Bill Riley Talent Search 8.14.24

Bill Riley Talent Search Attracts Multi-Talented Artists

Four 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 64th annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Thursday, August 15, Friday, August 16 or Saturday, August 17.

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

Faith Eugenia Scott, 8, Johnson, Piano Solo

Ben Shuput, 12, Des Moines, Hip Hop/Acro Dance Solo

Lucy Lis, 6, Waterloo, Vocal Solo

Kinzington Keaster, 9, Mount Pleasant, Tap Dance Solo

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

Anna Lu, 16, Johnston, Piano Solo

Brylee Schechinger, 17, Harlan, Tap Dance Solo

Marianna Hintz, 18, Bondurant, Vocal Solo

Peyton Tiemeyer, 15, Earlham; Charli Harkins, 18, Van Meter; Ash Van Ness, 18, Earlham; Malia Fuller, 17, Dexter; NiAyla Johnson, 12, Dexter; Tap Dance Quintet

Jacob Forney, 18, West Des Moines, Vocal Solo

Gabriella Schumacher, 19, Fort Dodge, Vocal Solo

The Bill Riley Talent Search has put Iowa’s young talent on stages across the state each summer since 1960. 67 local qualifying competitions were 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 18 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.