Singers Try to Hit the Right Pitch To Win a Spot in the Ballpark Choir

By 10:30 a.m. yesterday, Theresa Ellsworth was in the hot seat.

That's what people in the basement lobby of St. Matthew's Cathedral were calling the chair right outside the audition room. All morning, Catholic after Catholic filed in -- one every five minutes -- for the chance to sing a few hymn verses, demonstrate vocal range, be thanked and then be sent home to await word. They were all hoping to have snagged one of the 250 spots in the choir that will sing at Pope Benedict XVI's Mass on April 17 at the new Nationals stadium.

With more than 550 people from local parish choirs signed up to audition, the vibe was far more intense than simply performing a Sunday morning song at church. It was more like "Vatican Idol."

"It's good as you get older to do things that make you a little uncomfortable," said Ellsworth, a music historian and alto from Cleveland Park. "I said: 'You're 62. Get out and do something that scares you a little.' "

Inside, Ellsworth took her place before a black music stand with a few sheets of music; a pianist was poised at the keys. To her left, two judges sat behind a table, and to her right, an image of Jesus Christ on the cross hung on the wall.

Yesterday's scene was to play out 10 times across the region to accommodate the hundreds of Catholics who want to sing at the papal Mass, the first time a pope will be in the nation's capital since 1979.

The St. Matthew's basement lobby was a rotation of one determined face after another. The 25-year-old who sings meditative spiritual music and thinks it would be "cool" to see the pope in the new baseball stadium. The defense analyst from Falls Church who says music is what connects her to her church. The Arlington lawyer who loves solemn orthodox music in church and plays bluegrass and jazz outside it.

"In the couple years since I've been singing in parish choirs, it just gives music so much meaning," said Mike Schultz, 48, who walked into the room, put on his glasses and gave not only his voice but his body to the hymn "All Creatures of Our God and King."

"You are really praying and helping the assembly to have that spiritual experience," he said.

As the two judges penciled notes, Schultz's body and arms swayed, and his hands, holding the sheet music, shook slightly.

"I tried to tell myself, don't be nervous," he said afterward.

The four days of tryouts -- from Friday through tomorrow -- involve 20 judges and spreadsheets to keep track of all the entrants. Archdiocesan officials tried to keep the locations quiet so additional people didn't show up. Registration was limited to Catholics already in parish choirs, whose repertoires range from Gregorian chanting to folk to gospel to praise and worship. Judges were looking for not only the best voices but also for that intangible something.

"If all goes well, people at the April Mass will be transformed from having been there. Not just that they saw something historic, but that they were transformed. It has to be more than just great music," said Thomas Stehle, who will oversee the 250-person main choir, as well as a smaller gospel choir, intercultural choir and children's choir.

Stehle said decisions will be made this week, and the first rehearsal will be March 10. Those who don't make the choir will have to find another way into the stadium.

Ellsworth began her tryout with a false start, and the judges told her to take a nice deep breath. She recovered, singing the hymn with her hands clasped behind her back and tapping her right hand on her thigh to regain her rhythm.

Afterward, she said the hot seat had been just fine.

"It's a nice opportunity for the ordinary parish singer who's just interested in praising the Lord in this way," she said.