Friday, March 27, 2015


Looking Back on the March 24th Chapter Meeting

This week’s meeting and rehearsal was at First Baptist Church so we could continue our efforts to record music for a new CD.  We used the middle section of the church’s hall. Mike Kelly, Doug White and Dennis Ritchey managed the technical stuff, Bob Blair and crew brought risers and other items needed.  We only used three riser steps and no railings to try to eliminate riser noise. (Altho Bob was there with his WD-40 spray can and some pieces of cloth to stuff between sections – all to eliminate noises.) Several guys brought carpet pieces for the floor too.

 

Starting at 6 pm, choreographer Carlos Barillo and Peelee Clark worked with the front row.  Chuck McKeever helped riser singers review the choreo for the uptune on the stage.

 

To start our chorus work, Carlos and associate director Tony Colosimo did the physical and vocal warm up exercises and them Tony went right to work in recording more music for the project using about half of the evening.

 

Operations vp Todd Ryktarsyk conducted a chapter meeting. Harold Weinberger, who along with a few other Harmonizers also sing with the Fairfax chapter, extended an invite to their show on April 18th. 

 

There are two extra rehearsal events this week:  front row is meeting Thursday nite and the chorus is meeting at Lee Center at 7 pm; and there is an all-sectionals rehearsal on Saturday at First Baptist from 9-12. There will not be coffee or waters for the Thursday or Saturday gatherings.

 

All riser helpers need to come early next week, as we will make anther swap of risers from the truck to storage under the stage at Durant.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Kevin McKenzie for 16 years, Tom Frederick for 22 years, Bruce Lauther for 29 years, Rick Wagner for 34 years, and Bruce Minnick for 38 years.  In an email message to all, Chris also reported on some long-time members who have renewed their Harmonizer membership: John Hohl for 48 years; Chuck Hunter for 43 years; Jerry Kindred for 38 years; Bill Sowers for 33 years; Allen Hanenbaum for 29 years; Mike Pinto for 26 years; and Chuck Roots for 26 years.

 

President Terry Reynolds gave an update on the hospitalization of Bob Wachter’s wife Jean and Lou Manfre.

 

Musical leaders are eager for all contest singers to submit their visual and vocal self-evaluations for the contest songs.  The visual team for our chapter are Carlos Barillo – Choreographer and Visual Team Director; Craig Kujawa - Front Row Coach; Bruce Roehm - Front Row Coach, Chuck McKeever - Riser Chorus Coach , Keith Jones - Asst RC Coach, TJ Jones - Asst RC Coach, Randall Eliason - Faces Coach.  Row Leaders are Chuck Powell – SR Row 2, Brian Ammerman – SR Row 3, Kevin McKenzie - SR Row 4, Don Thompson - SR Row 5, Bob Blair - SL Row 2,  Nick Leiserson - SL Row 3, Ian Poulin - SL Row 4, Don Dillingham - SL Row 5.

 

After a rest break, director Joe Cerutti thanked everyone for their work for the Aca Challenge. Then he launched our contest package work which included a time to self-record for self-evaluation.

 

Carlos spent the rest of the evening teaching more of the visual plan for the uptune.  For part of the time, the front row worked separately, but then we combined it all near the end of the nite.

 

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 67th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.

 

Monday, March 23, 2015


Looking Back on the March 21st Aca Challenge Event

The Harmonizers hosted its second Aca Challenge at Lincoln Theater on U Street in DC (This theater was once part of Black Broadway and is a landmark.) on Saturday, March 21st at 8 pm.

 

The chapter invited DC area a cappella groups to audition – about 30 submitted materials and 6 were chosen to compete. The competitors this year are

  • The Virginia Sil’hooettes, the University of Virginia’s most award-winning female group;
  • Vox Pop, a mixed vocal band based in DC for the past ten years;
  • The Allnighters, an all-male group based at Johns Hopkins University that has competed numerous times in the International Collegiate Championship of A Cappella;
  • The District, DC’s newest all-female vocal band;
  • The GW Vibes, a mixed group from George Washington University that has performed at notable venues throughout DC; and,
  • Tomorrow’s Harmony, a new all male group based in Northern Virginia that showcases a wide variety of repertoire.

