The show will go on, in style

Deirdre Newman

Costa Mesa High School choir director Jon Lindfors was not having

any luck finding a venue for his choirs’ winter concert.

But before he could utter the words, “bah humbug,” South Coast

Repertory Theatre came to the rescue, allowing the school to use its

newly renovated theater on Monday. The space is available because “A

Christmas Carol” is not being performed that night.

The performance will mark the first time a school group has used

the facility.

“I think it’s going to be awesome,” said Michelle Hamilton, 14,

who is in the school’s Vocal Ensemble.

The winter concert is usually held in local churches, but none

were available this year. Lindfors jumped at the chance to perform at

South Coast.

The choirs will be performing “Songs of the Season” on the

Segerstrom stage, surrounded by the Christmas Carol sets.

“I’m thrilled to sing in this theater because it’s such a

beautiful place,” Lindfors said.

All five of Lindfors’ choirs, including middle and high school

students, will be filling the theater with their melodious sounds. On

Thursday, Lindfors, the 2001 Orange County teacher of the Year,

rehearsed with the Vocal Ensemble.

With his characteristic serious demeanor, broken by bursts of

levity, he emphasized the importance of emotion during the songs, as

well as hitting the right notes.

“I try to choose diverse music with different emotions,” Lindfors

said. “You’re not making music if you’re not being expressive.”

Lindfors led the ensemble from the lighthearted “Dashing Through

the Snow” to the somber “Coventry Carol.”

“Your face has to look pleasant. You can’t just look like this,”

Lindfors said, in reference to “Dashing Through the Snow” as his face

took on a zombie-like stare and he sang woodenly.

During the practice of “Coventry Carol” -- a song from the 1500s

about King Herod ordering children to be killed when Jesus Christ was

born -- Lindfors encouraged the singers to capture the rage of Herod.

“It’s telling the story, and I want you to feel like you’re Herod

and you want to kill all these people,” Lindfors said.

Lindfors said he is also looking forward to his choirs performing

at South Coast because of the great acoustics in the theater. The

challenge will be in only having a few hours of rehearsal in the

theater before the concert, he added.

The students are excited to sing where the pros do.

“I think it’s going to be a good experience,” Dana Cabico, 14,

said. “It’ll be like being an actual performer.”