Five talented Sprout division acts (ages 2-12) and six Senior division acts (ages 13-21) have advanced to the semi-final round in Bill Riley’s 66th annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Thursday, August 20, Friday, August 21 or Saturday, August 22.
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the sprouts acts are:
Lucy Smid, 11, Des Moines, Jazz Solo
Holland Schultz, 8, Polk City, and Nela Atajic, 10, Urbandale, Musical Theatre Dance Duet
Micah Rusch, 12, Cedar Falls, Stand Up Comedy
Graysan Hurley, 12, Altoona, Lyrical Dance
Dylan Finch, 9, and Dixson Lynch, 10, Centerville, Jazz Duet
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the senior acts are:
Liam Hancock, 14, Paullina, Piano Solo
Harlow Schultz, 14, Polk City, Open Dance Solo
Nelley Pelzer, 17, and Rayden Wheeler, 17, Atlantic, Clogging Duet
Marianne Rose Scott, 13, Johnston, Violinist
Camden Lewis, 18, Des Moines, Classical Flute Performance
Josie Sonderman, 17, Earling, Jazz 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 23 at 1:30 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi and media sponsor iHeart Radio.
More than $22,000 will be awarded to the Senior and Sprout divisions combined.