The chapter offered a $1000 first prize.  Judges for the event were Amanda Cornaglia of Clear Harmonies, Danny Ozment of Emerald City Productions and Judy Fontana director of Stiletta and the DC Single Singers. Also the audience was invited to vote via text during the contest for their favorite.

 

First place winner was Vox Pop.  They received their “big” check presented by last year’s winners Word of Mouth, who have also appeared with the Harmonizers during the year.

 

Second place was The District; third place was GW Vibes; and the audience favorite was UVA Sil'hooettes.

 

Emcee for the night was Jonathan Minkoff who was emcee for the recent SingStrong show event where the chorus sang.

 

Shows vp Nick Leiserson, shows producer Greg Tepe  and Aca Challenge show producer Todd Ryktarsyk assembled a team of chapter members to make the event a success including an all-important crew from the FRIENDS IN HARMONY  who worked back stage and in the lobby and auditorium.  As usual there was a hard-working riser crew that got the truck there and unloaded.  The chorus chipped in too. The tech crew of Mike Kelly and Dennis Ritchey made the show come alive including some broadcasting to others fans. The music team of director Joe Cerutti, associate director Tony Colosimo and choreographer Carlos Barillo helped the chorus prepare for the chorus presentation of “Thriller,” “Lullaby,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and “Sweet Caroline.”

 

The song package was a huge success with this mostly young a cappella-fan-crowd that filled the auditorium and balcony. They particularly reacted to our “Thriller” package with the smog on the stage when the curtain opened, and when the front row guys crawled off the stage into the front row of the audience – almost. (We had fun outside during warm ups with onlookers and a group of young folks on the roof of a nearby apartment building who cheered and tired to get us to sing a song request!) The audience also cheered wildly for our own TBD modern a cappella group with their new mics and enlarged group. Great to have Tom Kraus on hand with them.

 

The 80-man chorus assembled about 5:30 pm and did most of our prep outside in the parking lot except for the sound check and stage check time we had.  Our uniform was the black suit, hidden button white shirt, black/red/gray tie and pocket stuffer, dress black shoes, black sox and belt. No medals.

 

Just before going onstage, Joe paid tribute to Skip Coburn, a 26-year member of the Harmonizers, who died unexpectedly while fighting pneumonia on Thursday, March 19th, at Howard University Hospital. Skip had not sung with us in recent years, but was a major salesman of White House ornaments, was remembered for helping us shoot off a confetti cannon in a contest package at International in the past, often organized theater parties for the Harmo family, and was instrumental in the beginning stages of providing learning materials for each member when he would reproduced cassette tapes for guys singing each part. He was an Air Force officer and currently serving as executive director of the DC Nightlife Association. He was 70.

 

There was a fun and successful afterglow across the street from the theater at the Ulah Bistro.  (Thanks to Ken Rub for locating this venue.)

 

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 67th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.

 

Sunday, March 22, 2015


Looking Back on the March 17th Chapter Meeting

There was plenty of green worn this week – best t-shirt was the one worn by math teacher Alvin Figer – Geometry – It is Pointless!  And speaking of clothing – it was fun to see the various costumes guys were assembling for the contest package.  Many “costume wranglers” were helping guys add final touches and offering to help the members.

 

Our hard working front row worked from 6-7 in the lobby at Durant, and Chuck McKeever worked with guys on the stage. The set up crew also had to swap old and new risers from storage and the Harmo van. Sooo – it was a busy hall.

 

Choreographer Carlos Barillo kicked off our nite with warm up exercises which we learned are hints as to new moves he will teach for the uptune.

 

Director Joe Cerutti announced the warm ups which got us ready to go right to work on the songs we will sing this Saturday for Aca Challenge.

 

Amidst this singing period, president Terry Reynolds asked for hands of any members on the risers who had never sung with the Harmonizers on the International stage.  They become the Class of 15 (it is another large class!!) and they left the rehearsal for a few minutes for an orientation session so they know what to expect in Pittsburgh and the weeks leading up to the International chorus contest.

 

Operations vp Todd Ryktarsyk conducted the chapter meeting.  Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Andrew Havens for 6 years; Doug White for 8 years; Calvin Schnure for 20 years and Ken Ives for 30 years and his membership lapel pin.

