Wednesday, May 25, 2016


Looking Back on the May 21st Armed Forces Show and May 24th Chapter Meeting

Our third Armed Forces show was held Saturday afternoon at 2 pm at Fort Meyer Memorial Chapel.  This event is held for and in honor of local service members, veterans and their families. Associate director Tony Colosimo was director and assistant director Terry Reynolds did the warm ups and helped with the concert. 

There were 55 singers there for the show for a good crowd of veterans, military folks and chorus family and friends. We sang our standard patriotic package.

Greg Tepe was package show producer (and this was his last time to perform that duty.  He has served in this capacity for ten years. Many thanks – Greg.)  He recognized Todd Ryktarsyk, Shawn Tallant, Ike Evans, Randall Eliason and Bruce Lauther for lots of behind-the-scenes preparation work.

Bill Colosimo was emcee. President Eliason welcome the guests. Mark Klostermeyer helped us line up and as chorus manager.  A crew of men moved risers, Doug White drove the truck and got the sound system working, Rich Hewitt produced  the slide show slides during the finale of our concert.

We had assistance from the Sea Cadets who served as ushers, color guard and hosts for those veterans who needed assistance. There was a WWII re-enactor just outside the chapel for guests to see. 

Bruce Lauther, our chapter bookings man, worked hard to get guests to the concert and had invited folks from the Armed Forces Retirement Center in DC, The Fairfax at Belvoir Woods near Ft. Belvoir, Vincent Hall in McLean, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. Many thanks Bruce.

It was good to see Bob Wachter, Martin Banks and Don Johnson in the house.

On Tuesday nite the 24th, we found out director Joe Cerutti was home sick.  But we had a great workout and made lots of progress on the contest music.

Associate director Tony Colosimo was at the helm for warm ups and directing.  He worked a large part of the nite with choreographer Carlos Barillo on refining the presentation plan for the uptune.  It was great to have enough time to work on the whole song.

Great to see Frank Fedarko and Mike Kelly back with us.

Before the meeting started, the usual set up crews worked hard to get ready.  Chuck McKeever led a stage presence review at 6 pm and the front row used the space in front of the risers for their drill for the uptune with Carlos.

Chapter executive director Terry Reynolds conducted the chapter meeting.  He reminded guys about the vocal studios in the evenings this week (and pointed to the list of assignments posted on the wall). He acknowledged Bruce Minnick was accepting payment for the retreat in Westminster MD.

Terry announced that former director Scott Werner would be with us on June 7th.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Craig Kujawa for 13 years; Ian Poulin for 16 years; Michael Gilmore for 24 years; Bob Wells for 25 years; Ike Evans for 29 years; and Al Herman for 33 years.  Bob also received a 25-year lapel pin.

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed a large group of guests including a French horn player from the Strathmore show orchestra.  Rich also introduced the Class of 2016 and their president Casey Belzer. The class includes tenors: Jay Sorenson and Masahasa Takahashi; leads: Casey Belzer. Jason Lee and Art Medici; baris: Jeff Burkey, Jim Kirkland and Antony Takahashi; basses: Tim Cash, Matt Doniger, Tom Jackson and Steve Spar.  The class was presented the traditional neck scarf to be worn and visible at every official chapter function until they are told to discard them during International week.

Earlier in the evening the class met to get some briefing about what international week would be like – Harmo schedule, what to expect for the contest and convention schedule, uniform matters.

President Randall Eliason presented monetary support to two quartets that have Harmonizer signers and will compete this weekend at the Southern Division contest in Reston:  MISFIRE and HANDSOME REWARD.  MISFIRE sang for the chapter earlier in the evening.  Good luck to 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 67th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd