Season 5 of The Star Vocal Competition, a Philadelphia-area version of “American Idol,” kicked off on Thursday, June 5, at the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester.
During this season, the talent spotlight will shine on 30 kids, age 8 to graduating high school seniors, who are competing to be selected as the next Star.
“We let them grow,” said producer and director Danny Murphy in an interview with ABC 6 News. “Judges give incredible feedback. They come from Broadway and ‘American Idol’ and mainstream TV shows to help them grow from week to week. We like to be surrounded by people who uplift the contestants and put them on a platform and guide them to success.”
The competition has yielded some incredible talent over the past several years.
Last season’s winner, Abbie Parker, received a Barrymore Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Former contestant Nella Hilden has taken her singing talents on a national tour.
In the adult classification, Penny Samar, a recent finalist on “American Idol,” was awarded The Star in October 2024.
The Season 5 finale is set for Thursday, June 26. For tickets and more information, visit The Star Vocal Competition’s website.
