By ALEC KELLER
Editor of the Times
“Neighborhood” is this year’s competition theme for Kenton High School’s Top Twenty Show Choir.
The group is finishing up its second camp this summer. Last week, the focus was on singing, said director Todd Daquino. This week, the show choir has been working on choreography in the Kenton Elementary School gymnasium.
The 33 singer-dancers include:
Freshmen: Kayla Lambert, Robert Lawrence, Catie Lodge, Lynnze Michel and Olivia Sherman.
Sophomores: Adesyn Bridenstine, Georgia Cameron, Billy Jones, Tate Ketcham, Katie Lowe, Lily Manns, Alana McClellan, Laylah McMahon, Faith Phipps, Josie Schwemer, Gaia Smith, and Emilie Stephens.
Juniors: Austin Chen, Emori Criner, Richard Huang, Amelia Mason, Ethan McNamara, Jace Murphy, Presley Poling, Seth Spencer, Lucy Whitmer and Presley Wilson.
Seniors: Karson Davis, Lydia Lambert, Mia Musser, Addison Mustain, Kai Reed and Ruby Styer.
During the camps, students learn the show and spend the rest of the year refining it, he said.
Daquino said of the theme of “Neighborhood,” “They are songs about being part of a neighborhood, connecting with a group of people, sharing their kind of love and looking out for each other.”
He also described the “domestic” dynamic of the singer-dancers and how they behave like family among themselves. This relationship also extends to their choreographers and directors.
The songs in this show are: “Neighborhood” from Smokey Joe’s Cafe, “Ordinary Day” by Todrick Hall, “Webster Avenue” from A Bronx Tale, “Welcome to My House” by Mama Haze, “Our Town” by James Taylor, “I Don’t Need a Roof” by Big Fish, “Midnight Summer Jam” by Justin Timberlake followed by his “Take Back the Night”. Their last song is “Block Party” by Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO.
Each year, Top Twenty’s competition season begins in November in Ada. The show choir will also visit Alliance, Marion Harding, Teays Valley and Norwell schools in Indiana.
Daquino is excited to announce that Kenton will host its own competition for the first time as a fundraiser in the high school building on February 15, 2025. Top Twenty alumni will again participate as volunteers to handle ticket sales, catering, and supervision of the visiting schools. There will also be help with the technical aspects, such as crew.
Top Twenty consists of 16 members of the A-Company band and 12 members of the crew. In addition to Daquino, the staff includes: Assistant Director Maureen Leech, Combo Director Jordan Gibson, Crew Director Brad Murphy, Technical Director Derryck Menard, Choreographers JJ Jones, Zack Triscari, Tara Tober and Patrick Sullivan, and Arrangers Kevin Duggan and Ben Wexler. Connie Mulligan is the Costume Designer.