Rising Star Quartet Contest

Contest Entry Now Open!

Are you ready? There's only 15 slots available so get your entry in early!

You could win!

Prizes are as follows: 1st place, $2,000; 2nd, $1000; 3rd, $500 (all in USD). The highest scoring quartet, whose average age is 16 or under, will win the Stars to Watch Achievement Award.

Contest Entry, Eligibility and Regulations

Completed entry form and the $125 USD entry fee must be received by the Competition Department at Sweet Adelines International Headquarters by June 5, 2023.

• Entry fees are non-refundable.
• Entry forms accompanied with payment will be accepted in the order they are received.

The Rising Star Quartet Contest is for women ages 25 and under.

Song Selection Requirements* and Resources

In accordance with our guiding principles on the Culture of Belonging and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I), Sweet Adelines International rejects any song with racist lyrics, messages or history, and we consider them unacceptable for performance in any setting.

*Prior to their performance, all songs performed by competitors are required to receive an admissible rating through the Song Assessment Tool. The arrangements performed must be listed in the Song Evaluation Database (or Parodies list available to judges) as a YES (Yes, Yes: Note, Yes: Caution, Yes: Lyrics). Any arrangement performed in contest that is found to have NOT received a YES rating or that does not heed the stipulations noted for Yes: Lyrics and Yes: Caution ratings will result in the performer being disqualified. 

• To verify that your song is admissible, consult the Song Evaluation Database.
• If your song(s) are not listed in the Song Evaluation Database, you will need to submit your song to the Song Assessment Team. To submit your song, fill out the Submission Form.
• For song evaluation questions, please contact songassessment@sweetadelines.com.

Choosing music for competition is sometimes challenging, but finding the song and arrangement that best fits your vocal capabilities and knowledge of what makes for strong barbershop competition material will be key to your success in competition!

Take advantage of the following resources:

• View Choosing the Right Music (PDF) and
• Watch Choosing the Right Music Video feat. Rising Star Champion Melody Hine (Hot Pursuit 2018) for additional information.

When and Where!

The Rising Star Quartet Contest will take place at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Eisemann Center for Performing Arts
2351 Performance Dr. Richardson, TX 75082

Photo Copyright: Charles D. Smith, Eisemann Center for Performing Arts

Sweet Adelines Rising Star Quartet Contest will be held in conjunction with The Coronet Club's Queens' College. Event Registrations for Queens' College are sold strictly through The Coronet Club. Find details on The Coronet Club website, www.coronetclub.org.

Rising Star Quartet Contest attendee registration will be organized through Sweet Adelines International. Details will be released closer to contest.

Transportation

There are two airports in the Dallas area. Dallas Love Field Airport is 16 miles whereas Dallas Fort Worth Int'l Airport (DFW) is 27 miles from the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. Be sure to take ride share fees (Uber, Lyft, Taxi) and your hotel location into consideration when selecting your airline and booking your flights. For assistant with flight reservations, contact Sweet Adelines exclusive provider Journey House Travel.

Places to Stay

Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel
900 E Lookout Dr., Richardson, TX 75082
Phone: 1-972-367-2000

Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas/Richardson
2250 N. Glenville Drive, Richardson, TX 75082
Phone: 1-972-231-9800

Sonesta ES Suites Dallas Richardson
1040 Waterwood Dr, Richardson, TX, 75082
Phone: 1-972-669-5888

Element Dallas Richardson
2205 N Glenville Dr, Richardson, TX 75082
Phone: 1-972-833-4974

2022 Rising Star Quartet Contest Results & Performances

Congratulations to The Valkyries, 2022 Rising Star Quartet Champions! (Pictured above)

Check out the contest recap:

Shining Bright Since 1999

Founded in 1999, the Rising Star Quartet Contest is open to women ages 25 and younger. Singers don’t need to be members of Sweet Adelines International to compete.

Some great quartet singers got their competitive start at the Rising Star Quartet Contest. For example, Rising Star champion quartets LoveNotes (2005, as UnderAge), ClassRing (2014) and The Ladies (2016) went on to become Sweet Adelines International champion quartets (2014, 2019, and 2023, respectively). Hot Pursuit (2018) went on to become Harmony, Inc. 2019 Quartet Champions.

But Rising Star isn’t only about winning. It’s about the joy of singing barbershop with other young singers, the thrill of performing on stage, and most of all, the friendships and memories.