“The Royal Saxophone Quartet” featuring Christian Smith, Kaylee Burchett, Cody Starns, and Isaiah Shelley, all of Albany, qualified to compete in the 2015 Coca-Cola Tallent Classic Semi-Finals Competition at the Kentucky State Fair. The Royal Saxophone Quartet will be competing on Sunday, August 23 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time in the South Wing Conference Center.

The Coca-Cola Talent Classic is a competition for young performers ages 13-21. Preliminaries are held in nearly 40 counties across Kentucky and surrounding states. The semi-finals and final competition are held at the Kentucky State Fair in August. The semi-final competition will include an array of talents including singers, dancers, bands, and instrumentalists. These performers will compete for the title of Grand Award Winner which includes a cash prize of $1,200, a trophy, and a poster-size picture of their winning act on the Wall of Champions displayed each year during the Kentucky State Fair.

The Coca-Cola Classic provides the opportunity for young performers, like The Royal Saxophone Quartet, to be recognized for outstanding talent. All finalists will have the opportunity to work with a professional performer and choreographer before their final competition.

The Coca-Cola Talent Classic is a highly respected talent competition that has been a stepping stone for many young performers. The Royal Saxophone Quarter is among an elite group as a semi-finalist in this competition. Some finalists from the past years include Nicole Scherzintger of the popular singing group The Pussycat Dolls, who have had numerous Billboard hits. Their album went double-platinum with Scherzinger singing nearly all lead vocals on their album. In 2010, Scherzinger was also the season 10 winner of Dancing with the Stars.

Whitney Boyles was crowned Miss Kentucky 2000 and won 4th runner-up to Miss America in 2001. Maggie Lawson starred with Justin Timberlake in ABC-TV’s 2000 movie “Model Behavior” as well as Family Channel’s movie “Love Rules” co-starring Joseph Lawrence. Lawson has also starred in numerous sitcoms and made appearances in different television series and is a costar in the TV show “Back in the Game” starring James Cann. Beth Current, Coca-Cola Talent Classic’s 2009 winner, is also doing big things such as touring with her band and performing at Warped Tour. Many other past contestants are appearing on Broadway, touring, or doing studio work with the stars.

Congratulations to The Royal Saxophone Quartet and best of luck in the 2015 Coca-Cola Talent Classic Semi-Finals Competition at the Kentucky State Fair.