Monday, December 4, 2017


Looking Back on the Nov. 28th Chapter Meeting
The meeting was back at Durant this week so we could use risers to practice for the holiday shows. It helped us get used to a new chorus line up and to perform the great staging plan created by choreographer Carlos Barillo.
We worked hard after warm ups by associate director Tony Colosimo.  Director Joe Cerutti pushed us hard to be at our best, or even better, and to capture the holiday excitement in our performance.
We went thru every song just in the order they will be on the show.  That included a quartet appearance for one song, a small ensemble for a verse of one song, and a soloist in another song.  You gotta come to the show to see who they are – Sat. nite Dec. 2 at 8 pm at TC Williams on King Street and Sun afternoon at 2 pm Dec. 3 at TC Williams.
There were a number of show related items of business during the nite – holiday sweat shirts and white scarves issued to new singers; White House Ornament sales wrap up (Thanks Sandy Stamps!); silent auction collection of packing materials and new donations. Call time for the tech rehearsal on Fri. Dec. 1 at TC Williams is 6 pm; 5 pm for the Sat nite show; and 11 am for the Sun afternoon show. Bring your own dinner items for Sat nite – no break for leaving campus; and same for lunch on Sunday.  Also, bring two white shirts for the show – one long sleeve to wear under the sweat shirt and one to wear with the uniform.
Ticket sales are going good – but of course there are lots of seats available. So don’t let up on your push to attend.
After the show we are gonna get a break – no meeting or rehearsal on Dec. 5th
Over the weekend of Dec. 8 and 9, we will form up into two mini choruses and entertain at several senior centers in the area. All details will be provided soon via email.
And on Dec. 12th we will assemble at Durant at 7 pm in room 3 and 4 and then adjourn to Market Square in Old Town for our annual Pub Caroling event.  We will sing from BHS published “Yuletide Favorites” books – some will be provided but you could bring your own. Sixth Row singers are invited to join in this fun nite.
On Dec. 19, we will have a Heat Glow (an afterglow in the winter) at the home of Jack and Pat Pitzer, 7801 Suffolk Ct., Alexandria VA 223155, for singers and their significant others.  Near Hayfield Hi School on Telegraph Rd.  Arrival at 7:30 pm. Bring finger foods to share and your favorite drink too.  A holiday grog will be served too that is from the original recipe from Harmonizer Heat Glow events begun in the 1960s when the chorus sang for the annual burning of the greens (discarded Christmas trees) in the City of Alexandria. Car pools would be a good idea since the parking will be a little tight or you could walk from one of the nearby schools. Jack’s cell is 703-627-9424.
Secretary Chris Buecher presented new member materials to Ben, Jon and Nick. And a seven year membership renewal card to Gary Fuller.
Guests this week included Chef, a friend of Duncan Woodbury; and Carter, a friend of Jeff Burkey.  Steve White reported news that the widow of former member Alan Durick, Lois, passed away recently.  Alan was gold medal senior quartet champ in REMINISCE and district champ with ALEXANDRIA’S RAGTIME BAND.
Before we adjourned, Joe formed a chorus huddle and shared some exciting plans for 2018-2019 including a plan to prepare for our 70th anniversary show in 2018 with a plan to sing the Top Ten songs from our past as voted on my patrons and members.
In other chorus news, thirteen guys sang with the Congressional Chorus on Nov. 19th at Church of the Epiphany in DC. They sang “You Are Here” from the “I AM Harvey Milk” oratorio and Tony Colosimo sang the solo.  The concert was a multisensory experience to celebrate the human spirit and power of people to rise above oppression.  The accompanist for our group was with the Congressional Chorus.  Others on the concert included a dance group, an orchestra and the another chorus DC area chorus.
The afterglow was back at LaPorta for a fun crowd.
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 70th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd