The Winton Woods Varsity Ensemble has returned from their trip to China with the sound of applause ringing in their ears.  The trip was a huge success, and our students gave amazing performances.  Their musical excellence was commented on by our Chinese hosts and by the directors and parents of the other choirs who attended the music festival, Perform in Harmony - With Olympic Spirit.

Sincere thanks go out to the many people who donated time, money and resources to make this trip happen for our students. 

The Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble is seen on stage at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing where they performed at a pre-Olympic music festival. "I think our students have discovered that their performance holds up on an international stage," said Chorus Director David Bell. "I have never seen our students so focused on the details of a performance. They really performed with one heart."

Harmony, Winton Woods High School’s men’s a ceppella group, performed “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. Harmony is (l-r) Kameron Kinnett, Demarco Kinamore, Nick Topits, Justin Hisle, Justin Chaney (lead vocals), Steven Cleary, David Driskill, and Stephen Meadows.

Click to hear their performance.

The Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble (in white tuxedo shirts) was part of the mass chorus that performed in Shanghai and Beijing.  Other schools that performed were Springboro High School (Ohio) , Los Alamitos High School (California) , Council Rock High School (Pennsylvania) and Walter Payton College Prep (Illinois). The group was led by Dr. Rollo Dilworth, who also wrote a number of pieces for the concert.

Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble member Kyle Day talks to a Chinese middle school student following an exchange performance at Beijing No. 159 Middle School. After a performance by the Chinese middle and high school students, Varsity Ensemble, the Winton Woods men's and women's a cappella groups, and Gospel Keys performed for the Chinese students. After all the performances, students were able to interact and take photos with new friends.

Dr. Camille Nasbe, superintendent of Winton Woods City Schools (right), is pictured with the principal of Beijing No. 159 Middle School at a school exchange performance.

Chinese high school students and their music teacher after a performance for our students at Beijing No. 159 Middle School.

Winton Woods Varsity Ensemble members and Chinese high school students join together to perform "Jasmine Flower," a traditional Chinese song, during a school exchange program at Beijing No. 159 Middle School.  "This visit was what the trip was all about--people to people," said Winton Woods Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe, who accompanied the choir on the trip.

Click to hear our Ensemble perform.

The Great Wall of China was one of the sites visited on the Varsity Ensemble's tour of the Beijing area.

With the Great Wall of China in the background, members of the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble sing "Elijah Rock" in an impromptu performance for visitors to the historic site.  "The whole trip has been an amazing event," said Choir Director David Bell.

Click to hear performance.

Winton Woods Varsity Ensemble members and chaperones at the Temple of Heaven. The site was one of many that the group visited while in China. ‘Our students jumped into this experience with both feet,” said Winton Woods School Board President John Pennycuff, who accompanied the group on the trip. “We are all very proud of them.”        

Greenhills resident Fran Wolf (left) ran into members of the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble while visiting China's Forbidden City.  "It is a small world," said Choir Director David Bell, who is pictured with Wolf and Varsity Ensemble members (l-r) Leah Goins and Caty Spalding.

Pictured left to right:  Ben Spalding, chorus co-director, Camille Nasbe, superintendent, John Pennycuff, board president and Dave Bell, chorus director at the Hui Zhenlou restaurant in Beijing.           

Varsity Ensemble members perform in Shanghai at a dinner honoring the five high schools from across the United States who participated in the music festival.   

The Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai where Varsity Ensemble performed their first sold-out concert.

A visit to a jade factory was just one stop on the trip to China for members of the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble. Here they are taught to look for the “cloud” in the jade by holding it up to the light.

The Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai.  The Oriental Pearl Tower is located  in the Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite the Bund of Shanghai.

Signs for the upcoming Olympic games could be seen throughout China.  The Summer Olympics will be held August 8 - 24, 2008.

Varsity Ensemble members and chaperones enjoy a sunny day in the Yu Garden in Shanghai.

Pictures provided courtesy of Teresa Cleary, parent chaperone.