Looking Back on the August 6^th Chapter Meeting

(Many thanks to reporter Peter Hubbard for taking notes and preparing this week’s column and report.  Many thanks, Peter!  YeEd was in Buffalo, NY, to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Ag Editors’ Association. Very humbling!)

Harmonizers were already gathering at Durant by 6:30.  A small crew of riser guys helped to get the place setup, and the front row congregated in the lobby to reconfigure their “Anything Goes” routine. Meanwhile refreshments were set up in the kitchen. This week also saw several guests, both new and old – some applicants, some card-carrying Harmonizer members – join us in the audience and on the risers.

Assistant director Will Cox did the vocal warm-ups for this week. After Will’s warm-up, director Joe Cerutti got to work right away with a third week of the “Glenn Miller Medley.” It didn’t take too long before Joe shipped us all off to sectionals (!), where we spent a healthy amount of time combing out the tangles in our respective parts. The medley is part of the Normandy package. (And since it’s a slow week, we’ll throw in a To Do in France: Normandy is like Virginia in that they have crisp apples – which lends flavor to loads of savory and sweet dishes but also produces Calvados, an apple brandy that goes great with apple ice cream. Make sure to sample next year!)

The chorus also worked on the songs for the upcoming Market Square show this Friday, August 9, 2013. (Call time is 6:30 p.m. with a riser crew at 6:00 p.m. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Uniform is black Harmonizer travel shirt, no visible undershirt, jeans, black shoes, and Toronto medal.) Harmonizer family members are all welcome to come and enjoy the evening, bring chairs to sit outside for the show.

At the break, operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting, announcing 50/50 with Dick Hall and a TBD rehearsal next Monday, August 12 at the Durant Center. President Alan Wile read an update from John Hohl and informed the chorus that the MAD Board did accept the Harmonizers request to perform for score (but not competitively) at the district contest this fall in Ocean City in lieu of singing at division in the spring, just prior to Normandy. The Harmonizers are hosting the district convention and contest on October 4-5, 2013, and the chorus really needs to have at least 90 guys on the risers including new members where possible. Some Special Forces members will also join us at district.

Next, Sean Tallant asked for help with Normandy fundraising by seeking recommendations from all of us to put him in touch with anyone you know personally who could be interested to donate (personally or legitimately from their company’s public support fund).

Greg Tepe went over the uniform for Market Square this Friday and reminded folks that you can only get validated parking in the City Hall parking lot underneath Market Square. Finally, Mark Klostermeyer handed the membership reigns over to Ken White to introduce our many guests.

Assistant director Terry Reynolds then concluded the Harmonizer rehearsal and, after a break, we reconvened for the Cerutti Wedding Chorus rehearsal. The group of guys that remained are helping send Joe off in style on his wedding day with some nice tunes, including “Here, There, and Everywhere” as well as “Make You Feel My Love.”

At 10 pm, rehearsal ended with the 50/50 prize, KTWWS, and striking the risers. A group of gents then headed over to La Porta’s for the afterglow.

Hoping to see plenty of guys at Market Square this Friday and on the risers next Tuesday!

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.)