Thursday, May 30, 2013


Looking Back on the May 28th Chapter Meeting

 

Well A hard driving rain didn’t seem to reduce the attendance this week – tho some of the guys were soaked when they got into Durant.  Especially the many guys who walked from the King St. Metro Station.  (Like Ken White who shed his shoes and sox vs. sloshing around in water-clogged gear!)

 

And the usual drive and hard work attitude was in place all around.  You couldn’t help but note the orange bandanas on the Class of 13 guys – everywhere.  The funniest use of the scarf was as a sling for a pretend broken arm by Dave Hood. Two new guys got their bandanas this week– Josh DesPortes and TJ Donahue -- swelling the class to 25.  Two more prospects include Dave Ellis and Sean Devine who will get their scarves at the Retreat this coming weekend for a total class of 27.

 

Also congrats to the class president Rich Hewitt who rallied his classmates to work hard and answer the trivia questions posed to five classmates. Each of them was allowed to get a guy off the risers to help answer the questions, but the 2013 guys had worked on the questions and had their answers ready.   Good job. Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer has given the class more challenges for the retreat weekend, so stay tuned!!  Literally.

Carlos Barillo
Lou Bergner
Dave Branstetter
David DesPortes
Josh DesPortes
TJ Donahue
Randall Eliason
Tom Frederick
Gary Fuller
John Greene
Bob Griesemer
Rich Hewitt
David Hood
Peter Hubbard
Kevin McKenzie
Stan Quick
Ben Roberts
Calvin Schnure
Dean Sherick
Steve Szyszka
Shawn Tallant
Mike Vlcej
Harold Weinberger
Doug White
Duncan Woodbury


The risers were up by six tonite (and the electric fans were out to keep the air moving) and a good crowd of guys worked on their stage moves with Chuck McKeever. We listened to our fellow chapter members in VAUDEVILLE as we took the risers to get to work for the contest. We had a good crowd of listeners too including many FRIENDS OF HARMONY who were in the building to sew new uniform parts for the contest. They are also selling a convention button for $1 each. 

 Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups this week. Later in the evening Troy Hillier conducted a presentation craft session.

 For the first half of the nite we worked on the contest songs – fixing things, adding new things and even making some changes.  Lots of coaching from our director Joe Cerutti and Tony made it a challenge vs. just work.

 Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting before break.  Retreat chairman Chuck McKeever reminded us that we could check in at 3 pm at McDaniel College but need to be on the risers at 6:50 pm Friday nite, May 31st.  Everyone should get dinner before they get on the risers! Chuck promised an email with directions and many details.  (Which we all received on Wednesday.)

 President Alan Wile recognized our Operation Harold Hill membership team from last year – Steve White, Shawn Tallant and Phil Ashford –with a silver award from the BHS.

 There were reminders to get 50/50 tickets, pay Normandy fees to Mick Stamps, a bass meeting in Room 2 at break, front row meeting in the office, and get refreshments during the break.

 Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented Man of Note (#3) to Bob Blair for bring new member Dean Sherick who received his membership certificate and other new guy papers, including the chapter’s history book.  A renewal membership card for 21 years was given to Mike Gilmore.

 Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer with help from barefoot Ken White welcomed the guests – some from other chapters in the area, an applicant and a couple first-timers.

 After break, we sang thru the songs for the Jefferson Award performance at 9 am on June 19th at Arena Stage.

 And then back to work on the contest package.  Joe spoke a lot about our individual performance responsibilities.  We watched a Dallas Vocal Majority performance as an example of personal commitment to the song and performance.  We added more of the visual plan for the ballad. We worked a little past 10.   

 Crews worked to load the Harmo truck to take props, av equipment, risers and such to the retreat.

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

Wednesday, May 29, 2013


Looking Back on the May 21st Chapter Meeting

 

Well there was a lot of action and singing and business matters all set for this week.  The risers were up right after 6, so the front row could practice in the configuration of the risers as well as lean to place new props in the correct spots.  There were also guys on the stage working on stage moves with Chuck McKeever.

 

Assistant director Will Cox did the warm ups. And director Joe Cerutti, fighting a terrible case of poison ivy, worked on “God Bless America” that we will sing on the Jefferson Awards show at 9 am June 19th.  Joe asked associate director Tony Colosimo to help with directing for the nite.

 

Before we got too far into the evening, chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer introduced the Class of 2013, which included all those members who have never competed at an International convention with our chorus. They were presented bright orange/red/yellow bandanas with the instruction to have then visible on their person any time they are at a Harmo function.  The list will be expanded when additional men are given their scarves to wear.

 

Carlos Barillo
Lou Bergner
Dave Branstetter
David DesPortes
Randall Eliason
Tom Frederick
Gary Fuller
John Greene
Bob Griesemer
Rich Hewitt
David Hood
Peter Hubbard
Kevin McKenzie
Stan Quick
Ben Roberts
Calvin Schnure
Dean Sherick
Steve Szyszka
Shawn Tallant
Mike Vlcej
Harold Weinberger
Doug White
Duncan Woodbury

 

We worked hard on our contest songs. At one point, Joe had the AV team play some clips from past champs choruses and after discussing their most obvious qualities, we worked to apply those points to our music. (We listened to the Ambassadors of Harmony, Westminster, and Vocal Majority.)

Joe and Tony worked as a team all evening and used several educational techniques to help us understand. 

 

Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting period and started with reminders to buy scrip for Toronto, get a 50/50 ticket, to turn in your retreat fee payment to Howard Nestlerode, order a Toronto shirt from Roger Day, and turn in your payments for the Normandy trip.

 

Ellen Dellert announced that the FRIENDS IN HARMONY are selling a convention button for $1 each.  Many men got their button before the nite ended.

 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented a Man of Note pin to Mike Kelly for bringing Duncan Woodbury to the chapter.  And Mike presented Duncan his new member packet.

 

There are a bunch of men who have recently renewed their membership – always glad to acknowledge our men who renew.  (There are a few others Chris is bugging to be sure they get their dues paid before Toronto to be eligible to sing!)  Renewal cards went to Rich Hewitt for 2 years; Pete Hubbard 2 years; Kellen Hertz 3 years; Lou Bergner 6 years; Nick Murane 8 years; Craig Kujawa 10 years; Tom Berkey 16 years; Scipio Garling 17 years; Jim Lake 20 years; Bob Wells 22 years; Chris Buechler 28 years; Bob Eckman 29 years; Austin Cotton 38 years; Howard Nestlerode 38 years and Mike Wallen for 41 years.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer with help from Ken White welcomed a long line of guests – some family members, some fans, several first timer singers and an applicant.

 

We had a good break (Bob Rhome alerted all that the coffee each week is decaf – for those who need to know!) and the Class of 2013 met to start planning for their year, and the basses worked in the lobby on a couple music spots.

 

After break, Joe invited Chuck Hunter to coach and offer suggestions. Chuck addressed his ideas as choices we could make on word sounds, breathing and tone production.

 

Tony and Joe worked as a team til closing.  We worked on some of the non-singing time points too. There was time for guys to sing for their “listener” for final approval.  And before we ended we did complete sets with the front row. 

 

In other news about chapter members: several Harmonizers will be on the faculty of Harmony College East, June 13-16 in Salisbury, MD, including Bill Colosimo, Mike Kelly, Dean Martin, Bob Wachter, Mike Wallen and Steve White.

 

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