Wow – YeEd got to Durant at about 6 pm and found the risers up, screen, tables and a lot of the troops onhand for stage presence review on the stage, some tag singing, some pizza eating, front row drills, and taking care of the usual paper work. And picking up their new chorus uniform parts.
Also guys were so glad to see Chuck Hunter back from Damascus for a little visit and some training classes in the DC area.
Will Cox did the vocal warm ups and Director Joe jumped in to expand the lessons during the warm up period.
Joe led a big cheer and congrats for Eric Wallen who competed with his quartet CRUNCH TIME this weekend at the Johnny Appleseed District prelims and qualified to sing at the International quartet contest in Philly this summer!
Then the chorus singing got serious with a work session on “ObLaDi/ObLaDa” and a lead break out session to shore up their part on it.
And then to work on the contest songs. Geri Geis (as well her husband, past Harmo president, Royall) was here to work with the chorus. For a while, she worked with the front row outside the main hall. Then she joined Joe upfront to coach the chorus even deeper into the plan and emotion of the ballad. It was so good to see the difference as guys let themselves go and share the story. The chorus was enthusiastic about a couple musical changes that came out of this session too – things that were needed to tell the same story visually and musically.
Before break time, operations VP Klostermeyer honored the week’s birthdays. Secretary Buechler presented membership renewal cards to several: Steve Lingo, 2 years; Chris Huber, 18 years; Brad Jones, 18 years; Sam McFarland, 23 years; Rick Wagner, 29 years; Alan Kousen, 43 years; and Bob Wachter, 58 years!
Dan O’Brien welcomed guests – besides those mentioned above, Jon Abel was with us.
President Newton reminded board members of their upcoming meeting.
For break, guys finished off the pizza and wiped out a big pile of cookies and goodies, bought sodas and water from the FRIENDS group, and got ready to get back on the risers to the cheers led by Griff.
The music team had the guys sing several repertoire songs. Then do some of the needed run-throughs for making their self evaluation tapes.
Joe announced more big news – the chorus is gonna produce a CD as fast as possible for sale to our fans. He has assembled a team to help with it and the first couple songs were recorded tonite. Phil Ferguson is sound engineer and Mick Stamps is producer. Stay tuned for more details. (And the new CD project explains why it was getting warm in the hall – the AC unit will be off starting at 9 pm while we do the recordings.)
The chorus singing continued with coaching and suggestions right til 10. K12 reminded guys of the mandatory visual studios this weekend. And to pick up uniform parts.
Many hands got everything put away under the stage (YeEd heard some chatter that we might be having a painting crew put some paint on the doors that go under the stage as a help to the Rec Center).
And as is the case each week, a crowd of guys went to 815 South Washington for the afterglow.
Until next time – editorjack!
(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —Ye Ed.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment