La Porte Symphony announces competition

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra Hoosier Star vocal competition will take place Sept. 13.

This year marks the competition’s 20th anniversary. The event will feature the adult winners from nine prior Hoosier Star competitions.

Contestants will compete for the Hoosier Star of Stars title and a cash prize. The finalists will sing their winning song accompanied by the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra under the musical direction of Dr. Carolyn Watson.

The finalists include:

  • Alyssa Atkinson, South Bend (2024 winner)
  • Kelly Staton, Griffith (2023)
  • Julia Thorn, Crown Point (2022)
  • Jarynn Sampson, South Bend (2021)
  • Alyse Flores, La Porte (2020)
  • Joe Stewart, Michigan City (2019)
  • Mike Green, La Porte (2018)
  • Julia Campoli-Biek, South Bend (2017)
  • James Neary, La Porte (2016)

The Hoosier Star competition also serves as a fundraiser for the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra. Last year's event raised nearly $50,000 for the symphony's mission.

There will be no auditions for Hoosier Star this year. Interested parties are encouraged to check the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra’s website in January 2026 for information about Hoosier Star 2026 auditions. The auditions will take place in March 2026.

Author

  • Kerry Sapet
    Kerry Sapet has been a freelance writer for more than 20 years. She has written for newspapers, magazines, websites and the children’s publishing market. Sapet is the author of more than 30 books for children and young adults. She has a degree in journalism from Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College. Sapet is a Bloomington, Indiana, native, and lives in the Chicago area.
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