Piqua Show Choir "The Company"
Under the leadership of Tom Westfall the Piqua High School musical group "The Company" has been improving steadily over the past eight years. After four years of dedicated hard work by directors and students, the group had one of its’ major defining moments in Twinsburg in February of 2005 when they won their first Grand Championship. Since then Piqua has continued to steadily improve and is now recognized as one of the top five show choirs in Ohio. The Company has won a grand championship at their first competition of the season for each of the past three seasons. They have won the Ada Music Feast in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and added an addition GC at Central Crossing in Grove City in 2007.
This past Saturday was the first competition of the 2008-2009 season. The Company again travelled to Grove City to compete at the Central Crossing Show Choir contest.
Piqua dominated in the daytime competition. The Company won almost every caption award presented in Class B including; Best Vocals, Best Chorography, Best Combo and Class Champion. Piqua won overall awards for Best Show Concept, Best Costumes and Best Crew. Ryan Mouser was awarded the Best Male Solo for the competition and Julia Crawford was recognized as Piqua’s outstanding performer for the day.
In the nighttime finals competition, Piqua kicked it up another notch and again dominated the event. Piqua was awarded, Best Overall Vocals, Best Overall Chorography and Best Overall Combo. The Company finished the award winning day by grabbing the Grand Championship award topping second place Teays Valley by more than eighty-five points 565 to 480.
The Company brought home a school record thirteen awards/trophies on the day and this brings Piqua’s run of season opening Grand Championships to four consecutive seasons.
Under Tom Westfall’s direction The Company has continually improved over the past eight years. Tom is a Piqua Alumni and is assisted by Lara Homan and Kyle Fisher who are also Piqua Alumni. Mitch Mahanny directs the combo, "Audio Hype".
"Our success is a result of a number of years of hard work." Shared Westfall. "This year’s group is young and is performing very well. They are learning to work harder and are continuing to improve. But our alumni can share in these successes because they have been a part of us building the reputation and earning the right to be considered on of the top show choirs in the state of Ohio as well as throughout the Midwest. I am really proud of the kids this weekend. Not only did they perform at the best, the conducted themselves with class and pride."
The Company traveled to the Ada Music Feast on November 15 and placed First in their class and received awards for vocals, instrumenatl combo and male soloist. The group placed second runner up overall at Ada. January 17 The Company traveled to Beavercreek where they were first runner up and class champions. Ryan Mouser also received his third best male solo award, Leslie Pequignot received the award for best female solo. Piqua Music Boosters hosted the 26th Piqua Show Choir Invitational on January 24 and had a record number of schools compete. The Company re-entered competition on February 7 at the Charleston Civic Center in the Poca Music Fest. The group swept all the caption awards and took the top honor as Grand Champion for the second time this season. Upcoming contests for the group include Twinsburg on February 28 and finishing their competition season in Fairfield, Ohio on March 14.
