This year’s Crystal Classic not only marks the 15th anniversary of the event, but stands to draw more than 40 groups from all around the country for the annual competition, organizers said.

“This one is going to be the largest one we’ve ever done,” said Kenny Rhodus, technical director of the Crystal Classic. He expects this year’s show will draw between 4,500 and 5,000 people to Fairfield.

“We are excited to host 39 choirs from five states,” said Choraliers director Jeff Clark. “Groups coming from as far as Maryland, Mississippi, and Virginia are coming in addition to our typical Ohio and Indiana schools.”

When the Crystal Classic started 15 years ago, it drew about 20 choir groups. Previously, it was only held in the high school’s Performing Arts Center, but now, the larger groups perform in the arena, while the smaller groups perform in the PAC.

Organizers have acquired a “professional dance floor with better sound and a better feel for the dancers,” Rhodus said.

The event this year gets an extra boost by being held immediately following the “Building Men and Women for Others” staged by the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League. That event will take place on March 1, and the Crystal Classic will follow March 2. Both events take place in the Fairfield High School arena.

Having the events on consecutive days — as they were in 2005 — allows the Nuxhall event to use some equipment from the Crystal Classic, which saves the Nuxhall event a few thousand dollars, according to Rhodus.

“They can take advantage of our sound, our lighting and our stage, which is sitting there empty for them to use. And they get a small donation back to our kids,” he said.

Because the Fairfield Choraliers host the event, they will not compete, although the group will perform and receive judges comments.