Rising Star 2026
Contest entry opens January 20.
Congratulations to 2025 Rising Star Champions, 942 Quartet!
Macenzie Bigness (Tenor), Kristina Valentino (Lead), Catrina Tulowiecki (Baritone), Katie Sheerin (Bass)
Sweet Adelines Affiliation: Region #15 Greater NY/NJ and Spirit of Syracuse Chorus
View 2025 Rising Star contest scores, a list of competing quartets and personnel, and watch all performances on YouTube!
First Place: $3,000
Second Place: $2,000
Third Place: $1,000
The winning quartet is also invited to perform at the 2026 Sweet Adelines International Competition in Columbus, Ohio.
The Rising Star Quartet Contest is for female quartets whose members are 25 and under.
You do not need to have previous participation in a Sweet Adelines contest to compete in Rising Star.
The quartet whose average age is 19 or younger and earns the highest score will receive the Stars to Watch Achievement Award.
A world-class panel of Sweet Adelines International Competition Judges adjudicates the Rising Star Quartet Contest. Every competing quartet will receive thoughtful, detailed feedback designed to inspire growth and elevate their artistry.
Many Sweet Adelines quartets and Queens, like The Ladies and LoveNotes, began their lifelong journey here.
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
Some great quartets got their competitive start in Rising Star.
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.
