Looking Back on Harmonizers at the 2020 Midwinter Convention

Midwinter 2020 was held in Downtown Jacksonville at the Hyatt Regency on the St. Johns River.  The performance venue was the historic Florida Theater, dating from the 1920s located just a couple of blocks from the hotel.  The weather was fabulous with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s and 80s during the convention.  The Harmonizers were well represented with members singing in two seniors quartets and two seniors choruses.  There were shows on both Thursday and Saturday evenings featuring the top five BHS quartets, SAI Rising Star quartet DULY NOTED, Harmony Inc.’s 2018 queens AGED TO PERFECTION, and 2019 Youth Quartet champions WILDFIRE, and capping off the Saturday show were the Four Freshmen.

Terry Reynolds was in Jacksonville early to work with the Leadership Forum, which was held before the Midwinter convention.  Early arrivers also included John Santora (BHS

Treasurer) and Chris Buechler (SCJC meetings and on judging panel).  BHS staff member Joe Cerutti was busy all week and served as presenter for the Junior Varsity quartet contest on Thursday.  Bob Eckman attended the District Presidents meetings.  Rick Taylor was working with Harmony Foundation (HFI) staff.  Ross Johnson and his wife Susan Williams were sponsors for the NextGen Youth Chorus contest and presented awards.

Competing were John Adams (Carolinas District Seniors Chorus and also sang with AISCQ chorus), Keith Jones and Bob Thames (Sunshine District Seniors Chorus), Mike Kelly (PERSUASION seniors quartet placing 8th), and Rick Savage, Mike Edison, Will Cox, and Steve Murane (SILVER ALERT seniors quartet placing 20th).  Cy Wood directed a youth chorus from Ohio.

Other Harmonizers in attendance included Bill Colosimo, Sam McFarland, Tom Gannon, Eddie Allen, and Bede Bender.

Members of the Harmonizer family (former members and others) included Paul Wietlisbach (Dixie District President and sang in a seniors quartet and chorus), Sean Devine (working with HFI), Gary Plaag (HFI board ), Steve Tramack (SCJC meeting and judging panel), Jay Butterfield (judging panel), John Rettenmeyer (Evergeeen District President), Alan Lamson, Bob Hirsh, and Drew Ellis.  Sheryl Berlin (Youth Festival Coordinator) and Dixie Kennett also attended.  (Thanks to Dixie for preparing this report for YeEd.)

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 2021 Midwinter in New York City!

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