What a weekend in Ada
Story and photos by Monty Siekerman
The 40th annual Music Feast on Saturday drew an estimated 2,000 people to see one of the top (and oldest) swing choir competitions in the state.
The host Ada Varsity Singers gave an exhibition performance in the afternoon that filled the auditorium with Standing Room Only space and the group received a Standing O for their performance.
LOTS OF PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF STORY -
Ada's Varsity Singers theme was "I See Fire" featuring 32 singers/dancers and 11 instrumentalists. Counting the 5 crew members, the group involves one-fifth of the students enrolled in high school.
Ada soloists were Sydney VanAtta, Emma Ferguson, Audrey Hazelton, Kesewa Akyeampong, Alex Waugh, Alex Morgan, and Coco McLaughlin.
Scott Henning is director. Jonathan Lischak is instrumental director. Zachary Triscari is choreographer.
Schools competing were River Valley Music Company, Caledonia; North Royalton Royal Harmony, North Royalton; South Dearborn Opening Knight, Aurora, Ind.; Teays Valley Prominent Rendition, Ashville; Alliance Jetsetters, Alliance; Riverdale Soundsensation, Mount Blanchard; Olentangy Orange Revolution, Lewis Center; and Findlay First Edition, Findlay.
Judges scoring
1. Findlay
2. Teays Valley
3. South Dearborn
4. Olentangy Orange
5. Alliance
6. Riverdale
7. River Valley
Ada did not compete because it was host.
PHOTOS: Ada Varsity Singers instrumentalists get a few notes of practice in before the curtain opens and the performance by the local favorites begins.
Audience members give the Ada Varsity Singers a standing ovation.
Brooklyn Kelly of Waynesfield Goshen School hands chocolate buckeyes to Todd Federico, an ONU student from Findlay. Brooklyn was selling sweets at Music Feast to earn money for a trip to Europe with the Spanish Club. So, she'll head to Spain? No, the club is going to Italy and Greece which may be safer places to visit since Spain is currently in an uproar over independence-minded Catalonia.
Thirteen vendors took advantage of the large crowd at Music Feast by selling their wares in the hallways as people passed to and fro. Pictured: Julie Wolke selling Mary Kay products.
Colorful t-shirts were sold at Music Feast along with food, clothing, and other products. Norma Kerns and Amy Kramer of T&L Graphics, Belle Center, had equipment on hand to instantly print a design on t-shirts,, hoodies, sweatshirts and other pieces of clothing.
Sharp, slick, didn't miss a beat...all of those could be used to describe the Findlay First Edition performance. It's early in the season for swing choirs, but Findlay has its act together: the singer/dancers, instrumentalists, choreography, costumes all work together to produce an outstanding show. FFE has won 19 grand championships, and they'd be the ones to bet on winning the nationals in Nashville, Tenn., this season. Plus, the students maintain a 3.5 GPA. A large contingent from Findlay folks was on hand to boost their favorite show choir.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, June 6, 2025
- Logan Jolliff places 11th in OHSAA D3 preliminaries
- Canadian wildfire smoke could impact NW Ohio
- Save the Date: July 12 Park in the Park
- Ada Board of Education to hold special executive session on June 11
- Park board hears plans for concessions stand
- May 2025 land transfers in the Ada School District
Thursday, June 5, 2025
- Can you name the location of Pat's News Stand?
- June 9 ice cream social at Ada FUMC
- Land of Confusion: Is cannabis weed-ing out your ability to think clearly?
- Blacksmithing demonstrations on June 14 at Schumacher Homestead
- Content creators wanted for Ada Icon
- Crime Victim Services hosts Anti-Violence Teen Summer Retreat
- ACE Day coordinators seek projects for August 23
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
- Dwight Thomas Friesner served in the U.S. Army
- BlufftonIcon.com headlines for June 3
- Congratulations to Officer Michael Bollinger
- Chance R. Watkins worked at PlastiPak Packaging
- Public meetings scheduled for Ada committees, commissions
- Aggregation letters sent to Ada residents not enrolled in electricity programs
- Upcoming APL events, June 2-7
- Sign of the times