Looking Back on the Dec. 18^th Chapter Meeting

The Harmonizers were invited to sing at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial for a free holiday concert for children and families, called “Sleigh Bells Ring at the Memorial” on Dec. 18^th. 

A large number of singers squeezed onto the stage to  repeat the holiday music we had sung in our own show earlier in December. The auditorium was full and many children came down front to sit on the floor in front of the stage, at the invitation of director Joe Cerutti.

One of the young lads there came up about mid-way in the show and announced to all, “I like your songs.”

The show was sponsored by the Opera Guild of Northern Virginia.  Attendees were asked to reserve seats in advance by telephone RSVP.

Chorus singers wore bright holiday sweaters and scarves, or coat and colorful ties.  Plus we all had a Santa hat for the first part of the show. Alan Wile hauled many of the colorfully wrapped boxes we had used at our show (he retrieved them from his wife’s SAI chapter’s show) and they were arranged in front of the stage.  A big riser crew came early to help haul things. Mike Kelly worked hard to manage the sound for the show.

There were a number of former members in the audience as well as prospective singers. Emcee Shawn Tallant kept the show flowing. ACME CHORD COMPANY sang for the show too. The soloists at our dinner theater shows repeated their performances for this show too.

After warm up on the stage, we recorded a message to send via YouTube to Ben Nelson, who sang with us before his family moved to WA.  He is fighting cancer and the tough treatments for it. 

During the show the audience got to do some audience singing which they liked. Will Cox entertained all the kids (of all ages) with his humorous “Night Before Christmas” poem. There was some tag singing and ringing in the great halls of the Memorial after the show and some guys went to local spots for impromptu afterglows.

Brief announcements at the chapter meeting in the dressing room included word of a chorus sing at Inova Hospital in Alexandria on Sat. Jan 5^th.  Times and other details to come.  AND also details about the HEAT GLO after the hospital sing at Jack and Pat Pitzer’s house.  Bring finger foods and your favorite beverage. Spouse or significant others invited.

Mike Kelly encouraged all of us to go to the BLAST in Glen Bernie on Dec. 27^th.  Quartet singing for anyone who is game; appearances by top-notch quartets from the area; food and beverages; $15 fee. At Michael’s 8^th Ave., 7220 Grayburn Dr. from 7:30-11:59 pm. Form a car pool so we can get a big Harmo crowd there. 

Also watch for info about a special event featuring RINGMASTERS in our area.  Ticketed event.  Jan. 16^th.

In other news, YeEd got a report from Sam McFarland who took a supply of the holiday cookies we had from our show to the Pride of Baltimore chorus rehearsal on Monday eve. Our fellow barbershop singers were happy for the treat from our chapter.

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. —YeEd.)