Acacia is ready for the spotlight!
A professional vocalist and Des Moines transplant, Acacia is known for a voice that defies gravity. Combining her technical background with raw, soulful storytelling, she’s ready to compete for the title of Iowa’s Got Talent Star. Trust us, you’ll want to be in the front row for this one. #IowasGotTalent #LiveMusicIowa #Soprano
John Schultz is a native Iowan and lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife and 2 kids. He started singing early in life, first at church and then elementary school where he was already starting to perform solos. Throughout middle and high school he sand in solo contests, honor choirs, and All State. He enjoyed being in his various school groups including show choirs and musicals. During his college years, he was a member of Kirkwood's Jazz Transit and choirs at Luther College. Since then he has sung at weddings, funerals and the Nationoal Anthem at a Kernels game. Some shows he has been a part of include CR Follies, TCR's productions of Mary Poppins, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Holiday Cabaret. He continues to sing in his church choir and perform solos at services. John is excited to use his talent once agian for his high school alma mater, while hoping he can still turn a head or two like back in the day. He would like to dedicate his performance to his high school best friend who is currently serving in the Middle East as a Navy Chaplain.
Hi, I’m Jaeda Hernandez. Singing has always been my escape and a place where I can leave everything behind and just feel. Singing is how I express the emotions I don’t always have words for, and how I’ve found my voice in the world. Every time I step on stage, I’m not just performing—I’m telling my story and expressing myself.
My name is Kiera Werner. I am a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa. I was part of show choir and several musicals during my high school career at Kennedy. I was also lucky enough to play Sophie in TCR’s summer camp production of Mama Mia last summer. I continue to take vocal lessons and am involved in theater at UNI.
Hey everyone! I’m Jaden Patterson, a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, and teacher originally from Center Point, Iowa. Throughout school, I participated in several vocal and instrumental ensembles, was a 4-Year Iowa All-State Vocalist, and also began writing my own music. I currently teach private music lessons to students of all ages, and I’m working on putting together my first solo album!
Maria Volkman is from Iowa City, Iowa, and is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa. She grew up singing with her family and credits her love of music to her dad, who always has a guitar in hand. Over the years, Maria has explored a wide range of musical pursuits: she played clarinet for three years, has studied violin for the past decade, loves Karaoke, and also dabbles in guitar, ukulele, and piano. Singing has remained a constant in her life since childhood, guiding her through both difficult and joyful times. She hopes that listeners can feel her love for music through her performance and that they too might feel inspired to share their passions with the world!
Chastity is thrilled to participate in the Iowa's Got Talent competition. She works as a Special Education Paraeducator and Drama Director. She also serves on various boards, spreading creativity and empowerment in the community. Chastity is a champion for arts education and has brought opportunities to particpate in the arts across Iowa while advocating on the legislative floor. She is also a published children's book author! Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, anime, and eating potatoes in all forms. A creative, storyteller, and visionary, Chastity is looking forward to supporting a cause that's important in our community.
Nina Torkelson is a vocalist and trombonist from West Branch, Iowa and is finishing her second year at Kirkwood Community College pursuing an Associate of Applied Arts in music. She is highly involved in the performing arts at Kirkwood, participating in jazz choir, jazz band, concert choir, opera/musical theater scenes, the fall musical, the American College Theater Festival, as well as performing on and off campus with her classmates and their groups. Her recent performing credits include being a featured vocalist with the Go Benesh Quartet, as well as appearing as Little Sally in Urinetown: The Musical (KCC), Fate 2 in Hadestown: Teen Edition (Iowa Conservatory), Cinderella’s Stepmother in Into the Woods (KCC) and Sandy in Grease (West Branch High School). She plans to transfer after Kirkwood to pursue degrees in Choral Music Education and Jazz Studies.
Born and raised in Southeast Iowa, Randy started singing at the early age of three and has always had a passion for music. Growing up with a vast exposure to many different genres, her musical influences span across a variety of styles, drawing from contemporary, jazz, and classical repertoire. During her high school career, Randy started regularly singing in jazz bands, school choirs, church bands, and school musicals in her hometown of Moravia, and continued to remain active in the Performing Arts sectors at Indian Hills Community College and William Penn University. She then became an active part of the worship team at The Bridge Church in Ottumwa from 2014 to 2022 as a contracted musician, where she would record on multiple albums and EPs, and perform as an opening act for Christian artists Aaron Shust and Phil Joel with Zealand Worship. After leaving that position, Randy has since become a full-time stay-at-home mom and has been promoting her services as a session singer through her YouTube channel and social media pages since 2024. Outside of her home studio business, Randy also currently serves as the lead vocalist for the Central Iowa-based band, Furious Love. She currently resides in the town of Oskaloosa with her husband and five-year-old son, where they have lived since 2016.
Erin McRae is a resident of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a recent graduate with her master's in English from the University of Northern Iowa! Erin enjoys performing with local theatre companies, such as Theatre Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls Community Theatre, Waterloo Community Playhouse, and more! She is currently playing the role of "Dainty June" in Iowa City Community Theatre's production of Gypsy.
My name is Ruby Orr and I am from Burlington Iowa. I am a senior in high school and plan to attend the University of Iowa next year. I have been singing my entire life and it is a huge passion of mine, but when I am not performing you can find me playing tennis or volleyball, doing art projects, leading worship at my church, or hanging with my friends and family.