Rising Stars will take to the stage this month

Performers to play during Citadel Country Spirit USA

EXTON >> Three musical “rising stars” have been chosen to take the stage during the second annual Citadel Country Spirit USA, when it returns to Chester County Aug. 23 to Aug. 25.

The winners of this year’s Rising Star contest were named Aug. 9, following a two-day Battle of the Bands event held at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia. Six finalists competed in that event.

The top three finishers will perform on the Citadel Rising Star stage during the event. Each will perform two sets between Main Stage acts. In addition, each of the top three Rising Star winners will receive $1,000.

This year’s winners are:

• Garrett Shultz is a singer/ songwriter from York, and will perform Friday, Aug. 23. In 2017 he premiered his first solo — “Kiss About It.” Prior to music, Shultz spent 6 years in the military serving in the Army and Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He has owned and operated a fitness center and has a degree in Biochemistry at Millersville University.

• Jackie Verna is a country artist from West Chester, and will perform Saturday Aug. 24. She was a contestant and Top 10 finalist on season 14 of NBC’s “The Voice” where she was on Team Adam (Levine). She released her first self-penned single “Forever Soulmate” in December 2018 and is working on her first EP.

• Aubrey Rey is a singer/songwriter from Collegeville and will perform on Sunday, Aug. 25. She started singing at age six, wrote her first song when she was 14

and played in two cover bands while a teen. When she was 18, Rey auditioned for “American Idol,” where she made it to the second round of Hollywood Week (Top 75).

New to this year’s Rising Star contest was an expansion of the geographic region for contestants, “to be more inclusive throughout the tri-state area,” according to Abigail Brooks, a spokeswoman for Citadel.

“Last year, we specified the artist or band be from,

or frequently perform in, the Greater Philadelphia area. This year, we included Delaware and New Jersey,” she said in an emailed response to questions,” she said.

Another change was that instead of having the public vote for the winners, a panel of judges selected the top three bands to perform at the festival based on: entertainment value, performance, audience appeal/ stage presence and marketability.

“The entire event is a celebration of our community, so it only makes sense that we have local talent performing,” Jeff March, president and CEO, Citadel, said

in a press release.

The three runners up in this year’s contest are:

• Johnni Levi of Douglassville

• Derek Crider of Ironton

• Kendal Conrad of Pottstown

Brooks said the three runners up have “the chance to play an opening slot on the Rising Star stage if they can make it,” although they will not be a featured artist or receive prize money.

The addition of the live battle, Brooks said, was to add excitement to the contest and to host an interactive event before the threeday concert event begins.

The second annual Citadel Country Spirit USA

will be held again at Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Grounds, 5 Nantmeal Road, just off Route 100 in Glenmoore, featuring 14 country music performers, including headliners Billy Currington (Aug. 23), Little Big Town (Aug. 24) and Old Dominion (Aug. 25).

Citadel is the event’s title sponsor for the second consecutive year. In addition to music, the festival will feature a variety of activities and a wide selection of food vendors, restaurants and beverages.

New at this year’s festival is the Citadel Mastercard Lounge, an area for Citadel debit or credit cardholders.

The Citadel Mastercard

Lounge will be located near the Citadel Rising Star Stage and will include games and food, as well as private and air-conditioned restrooms. Cardholders can bring one guest per day, and that cardholder and guest can enter and re-enter freely once they have a wristband.

“We truly are grateful for our members’ loyalty, so we try to identify ways to give them a positive, elevated experience at our events,” Brooks said of the area.

For more details, visit CitadelBanking.com/Lounge.

Hosted by the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau, 22,000 fans from 28 states and two Canadian

provinces attended the festival last August. For information about the festival and to purchase tickets visit CountrySpiritUSA. com. To charge by phone, call 1-800-514-3849.

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. A total of $100,000 was raised for the nonprofit organization in 2018; $50,000 from tickets sold and a $50,000 match from Citadel.

SUBMITTED PHOTO This photo shows contestants in the Aug. 8 Battle of the Bands held to determine the Citadel Rising Stars. From left are: Johnni Levi, Aubrey Rey and Derek Crider. Rey was selected as one of the Citadel Rising Star winners. She will perform during the upcoming Citadel Country Spirit USA music festival Aug. 23-25. The other winners are: Garrett Shultz and Jackie Verna. Each of the winners will perform in between sets on the main stage during the festival.

MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO Singer/songwriter Cassadee Pope performs on the main stage of the 2018 Citadel Country Spirit USA Festival at Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show grounds. The festival returns Aug. 23-25, featuring 14 country music stars and three area performers — winners of the Citadel Rising Star contest.

SUBMITTED PHOTO A two-night Battle of the Bands event was held earlier this month to determine the three Citadel Rising Stars — to play during this month’s Citadel Country Spirit USA. This photo shows, contestants who performed during the first night of competition Aug. 7. They are, from left, Jackie Verna, Garrett Shultz and Kendal Conrad. Once both nights of competition were completed, Verna and Shultz were selected to perform during the music festival. A third winner, Aubrey Rey was also chosen.