Racine County Eye
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KENOSHA — High school girls from southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois are being invited to audition for Diva Quest, a nonprofit scholarship competition that gives young vocalists the chance to earn financial support for their education. Video submissions are open now through Oct. 31.
Applicants in grades 9–12 must submit two songs from different musical genres via video to divaquest03@gmail.com. Judges with professional music backgrounds will evaluate entries on sound, expression, showmanship, and overall musicality.
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Ten finalists will be selected to advance to the live competition, where they will also perform alongside Riverport Chorus.
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Finalists will receive mentoring in vocal performance, song selection, and stage presence from experienced musicians and educators. They will also rehearse a four-part a cappella piece with Riverport Chorus at Wilmot Union High School, where most sessions will be held on Monday evenings.
“Since 2007, our dream has been to empower young singers to become better, more confident performers,” said Susan Nelson, Diva Quest co-founder. “We teamed up with Riverport Chorus and made that dream a reality with the creation of this exciting annual program.”
Scholarship money is awarded to the finalists based on their performance at the live competition. In 2025, the winner received $1,750, with smaller amounts given to runners-up.
“The program not only supports education but also helps young women build confidence on stage,” said Lisa Mushel, co-founder of Diva Quest.
The 2026 Diva Quest Scholarship Show will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, at Journey Church in Kenosha. The finalists will perform before a judging panel and live audience, with audience voting playing a role in the final results.
In recent years, contestants have represented more than 20 high schools across Wisconsin and Illinois, including Burlington, Racine Horlick, Waukesha South, Union Grove, Antioch, and Vernon Hills.
Riverport Chorus, the program’s partner organization, is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International and has been active for more than 60 years. Directed by Laurel Peterson, the group also won the Region 3 Audience Choice Award in 2025.
More details, including online applications and rehearsal schedules, are available at riverportchorus.org/divaquest.
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