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.