Rising Star Quartet Contest
Enter to compete by May 30.
Rising Star Quartet Contest
Rising Star is all love and all fun.
It's the place to meet your besties and find out what it's like to perform for an audience of Sweet Adelines. Many Sweet Adelines quartets and Queens—like The Ladies and LoveNotes—began their lifelong journey here. Now, it's your time to shine!
Enter to Compete!
Simply send us your Entry Form to secure your spot for the 2025 Rising Star Quartet Contest. Contest entry closes on May 30.
Completed Entry Forms accompanied with payment will be accepted in the order they are received. Quartets will be placed on a waiting list after the 15 competitor slots have been filled.
See the Rules and Regulations and Performance Level Guidelines for complete details!
Contest Venue, Start Time, and The Jurassic Chords Quartet Retreat: Powered by Clever Girl!
The 2025 Rising Star Quartet Contest will be held on Saturday, August 2, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Contest begins at 6 p.m. We will be at the Hyatt Regency Downtown hotel. Guests can now purchase tickets to attend the Rising Star Quartet Contest.
Before you purchase tickets, take note: This year's contest is part of a two-day barbershop adventure... The Jurassic Chords Quartet Retreat: Powered by Clever Girl
Retreat registration is open, but if you're a Rising Star participant, hold off on registering just yet—you’ll receive a promo code from HQ that gives you free access to the entire retreat!
Friday, August 1: Cheer on competitors during the Diamond Division Quartet Contest
Saturday August 2: Participate in barbershop education classes led by the reigning Queens of Harmony, Clever Girl Quartet. Then it’s your time to shine—Rising Stars takes the stage!
• The Rising Star Quartet Contest is for female quartets whose members are age 25 and under. You do not need to have previous participation in a Sweet Adelines contest to compete in Rising Star.
• All songs performed on a Sweet Adelines International stage are required to receive an admissibility rating via the Song Assessment Tool. Watch this video for more info!
• Competing quartets will receive additional information about this via email — be sure to provide an active email address in your Contest Entry Form!
• Follow the Rising Star Facebook page to swap stories, share your journey, and connect with fellow quartets on the rise!
Guiding Voices: Meet the Judges of the Rising Star Quartet Contest
The Rising Star Quartet Contest is adjudicated by a world-class panel of Sweet Adelines International Competition Judges. Every competing quartet will receive thoughtful, detailed feedback designed to inspire growth and elevate their artistry.
Congratulations to Radiant, 2024 Rising Star Champion Quartet!
Tenor: Abbie Owens, Lead: Hannah Paschal, Baritone: Emma Paschal, Bass: Katie Vincent
Sweet Adelines Affiliation: Chapter-at-Large Region #9 and Toast of Tampa Show Chorus
Contest Results
First Place: Radiant
Second Place: Knock Knock!
Third Place: Counterpoint
Fourth Place: Sunshine Sisters
Fifth Place: Perpetual Sound
Stars to Watch Award: Interstellar
Congratulations to Cosmic, 2023 Rising Star Champion Quartet!
Tenor: Cheyenne Gonzalez
Lead: Holli Houtz
Baritone: Catrina Tulowiecki
Bass: Madison Padgett
Sweet Adelines Affiliation: Region 2 Border Lakes, 4 Harmony Heartland, and 10 Great Gulf Coast
The Rising Star Quartet Contest is open to women ages 25 and younger. Singers do not need to be members of Sweet Adelines International to compete. Some great quartets got their competitive start in the Rising Star Quartet Contest. 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.
Recognizing the Legacy of Connie Noble
Connie was a devoted Sweet Adeline for 50 years. She served as a coach, mentor, leader, and director, and to date remains the only individual to have the distinction of singing in four International Champion Quartets — 4th Edition (1972), High Society (1976), Savvy (1988), and Fanatix (2002). The family and friends of Connie Noble graciously donated the funds for the first, second, and third place awards of the Rising Star Quartet Contest.
For questions about the Rising Star Quartet Contest, contact competition@sweetadelines.com.
