User:Violinlan42/Findlay First Edition Show Choir

Introduction
Findlay First Edition Show Choir is also known as FFE, is an award winning show choir. Currently FFE is in their twenty-sixth season. The Findlay First Edition is an extra-curricular activity that is part of Findlay High School,in Findlay, Ohio. Their current director is Kevin Manley, assistant director is Daniel Wilson, and choreographer director is Andy Haines. The show choir continues to thrive and continue to entertain their audiences with the performances.

Beginning of FFE History
Findlay First Edition show choir started in the fall of 1984, founded by J.D. Smith and he was the director up till 2005. The FFE was first known as "Findlay Show Choir," later changed to Findlay First Edition. The first group had only twenty-four singers and dancers. The show choir had a pianist, bass, and drums, so the total in the group of twenty-eight. The Boinger director was Greg Ruffer in 1987, and the ensemble was first known as "Ruffer and the Boingers," then just known as The Boingers.

The first turning point for FFE was in 1989, that year the group won the Grand Champion at all competition events that they attended. Ever since 1989, the tradition has continued till the present, the show choir has always been in the finals of each competition and continues to do an excellent job. The Boingers in 1990, started to become an ensemble of excellence, and well known. This is when the show choir were in outfits without any sequined dresses, old handmade boxes to dance on, and no mirrors. It changed when they earned some money from fundraisers to buy sequined dresses, new platforms, and mirrors in the choir room that the group practiced in. The group has continued to grow and strive each year to get better and better. .

FFE Cabaret History
Since the first year, FFE ended each of their showchoir season with a Cabaret show. The first couple of years, Cabaret was held at a church, the First Presbyterian Church in Findlay, Ohio. After two years passed, the show choir moved their Cabaret show to their school’s cafeteria, because the FFE had outgrown the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. During the show, there would be snacks and game tables set out for their audiences. But as more years went by, the audiences grew and more tables were added. Then 1995, there were so many tables that would be needed, that FFE decided to move their Cabaret into the school’s auditorium. Every since that year, Cabaret has always been in an auditorium. Also every Cabaret, the show ended with this saying from each director, “wherever you go, always go ‘With A Song In Your Heart.’ ” Then the show choir would sing, “With A Song In Your Heart.”

Competitions
The show choir has won over sixty grand championships, claimed seventeen national awards in twelve states and two countries. The Boingers have claimed over fifty caption awards for Best Instrumental Combo. The show choir continues their tradition till this day of placing within the top finalist at all their competitions. Findlay First Edition always strives to improve, and know that they are expected to perform better as each year passes. The show choir has claimed the grand champion at the Showstoppers National Festival. They have also claimed the FAME New York Grand Champion in 2007. Findlay First Edition is the first show choir from Ohio to win and has claimed the most Grand Champion at Bishop Luers Midwest Individual competition. The show choir is a well-known in the country, but definitely in the Mid-West area.

Current Season'
As of 2010, the Findlay First Edition is in the twenty-sixth season. This season, the group competed at Bishop Dwenger, the Medina Invitational, Kettering Fairmont Invitational, Bishop Luers MidWest Invitational. Currently FFE has claimed the Grand Champion at Bishop Dwenger, Kettering Fairmon Invitational, and Bishop Luers MidWest Invitational. At Medina Invitational, FFE claimed First Runner-up. At all the competitions the show choir won more rewards. The Boingers claimed Best Combo award at Bishop Dwenger. FFE also claimed some Best Vocals and Best Choreography. The First Edition, on March 25, the show choir will compete at the Show Choir Nationals at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Then the group end their season with their traditional show with Cabaret on May 14 and May 15 the Findlay High School auditorium.