Looking Back on the Mar. 23^rd Coaching Session with Tony DeRosa     

 The chorus worked really hard on Saturday, March 23^rd from 9-5 at our regular meeting place with coach Tony DeRosa and director Joe Cerutti.  For sure we got in a lot of good laughs with Tony teasing Joe and all of us too.

 

But the hard work left us with an awesome interp and execution plan for the ballad and many improvements for the uptune.  It was just what Joe and his music team wanted to happen. And the chorus singers liked getting to drill it and get it first-hand.

 

The day started early with all the guys helping set up and get the room ready.  Ellen Dellert had brought donuts and goodies to go with the coffee – thanks.  Chuck McKeever’s visual team was sporting new t-shirts with “leave no point behind” in bold letters as a reminder for all.

 

Great to welcome long-distance singers with us as Special Forces guys for this special session – Bob Wilson, Mike Geipel, Dan Cook and Mike Wallen from the Richmond area, Dave Ellis from Denver and Kevin McKenzie from Cumberland, MD.  Mike Everard was present to cheer and keep an eye on us along with some fellas from the Harmony Heritage Singers. During the day various family members stopped in, and during the long lunch break, Peggy Wagner brought two yummy birthday cakes for all to enjoy in celebration of Rick’s birthday.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo started off the singing at 9am with important warm ups before turning the chorus over to Joe and Tony D.

 

We basically worked on the uptune all morning until the release for lunch.  Many guys formed car pools and went off-campus for chow.

 

After lunch it was back to work.  Assistant director Will Cox did the afternoon warm ups.  And then Joe and Tony D. worked on the ballad. One good point Tony D. made – “when passion and precision meet – artistry and excellence happens!”

 

During the day, there was a good bit of teasing of assistant director Terry Reynolds by Tony D. each time Terry stepped up to change events or announce some new aspect of the work times!  Those included a major shift in riser positions after luncheon-talk by the team.  And it also included times for vocal assessment listeners to do their thing for some guys who were ready.

 

Terry also stressed the plan for the vocal studios and the visual studios.  Both are designed to bring a small segment of the chorus together with musical or visual leaders who can help them with interp and execution.  Terry asks all members to be prepared on Tues. March 26^th to sign up for one of the vocal studios that will all be at Durant: Wed. April 17 at 7-8:30pm or at 8:30-10pm; Sun. April 21 at 1-2pm or 2:30-4pm or 4:30-6pm; or Mon. April 29 at 7-8:30pm or 8:30-10pm. The visual studios will be Saturday, May 4^th at Durant and parts of each row will be assigned specific times. Stay tuned.

 

Thanks to the AV team who had sound equipment working and to Sam McFarland and others who helped record notes and points made by our coach and director.

Other announcements for all – the Youth In Harmony festival scheduled for April 6^th has been canceled since not enough students could attend.  Also the April 20^th show at Lincoln Theater has been rescheduled to Saturday May 18^th.

 

We ended a little early and Tony D. took us out with KTWWS.  All the guys got the hall back in shape  and a bunch of quartets were singing tags and even some registered quartets were using the extra half hour to work on songs for Southern Division, YeEd is guessing.  Some guys were talking about attending the Fairfax Chapter show Saturday nite featuring DA CAPO.

 

For sure there is a ton of individual work needed before next Tuesday!  But we made huge progress this weekend. Thanks to all who were there.

 

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 during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)