Looking Back on the Feb. 2^nd Chapter Meeting

There was a huge crowd at Durant for this week’s meeting after the big snow weekend.  All of the risers were full for the first half of the nite to warm up vocally with director Joe Cerutti. Then for the second half where we sat in chairs facing the stage and piano (accompaniment by Tom Jackson), the crowd was so large we had to scare up some extra chairs and/or some singers decided to stand.

Membership director Rich Hewitt had his hands full welcoming all the “milkmen” for the oratorio as well as several men seeking membership in the chapter.

After warm ups using the tag from “Mary Had a Baby,” Joe went right to work on singing the new contest ballad.  He ended that session declaring, “We have a ballad to work on now.” 

During the work on “I Am Harvey Milk” we were proving to ourselves that we are getting closer to doing several of the movements by memory.  Joe encouraged everyone to come to the extra rehearsal for this work on Thursday Feb. 4^th at 7 pm at Convergence Church, 1801 N. Quaker Lane in Alexandria  (rehearsal actually in their lab theater across Crestwood Street); then stay for the showing of “Milk” the movie with Shawn Penn.  Popcorn and sodas too.  Joe also told us that a choreographer for the April performance will be at Durant on Feb. 23^rd.

Executive director Terry Reynolds did a presentation about the qualification process for contest this year.  It includes an evaluation phase in Feb-Mar and then a qualification phase late April and May. There will be consideration for vocal, visual and valor categories (valor – how much you chip in to help with the chapter operation).

Announcements by Terry were published on Wednesday by communications director Scipio Garling and sent to all members – major items needing attention are (1) follow up on your room reservations for the 2016 International contest (Craig Kujawa); (2) quartet singers needed for Singing Valentines gigs (Calvin Schnure); and not-singers who could help with videography are needed (Scipio Garling).

Terry shared some info about how the chapter was involved at the recent MidWinter convention in Reno, NV.  This list from Alan Wile gives you a hint at how many current and former chapter members were there to work, attend meetings, work as staffers, leaders or committee/board members or just enjoy and have fun:

Duane Gunn – part time staffer of Chapter Leadership Education; Ryan Killeen – Harmony Foundation Inc. (HFI) Director of Development; Carlos Barillo – show director for the convention and BHS Show Producer; Joe Cerutti – BHS staffer for Outreach/Chorus Director Development; Mike Kelly – audio visual support; Rich Payton – Deke Sharon escort for the convention

Darryl Flinn – Former BHS Executive Director (1996-2004) and Harmonizer coach who captured the term “Breathless Moments”

Terry Reynolds – Harmonizer Executive Director and Scipio Garling, chapter communications director, both represented us at a chapter leadership exchange

Dennis Ritchey – M-AD Executive Vice President; Chuck Harner – secretary of HFI Board of Trustees; John Santora – Society Board Member

Chris Buechler – Contest Administrator for contests held at Reno; Ben Roberts – sang in “East Coast Sound” (which won the AAA Plateau (with a score of “Superior”); Mark Rodda – (sang with the chapter when he was in high school with his father) – sang baritone in FINAL COUNTDOWN (an North South Carolinas Seniors Quartet – finished 17th); Mike Wallen – tenor in YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT in the Seniors’ Quartet contest (finished 8^th)

Other attendees included John Adams, Sean Devine, David Ellis, Tom Gannon, Ross Johnson, Jim Lucey, Sam McFarland, Bruce Minnick, John Rettenmayer, Chuck Roots and Paul Wietlisbach  

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