Looking Back on the July 30^th Chapter Meeting (Summer Camp) and Carlyle Park Show

The Harmonizers Summer Camp lets us have some fun, relax the Tuesday nite schedule, and cover for the week that many Harmonizer musical leaders are at Harmony University in MO.

 

According to reporters at HU, there are nine of our members there. Joe Cerutti, Tony Colosimo and Gary Plaag are on the faculty.  Sean Devine is likely working as a staff member all week. Jorge Acevedo, Chris Buechler, Tom Gannon, Chuck Hunter and Kevin Kaiser are students attending this concentrated barbershop school event.

 

At Durant, we did have fun.  No risers – chairs facing the stage, the usual screen and other av equipment. Assistant director Will Cox did the warm ups using typical camp songs such as “Swing Lo” and “If You’re Happy…” to fit into the theme for the nite.

 

Camp director, Terry Reynolds, shared that the plan for the nite was “to have fun in barbershopping.”   Chapter historian, Martin Banks, prepared an informative display about our chorus contest appearances with photos and score sheets and more.

 

For the first activity, we reviewed the music for “Sweet and Lovely” with assistant director Mike Kelly – one of the popular songs to sing with other barbershoppers.  Those who were solid on the song, were encouraged to try another voice part. Our second activity was a push-out quartet activity singing that same song.  Lots of guys did it, and many switched parts.

 

For our third activity, Dan O’Brien did an overview of the contest and judging categories.  He reports that anyone interested in getting into the judging program need to know that applications are due Dec. 31.  Go to the BHS website for info.

 

(BTW YeEd confirms that Dan O’Brien, in music category, and Tony Colosimo, in singing category, were recently certified as new judges.  Joe Cerutti, Gary Plaag, Sean Devine, Chuck Harner and Chris Buechler were recertified as judges.

 

Our fourth activity was to learn a couple new tags taught by Terry.

 

Our fifth activity was to work with Will to brush up on the “Harmonizer Welcome” song we sing to our guests each week. After working on the song, we put it to the test to great another long line of guests.  Mark Klostermeyer and Jeremy Richardson presented the guests – some first timers, an applicant or two, some summer interns working in DC, barbershoppers passing thru and barbershoppers who have moved here and will join us.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the weekly chapter meeting.  He reminded all to turn in their new 3^rd  place bronze medal to Bruce Lauther to be engraved. Bruce has the form you need to turn it in and pay the $8.      

 

President Alan Wile was selling more Harmonizer lapel pins, and invited any newer folks to submit their Harmo Hero forms.

 

Other announcements included reminder of Market Square show on Friday, Aug. 9^th.  NOTE THIS DATE – MANY OF HAVE IT WRONG ON OUR PERSONAL CALENDAR.  Also plan to bring the family, some chairs to sit on, bring the neighbors and future ticket customers. And then maybe go out in Old Town for dinner with Harmonizers.  Metro Riders need to plan ahead to take the shuttle from King Street Metro that runs down King St. to Market Square.  Allow time!

 

For refreshments, we had sweet cold watermelon as a special treat.

 

Our seventh activity was “Ask The Directors or President” any question.  There was lively discussion – many from newer members about traditions.

 

For our eighth activity we watched the video of our International performance of “Steppin’ Out” and the video of the Ambassadors of Harmony “76 Trombones” gold medal performance.

 

Ninth there were breakout options: more videos; tag singing’ and how to read a barbershop cord.

 

When we reassembled, the taggers sang the tag they had learned.  The 50/50 winner took us out with “Keep the Whole World Singing” and we went right to work putting the chairs and tables away.

 

In other news, our show producer Greg Tepe sent a thank-you to the 72 singers who performed Thursday night, July 25^th, at John Carlyle Park. Big thanks to our three directors - Terry, Will and Mike. Thanks to Bob Blair for driving the truck. Thanks to the riser crew: Michael Gilmore, Bob Griesemer, Chuck Hunter, Kevin Kaiser\, Carl Kauffmann, Chuck McKeever, Bob Rhome, Shawn Tallant, Doug White and Alan Wile.

Thanks to Mike Kelly for setting up sound, to our MCs Shawn Tallant and Scipio Garling, and thanks to our a cappella group, TBD,  for rousing the crowd with two songs.

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.)