Community Corner

Bring it On: Youths Ready to Compete in Bill Riley Talent Search

Which area youth has the talent to compete at the Iowa State Fair. Attend Saturday's talent show at Johnston Green Days to find out.


Green Days -- the annual Johnston event that combines a weekend full of food, carnival rides, a parade and a talent show -- starts Thursday.

The 17th annual celebration, organized by the Johnston Chamber of Commerce, will be held June 13-16 next to the Johnston Public Library.

A highlight is always watching local youths compete in the Bill Riley Talent Show. The winners earn the chance to show their stuff at the Iowa State Fair talent show.

According to the Green Days website, the talent search will be judged by music professionals Jody White, Brent and Anne Peterson. A winner from the Sprout and Senior divisions will advance to the 56th Iowa State Fair Bill Riley Talent Search Competition in August, from which a senior grand champion wins a scholarship.

Two divisions of competition are set: Sprouts division includes performers ages 2 to 12 years and the Seniors division includes ages 13 to 21 years.  

Performance categories include:

  • Vocalists: classical, country or contemporary;
  • Dancers: tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, acrobatic or baton;
  • Instrumentalists: classical or contemporary

Bill Riley Talent Search Contestants

The following performances will be on stage in the big tent by Johnston Public Library beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Sprouts 

Morgan Alaimo, 12, Summit Middle School, Urbandale

Find out what's happening in Johnstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Maddie Caes, 7; jazz dance; 2nd grade, Altoona

Maesi Caes, 8; lyrical solo; 3rd grade, Altoona

Lauren Donohoe, 11; baton twirling, Brody Middle School, Des Moines

Lauren Gabby, 12; vocal solo, Summit MS, Urbandale

Megan Gilbreath, 12; vocal solo; Summit MS, Johnston

Josh Hendrickson, 12; vocal/guitar solo; Summit MS, Urbandale

Jillian Hess, 11; vocal solo, Summit MS; Urbandale

Ellie Lashier, 9; piano/vocal solo; 4th grade; Johnston

Lauren Lashier, 5; vocal solo; 1st grade; Johnston

Raegen Matthews, 10; piano solo; Timber Ridge Elementary; Urbandale

Rylee Matthews, 12; vocal solo; Summit MS; Urbandale

Jack Wilkinson, 9; vocal solo; 5th Horizon Elementary, Urbandale

Makayla Wilcox, 12, and Grace Chow, 12; dance duet; Summit MS, Johnston

Seniors 

Madison Clabaugh, 13; vocal solo; 8th Johnston Middle School; Johnston

Chris Dockum, 20; vocal solo; 2011 JHS grad; Urbandale

Adam Dostalik, 15, piano solo; JHS, Urbandale

Jillian Gabby, 14; vocal solo, JMS, Urbandale

Donald Gee, 14; vocal solo, self-accompaniment; JMS Johnston

Drew Hendrickson, 15; vocal/guitar solo; 10th JHS, Urbandale

Katie Hermanson, 18; dance solo; JHS 2013 Grad, Johnston

Alex Kaptain, 18; guitar/vocal solo, JHS 2013 Grad, Johnston

Adam Koch, 13; Saxophone solo DC-G Jr. High, Grimes

Mackenzie Myers, 18, and Carmen Vahgrt, 17; vocal duet, JHS; Des Moines/Urbandale

Andrew Overton, 19; vocal solo; 2012 JHS Grad; Johnston

Emily Nyren, 13; vocal solo; 8th JMS; Johnston resident

Laura Smalley, 18, vocal solo; JHS 2013 Grad, Johnston

Elizabeth Stevens, 15, vocal solo, JHS, Urbandale

Emi Stevens, 15, +others, dance trio; JHS, Johnston

Allie Tubbs, 13, vocal solo; 8th JMS, Johnston

Andrew Tubbs, 19; vocal solo; 2012 JHS grad; Des Moines

Samantha Wilkinson, 16, vocal solo, junior; JHS, Urbandale

Devon Wood, 16; vocal & guitar solo; 11th JHS; Johnston

Charter Bank is the sponsor of the Bill Riley Talent Search in its 9th year at Johnston Green Days and will provide cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in both categories.

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