Friday, May 31, 2019



Looking Back on the May 28th  Chapter Meeting and Weekend Retreats

Our performance coach Cy Wood was in Alexandria all weekend to work with the chorus on its 2019 show material. Sunday, May 26th from 1:30-5:30 pm he worked with the chorus on the risers at Scottish Rite Temple to review, reteach as needed, and help the chapter visual team teach the major amounts of material for “Brotherhood of Man.”  He also worked on the surprise ending for “Circle of Life” for the chorus.

Then on Monday, May 27th he worked with the front row on the same songs from 10 am til 2 pm.
He stayed in town with us and was available then for working with the chorus tonite, May 28th.
The risers were full Tuesday nite and the guys were ready to work some more on the show songs with our musical and presentation team and Cy.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups along with some movement work with Jacob Broude.

When director Joe Cerutti took over the chorus he had four important points to make and teased the members on the risers to help them remember them: (1) Steve Scott will be with the chorus next Tuesday nite; (2) the chorus trip to sing and entertain at the Seneca Land District is all “go” for Sept 27-29; (3) the appearance at the Midwinter seniors chorus contest is off the Harmonizer calendar; (4) there will be an optional rehearsal on Thurs at Convergence in the Sanctuary; (5) After some brief discussion, it was agreed to drop “Popular” song for 2019.

We had two quartets sing for us this week – both are planning to compete at the Southern Division quartet contest in Baltimore on Friday nite, May 31st. That contest starts at 6 pm

GET IT TOGETHER sang for us first – Brian Ammerman, Ben Watsky, Jim Kirkland, Terry Reynolds. 

SIXTH SENSE sang for us after the evening break – Aaron Simoneau, Brian Miller, Joe Cerutti, Dave DesPortes.

The chorus welcomed Cy again and worked hard on “Circle of Life” and “Brotherhood of Man.”

The chapter meeting conducted by communications chairman Steve Murane was a little shorter this week.  An email will go to all singers for the Supreme Court show with all the necessary details.

June 11th the chapter will celebrate a charter night event as we launch another year and get closer to our 75th anniversary.

Congrats and thanks were offered to Steve White for his terrific work on the chapter’s annual report.  It is available for all.

Steve Szyszka reported on his participation with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America and the group’s Centennial Concert Series. One concert is in this area June 21st at 7:30 pm at Ukranian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family.

President Shawn Tallant asked all members to respond to the Groupanizer inquiry about a 2020 trip to Hawaii for the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.

Secretary Chris Buechler presented a membership renewal card to himself for 34 years!

Membership director Calvin Schnure welcomed former active members TJ Jones and Bob Caldwell who were with us this week.

After the break, the chorus preformed their Supreme Court set – crowded onto the small risers we will have there on Monday: “I’m The Music Man,” “America,” “We Kiss…,” “All You Need Is Love,” and “Circle of Life.”  

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