bill Riley Talent Search 8.20.22

Three talented Senior division acts (ages 13-21) have advanced to the Championship round in Bill Riley's 62nd annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Sunday, August 21. Three Sprout acts were crowned champions.

Seniors

The names, ages, hometowns and routines are:

Aleesha Smith, 14, Vocal Solo; Waterloo

Isaac Morlan, 18, Vocal and Trumpet Solo; Cedar Falls

Aubrey Klifdel, 13; Betsy Lehman, 13; Ella Varley, 12; Dance Trio; Urbandale

Sprout Champions

Dawson Huinker, 12, Musical Theater Vocal Solo; West Des Moines

Grace Holmbeck, 12, Guitar and Vocal Solo; Sibley

Corban McHone, 12, Vocal Solo; Fort Dodge

The Bill Riley Talent Search has put Iowa's young talent on stages across the state each summer since 1960. Acts competed statewide to qualify for competition in this year's Talent Search, 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 21 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. The Bill Riley Talent Search is presented by Meta.