FAIRFIELD — An extra evening will be added to the 2002 Crystal Classic to allow middle schools to enter the competition for school show choirs, now in its fourth year.

        The program, scheduled for 6-10 tonight and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at Fairfield Senior High School, 8800 Holden Blvd., will showcase the talents of six middle school show choirs on Friday and 16 high schools on Saturday.

        Among the participants are choirs from the Fairfield, Hamilton, Loveland, Ross, Middletown, Lebanon, Milford, Northwest and Edgewood school districts in Southwest Ohio and South Dearborn in Southeast Indiana. Proceeds from the show will help defray the competition costs for Fairfield Middle School's Rhythm Express and Fairfield Senior High School's Choraliers show choirs. Although both Fairfield groups will perform their competition shows this weekend, neither will be judged.

        The goal, organizers say, is to eventually offer two full days of competition for show choirs in Ohio and neighboring states. Only three participating choirs this year are from out of state.

        With each school bringing 50-60 performers, band members and technical crews, more than 300 teen-agers will be participating Friday and more than 1,100 Saturday, said Dan Prior, vocal music director at Fairfield Senior High School. The programs are open to the public.

        Tickets for today's performance are $5 for adults and $3 for students. The cost for Saturday's daytime performance is $6 for adults and $3 for students. The cost for the Saturday evening performance is $6 for adults and $3 for students.

        Information: 942-2999, ext. 115 or www.fftempo.org
Performance schedule
       
Today's Schedule (show choir followed by school):

       6:10 p.m., Wilsonaires, Wilson Junior High School, Hamilton
       6:40 p.m., Revolution, Loveland Middle School
       7:10 p.m., The Rainbow Connection, Ankeney Middle School, Beaver Creek
       7:40 p.m., Guys & Dolls, Ferguson Middle School, Beaver Creek
       8:10 p.m., Showcase, South Dearborn, Ind., Middle School
       8:40 p.m., Rhythm Express, Fairfield Middle School
Saturday's Schedule:

       8 a.m., RHS Show Choir, Ross High School
       8:30 a.m., By Request, Loveland High School
       9 a.m., Purple Pizzaz, Middletown High School
       9:30 a.m., Singers, Lebanon High School
       10 a.m., Shades of Harmony, Milford High School
       10:30 a.m., Swingers Unlimited, Marysville High School
       11 a.m., Show Cards, Colerain High School
       11:30 a.m., Choraliers, Edgewood High School, Trenton
       1 p.m., Premiere, Marietta High School, W.Va.
       1:30 p.m., Expressions, Nitro High School, W.Va.
       2 p.m., The Minstrels, Bishop Luers High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
       2:30 p.m., The Company, Piqua High School
       3 p.m., Illusion, Kettering Fairmont High School
       3:30 p.m., Great Expectations, Twinsburg High School
       4 p.m., Friends, Beavercreek High School
       4:40 p.m., Choraliers, Fairfield Senior High School
       

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