 

Pittsburgh honcho Craig Kujawa announced that members should plan to arrive there in time for a Tues. rehearsal about 9 pm.  Front row at 8:30.  A full Harmo schedule will be coming from Craig for planning the week – our rehearsals and other chapter events amidst the convention and contest events.

 

Craig also suggests guys get a room tied down.

 

Shows vp Nick Leiserson and Aca Challenge show producer Todd Ryktarsyk reminded us of the 5:30 pm chorus call at Lincoln Theater, 1215 U Street NW, in DC. Singers should have eaten before their arrival. A riser crew will be needed about 2 pm.  The show starts at 8 pm.  We sing near the end of the show and will likely be done about 10:30.  We will warm up in the theater and off-site in a nearby location. Uniform is black suit, Toronto hidden button white shirt, black/red/gray tie and pocket stuffer, dress black shoes, black sox and belt. No medals.

 

There will be an afterglow across the street from the theater at the Ulah Bistro, 1214 U Street NW.  (Thanks to Ken Rub for locating this venue.)

 

The Aca-Challenge last year was a great success with an impressive array of talented groups, but this year's lineup is even better. We had more than two dozen applicants this year to compete, of which we could only choose six -- the competition will be fierce. The competitors this year are

  • The Virginia Sil’hooettes, the University of Virginia’s most award-winning female group;
  • Vox Pop, a mixed vocal band based in DC for the past ten years;
  • The JHU Allnighters, an all-male group based at Johns Hopkins University that has competed numerous times in the International Collegiate Championship of A Cappella;
  • The District, DC’s newest all-female vocal band;
  • The GW Vibes, a mixed group from George Washington University that has performed at notable venues throughout DC; and,
  • Tomorrow’s Harmony, a new all male group based in Northern Virginia that showcases a wide variety of repertoire.

Please continue to push ticket sales to make this the best event possible for performing groups. Tickets are available at the following link:https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/775715?utm_medium=bks

 

Our local group TBD will also sing at the contest.

 

Overall show producer Greg Tepe announced that everyone should change into their contest costume during the break and return to the risers.

 

President Terry Reynolds announced that Terry Jordan  is recovering from his broken ankle and leg as a result of a fall on ice.  Vince and Nancy Cazenas are both suffering with bronchitis. Skip Coburn is in the ICU at Howard University Hospital with pneumonia.

 

Terry showed a packet of thank you cards sent to the chorus from the children in Oakton School where we sang for Veterans Day.

 

He also congratulated our quartets who earned a slot in the International contest in July – MAYHEM and LAST MEN STANDING.

 

He stressed that next week is another recording session at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St. Alexandria.  In addition,  he urged all riser chorus performers to attend a special choreography session on Thursday, March 26th at Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria VA 22314 from 7-9:30 pm.  (Earlier it had been scheduled for Durant, so note this change in location.)  Chorus choreo coach Chuck McKeever  invites us to reinforce  “Me Ol’ Bamboo” choreography. Just a reminder … stockinged-deet only on the dance studio floor.

 

Membership vp Rich Hewitt welcomed 7 active guests – many are applicants and seem to be working toward going to Pittsburgh too!!  Great to see the new handbooks with new music in them that are available for guests each week.  Thanks to librarian Bob Mattes for making them.

 

 

During the singing part of the nite we also worked on another new song for the Sept. Icon Show – “Happy.”  And after the break we concentrated on the contest songs.  Wranglers photographed the costumes so the committee could review the overall look of the riser scene.

 

Before the end of our evening, the guys were given the chance to record for their vocal self-evaluations.

 

And we recorded a Harmony Foundation Tag Challenge in response to one given us on FaceBook challenging our fellow M-AD choruses Voices of Gotham, Brothers in Harmony and Long Island Sound.

 

Everyone pitched in to load the truck and put things away.  The afterglow was especially exciting this week with our tag singers simulating the LaPorta crowd to respond to the singing.

In other news, quartet promotion chairman Calvin Schnure alerted YeEd  that the chapter has a new quartet planning to compete at Southern Division. LAST PITCH EFFORT. (Brian Ammerman – tenor, Tony Romero – lead, Jeff Salino – bari, Steve Murane – bass

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 67th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.