The 2024 Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa State Fair showcased many talented young performers over a week of preliminary rounds and three days of semifinals. After all the competition, only one could be named the champion.
On Sunday afternoon, nine finalists performed on the Anne & Bill Riley Stage: pianist Josiah Vos, 17, from Sioux City; contemporary dancer Caleb Meiners, 19, from Ottumwa; pianist Anna Lu, 16, from Johnston; a dance group featuring Peyton Tiemeyer, 15, from Earlham; Charli Harkins, 18, from Van Meter; Ash Van Ness, 18, from Earlham; Malia Fuller, 17, from Dexter; and NiAyla Johnson, 12, from Dexter; singer Sage Minnihan, 18, from Onawa; singer Megan Wheelock, 20, from Waterloo; singer Jonah Carney, 16, from Parkersburg; singer Lily Schloss, 18, from North Liberty; and dancer Annelise Bell, 15, from Ottumwa.
To reach the finals, each contestant had to perform well in previous rounds at the fair and in county fairs. Their final performances were judged by a panel including renowned teachers and a past Bill Riley Talent Search champion. The competition offered a total prize pool of $20,000, with the grand champion winning $10,000.
All the performers displayed exceptional talent, but Lily Schloss was chosen as the winner. She gave a standout performance of “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston, impressively capturing Houston’s vocal style while making the song her own. Schloss plans to use her $10,000 prize for her college education.
The day after her performance, Schloss will start college at the University of Iowa, where she will major in music education, musical theater, and vocal performance. Although her time in the Bill Riley Talent Search is over, she looks forward to continuing her singing career.
Reflecting on her journey, Schloss said, “I started competing when I was 10. It’s nice to end on a high note.” Winning brought tears of joy as she felt overwhelmed and grateful to her family and supporters.
The Bill Riley Talent Search, held annually across county fairs, has two divisions: Sprouts (ages 2 to 12) and Seniors (ages 13 to 21). This year’s event saw Bill Riley Jr. unable to host due to health issues. Other winners included Josiah Vos in second place, Megan Wheelock in third, Sage Minnihan in fourth, and Anna Lu in fifth. In the Sprouts division, the champions were Luke Justice, Amav Dervesh, Mars Henn, Gunner Jennings, Faith Eugenia Scott, Micah Rusch, and Ben Shuput.
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