2026 Iowa Rocks Talent Youth Competition Announces 12 Finalists for Live Competition at Pearson Lakes Art Center

ARNOLDS PARK, IOWA — August 2026 — The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association has
announced the 12 finalists who will compete in the 2026 Iowa Rocks Talent Youth
Competition, an annual showcase of Iowa's emerging young musical talent.
The live competition will take place Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at the
Pearson Lakes Art Center, 2201 US-71, Okoboji, Iowa, in conjunction with the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association's annual Hall of Fame induction weekend held over Labor Day weekend in the Iowa Great Lakes.

Created to support the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association's mission to honor achievements, educate youth and inspire artists, Iowa Rocks Talent provides young musicians from across the state with an opportunity to showcase their abilities alongside their peers in two primary categories: Outstanding Individual Artist and Best Band/Duo.
The competition continues to grow in popularity each year, with this year's audition response producing an especially talented and competitive field. Following the review of audition submissions, judges faced the difficult task of narrowing the field to 12 finalists.

The 2026 Iowa Rocks Talent Finalists Individual Artists:
Ralph Dittman — Sioux City, Iowa
Charlie Gandy — Shenandoah, Iowa
Haedden Slawson — Spencer, Iowa
Colton Baych — Springville, Iowa
Cydni Slycord — Waukee, Iowa
Raunak Epping — Bettendorf, Iowa
Rowan Fisher — Davenport, Iowa

Youth Bands:
Probable Cause — Burlington, Iowa
The Denim — Perry, Iowa
Day On Venus — North Liberty, Iowa
Brothers Under Tough Times — Craig, Iowa
7Ark — Donahue, Iowa

Janice Hill, a past Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association board member and current Iowa Rocks Talent event coordinator, said the caliber of young musicians participating continues to be inspiring.“The amount of talent we see on that stage every year continues to blow my mind. These young musicians are accomplishing more with music as teens than many of us in my generation ever dreamed of achieving at such a young age. It is incredibly exciting to watch them develop their talent and find their own musical voices.”
 

The strong response to this year's competition made the finalist selection particularly
challenging. “We received an incredible number of outstanding audition submissions, and narrowing the field to just 12 finalists was not an easy task,” Hill said. “We are incredibly grateful to every young artist who had the courage to put themselves out there and share their music with us.”
 

Association President Ted Poulsen noted, “We're very excited to present this 12th annual Iowa Rocks Talent competition!  The number, energy and talent of entrants this year was truly awe-inspiring and as Janice has noted, it was extremely difficult to choose finalists among the many talented submissions!  We extend the biggest thanks to our sponsors, our volunteers, the
parents and friends who supported every rehearsal and video submission, and all the young
musicians across Iowa who entered the contest.  Providing this exciting stage and opportunity
for young musicians is at the very core of our mission.”
 

The finalists will compete before a panel of judges representing diverse professional music
backgrounds and a variety of musical genres and eras. In addition to the two primary
competition categories, individual performers may be recognized for outstanding achievement in Best Vocalist, Best Instrumentalist and Best in Stage Presence.
 

Winners of the major competition categories will receive valuable recording opportunities
generously donated by Catamount Recording Studio in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Route 86
Music in Milford, Iowa.
 

The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association congratulates all 12 finalists and the families, friends, teachers and mentors who have supported them throughout their musical journeys.
The organization also encourages music fans, families and anyone interested in the future of
live music in Iowa to attend the competition and support these talented young performers as
they take the stage in Okoboji.

About the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association
The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to
honoring achievements in Iowa's musical heritage, educating youth and inspiring artists. The
organization's annual Hall of Fame induction weekend celebrates the musicians, performers
and contributors who have helped shape Iowa's rich musical history while supporting the next generation of Iowa artists.