Thursday, June 27, 2013


Looking Back on the June 25th Chapter Meeting and Send Off to Toronto

A huge crowd of friends, family members, other choruses, many former members, FRIENDS of HARMONY, ticket holders and show fans all turned out to fill the auditorium at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria on June 25th. There were a lot of folks who had come a long distance to cheer and see us. 

 

The chorus came prepared to demonstrate the full package we will present next week at the 75th International convention and contest.  We wore our complete costume/uniforms with new ties and shirts and all.  The Class of 2013 was all primed with their bandanas on display.  Six of our Special Forces guys were with us on the risers too.

 

International BHS board member and chapter member Gary Plaag was emcee and got the crowd primed to cheer and build up the excitement for the arrival of the chorus on stage.

 

We performed a complete set and then director Joe Cerutti explained how the evening would go, and then thanked a large list of members who make the Great Alexandria Chapter run!! He included all the admin guys, the music leaders, his musical team, the visual team and the folks who do the behind-the-scenes tasks each week.

 

President Alan Wile presented a gift of financial support to the two chapter quartets also going to the contest with Harmonizer members – DA CAPO and THROWBACK.  Also the FRIENDS group gave them each a gift.

 

Joe invited associate director Tony Colosimo, presentation judge Sean Devine and presentation coach Cindy Hansen to offer suggestions to the chorus with the audience listening too.  Then we did the package again.

 

We dismissed early so folks could be with friends and relatives. A good crowd went to the afterglow.  Thanks to all the hard workers who hauled risers and props into the school auditorium.  After the chorus had gotten dressed, Will Cox did the warm ups in the band room.  Producer Greg Tepe helped us prepare last minute uniform details.  Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer helped us with the plan to go on stage.

 

Ian Poulin was selling holiday show tickets in the lobby and did a brisk business.

 

This is the last Looking Back column until after the convention. Reminder: there is a rehearsal on Thursday nite June 27th at Kena Temple on Arlington Blvd.  Bring the black suit coat!!

 

And then we meet again Tuesday nite, July 2, (7 pm for front row, 7:30 for chorus), in Toronto at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.  Travel safe all!!

 

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.)

Monday, June 24, 2013


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

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 19th.  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 27th 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 65th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)