Looking Back on the 2013 Jefferson Awards Show and Extra Rehearsal June 20^th

For the second year in a row, the Harmonizers were asked to provide music for the annual Jefferson Awards for Public Service ceremony.  This year the chorus was back-drop for the award ceremony at Arena Stage in DC, Wednesday, June 19^th.  The emcee for the event was Chris Wallace from Network television.

 

The award ceremony official photo includes a great shot of the chorus in their tuxes and white tail.  The chorus had an early morning call and were finish early afternoon. 

 

At the Thursday nite rehearsal following the event, many men shared the emotional and inspirational stories from the ceremony.  Greg Tepe was show producer and Bruce Lauther was major contact for the show.

 

The extra rehearsal this past week was at Kena Temple on Arlington Blvd./ Rt. 50.  It was a perfect big hall to get used to selling to the large audience in Toronto.  After warm ups by associate director Tony Colosimo, director Joe Cerutti thanked operation vp Bob Rhome for getting us into the facility – just what we needed to experience.

 

Joe also thanked all the men who got to DC so early for the Jefferson Awards show, and he asked men to share their experiences and stories.

 

Then it was work, work, work in preparation for Toronto.  We used our props and new uniform pieces so we were used to coats and dressy clothes.  We drilled staging and worked on the musical precision we are getting used to.

 

Of course there were many of the usual announcements leading up to our trip to International again. One especially important was for men to see Tom Kern for any uniform parts and make up kit materials.

 

Next Tuesday nite is our dress rehearsal on the stage at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria. The chorus members were invited to continue efforts to bring friends and family and guests to that event to give us an excited audience to perform to.   Guests may come anytime and leave anytime, as we will warm up first, change into our full uniforms and then do several runs of the contest package.

 

There will be another Thursday nite rehearsal on the 27^th at Kena Temple again.

 

And then we all head to Toronto with our first rehearsal on Tuesday nite, 7:30-9:30 pm in the Ontario Ballroom of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.  Again, Joe has encouraged us to invite friends and supporters to the rehearsals during the week up 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.)