School choir ready for Cincinnati Pops

By Janelle Gelfand

CINCINNATI — It’s Monday morning, and 55 members of the Winton
Woods High School Varsity Ensemble are rocking and finger-snapping
a little too boisterously through “Ghostbusters.”

“This is not about you having a party. This is about you
performing for them,” says director David Bell, pointing to their
invisible audience.

Winton Woods High School’s most elite choir was rehearsing for
performances in the Cincinnati Pops’ Halloween show this weekend in
Music Hall. The high schoolers were focused and professional, but
clearly, the excitement of appearing on Music Hall’s legendary
stage was beginning to build.

“It’s amazing. The last time I saw a Disney concert (by the
Pops) I was so jealous. I was like, I want to sing with the
Cincinnati Pops so bad,” says Kaitlin Otto, 17, who sings alto.
“And now to hear that orchestra and to be there singing with them,
it’s just going to be the best feeling in the world.”

During the morning, Bell is pleasant but tough, able to discern
poor ensemble in the basses, a missed entrance by the altos or a
shrill tone in the soprano section. He wants complete attention.
Every minute of this rehearsal counts.

“This week, you need to rehearse the way you’ll perform. This is
bigtime, guys. We are joining one of the top symphonies in the
world. This is not Winton Woods,” he reminds them.

Even though Bell has prepared his award-winning chorus to
perform with the Pops at least 30 times, he still gets nervous for
his singers. He wants to prepare them for a new setting, and the
level of professionalism that comes with a major
orchestra.