Looking Back on the July 2^nd and July 9^th Chapter Meetings
(Thanks to Jerry Jayjohn for taking notes at the July 2^nd meeting while YeEd was in Salt Lake City.  YeEd)

Even though director Joe Cerutti and associate director  Tony Colosimo  and a few other members were at International in Salt Lake City, we had a great turn out of guys for the July 2ns meeting.

We opened with a warm up from Will Cox, running the guys through their paces both up and down the scale. Then a tag warm up lead by Jason Lee.

Assistant director Chuck Hunter took the chorus through the first four songs for the nite. After the run- through we talked about what could have been better about each and what we should be working on when we break into sectionals.

There were sectionals for about 15-20 minutes, and we came back and sang through the parts we had talked about prior to breaking into smaller groups.

We then went into the chapter business meeting where we talked about our upcoming trip to England/Scotland, and some things we need to get ready for our trip.

Membership director Calvin Schnure introduced our guests for the night who were two of Carl Kauffmann’s grandsons, both singing in the lead section.

After break we reconvened and sang four more songs, and Chuck discussed where things could be better and areas we need to work on in our sectionals.  The guys once again went into sectionals and worked on suggested areas given by Chuck. 

The guys came back and reviewed the songs again and listened to the improvement that sectionals had made.  The 50/50 was drawn and to close out the evening, we strayed from singing our typical “Keep the Whole World Singing,” for a section of one of the songs we had worked on during sectionals.

Our July 9^th chapter meeting was a busy one with lots of guest singers and coach Cy Wood helping Joe review our fall show package.  

Tony did the vocal warm ups and got the riser full of singers ready to perform. 

When Joe took the reins, he spoke some about the convention week in SLC and invited members to share stories or experiences.  Jack Pitzer reported meeting a young singer who shared he had sung with us on a holiday show with the American Boy Choir.  Samuel Rausch was so excited about singing with us and meeting members of the chapter, that when he returned home he followed up and found the Northwest Sound Chorus.  And he sang on stage with them in SLC.  As Joe pointed out – you never know when you will change a singer’s life.  Samuel just graduated from high school and is headed to Hungary for a three-year music study program. 

Joe also thanked Chuck Hunter and section leaders for conducting the helpful meeting last week. Joe announced that next week, the chorus going to Scotland will work on the risers.  The rest of us singers will meet in other rooms to work on the music.  All these songs will be used at shows in Europe and on our major fall show on Sept. 14^th at Schlesinger Hall.

We all welcomed Cy back from his busy week in SLC including his appearance at the Saturday Nite Spectacular with a mixed quartet HALF AND HALF.  He and Joe had a plan then – the chorus sang all the songs for the show with all soloists and emcees.  It was great to get a sense of the flow and the theme of the show about family and sharing – The Circle of Life.  It was also great to hear the soloists who have been working outside chapter meeting with Tony and the emcees who have been working with Ben Roberts.

Again these songs will be used in Europe for shows there and then in Sept.  For that fall show, we will welcome gold medal quartet INSTANT CLASSIC as well as GQ QUARTET from Sweet Adelines.

When the chapter does a show with the Cottontown Chorus in UK, we will also sing “I’m The Music Man.” 

Communication director Steve Murane conducted the chapter meeting session beginning with the good news that Dean Sherick has tickets for the fall show that members can take on consignment to sell.  Get started now.

Conventions manager Craig Kujawa launched plans for our trip to Rochester NY and our appearance at the Seneca Land District convention the weekend of Sept 27-29.  Craig will be sending instructions on how Alexandria members can register for that contest (at a special rate). Also he will be sending us details on how to make hotel reservations for yourself and a significant other or fellow Harmonizer.  Take action when you get the messages from Craig.

He also reported that he is being mobilized as a Naval officer to Africa at the end of the year, and thus, he is searching for someone to step up as the next conventions manager.  Speak to him directly to find out what the job entails.

President Shawn Tallant reported that treasurer Al Herman fell going for a low tennis shot - hit various portions of left side of body - 17 stitches in hand, black eye, but no breaks!

Shawn asks for more guys to respond to the survey about our 2020 summer event such as the trip to Hawaii or to Harmony U.  

Finally, Shawn welcomed Luqman Fulmer our newest member approved by the board!

Ben Watsky welcomed our guests this week: three Air Force men from Ft. Meade – Alex, Matt and Callan; Frederik,  a member of Sweden’s Zero 8 Chorus who just won third place medals in SLC (he is vacationing in DC, NYC and Boston); and Vera who directs the Greater Richmond women’s chorus. 

After a break, it was back to work on the show songs “fixing” points that Cy offered to make the performances succeed in entertaining and “reaching” our audiences
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There was a big crowd of guys at Rampart’s for the afterglow this week. Everyone is welcome every week.

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