Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Looking Back on the Sept. 14th, 2020 Virtual BHS Awards Gala

 

Looking Back on the Sept. 14th, 2020 Virtual BHS Awards Gala

The Alexandria Harmonizers hosted a “Watch Party” Zoom session during the BHS Awards Gala presented via YouTube on Mon, evening, Sept. 14th. We gathered about 7:30 pm for visiting, greeting some members we haven’t seen for awhile including Rick Wagner from HI, and sharing stories about our year. About 35 of us were on the call for the event that lasted until about 10 pm.

Terry Reynolds played the previous finalists announcements for our review to explain that the Harmonizers were named as finalists for two of the major awards – Ambassador of the Year, and Ensemble of the Year.  Our friend Dr. Joyce Garrett from Alfred Street Baptist was also a finalist for Ambassador of the Year.

It was great to be together for the event when the Alexandria Harmonizers were named Ensemble of the Year. The show included a great summary video of our terrific 2019 year including the trip to England and Scotland.

As president Stan Quick shared, “2019 was a banner year for the Harmonizers. I counted at least 19 events at which the chorus itself participated - from local Alexandria venues to Seneca Land District to the U.K.  To win this award in the inaugural gala especially when judged against the other nominees is a truly great achievement of which we should all be proud.”

 

Stan also acknowledged “Bill Colosimo's submission of our chapter and the Alexandria Singers concert with Vocal Collective from New Zealand for the Ambassador of the Year Award. Also nominated was Dr. Joyce Garrett, who has been instrumental in forging our relationship with Alfred Street Baptist Church.  Although we and Dr. Garrett did not win this category, we owe both Dr. Garrett and Bill and his Alexandria Singers a big thank you for their major contributions to helping us win the other category, Ensemble of the Year.”

The gala was quite well done and full of close moments for Harmonizers to see former members and coaches, helpers from our recent youth festivals, and fellow M-AD barbershoppers honored.

The Video of the Year Award went to MIDTOWN from our district and were introduced by lead of the Quin-Tones, Julian LaFore who has been on our show a couple times.

Album of the Year went to GQ and was introduced by Deke Sharon. Both the quartet and Deke were part of our youth festival.

We were pleased to learn that Alan Lamson, a former Harmonizer, and Kevin Keller, arranger of our contest uptune, were named to the BHS Hall of Fame.

The Arranger of the Year Award went to Theo Hicks who has been on our show too.

The Joe Liles Lifetime Achievement Award went to a former Harmonizer coach, Greg Clancy from the Dallas Vocal Majority.

Later in the show, Greg introduced our chapter as winner of the Ensemble Award. Stan Quick appeared on the YouTube show to give a message of appreciation from the Harmonizers.

The actual winner of the Ambassador of the Year Award went to BARBER DRUNK quartet who started Barbershop Harmony South America.

The Quartet of the Year Award went to THE NEWFANGLED FOUR and they were announced by DOUBLE DATE who sang for us recently on our Zoom event for Dog Days.

The Barbershopper of the Year Award went to Will Downey, bass of GIMME FOUR, who has often helped us with our youth festival.

Our friends and gold medal champs, SIGNATURE quartet, sang on the show and reminded us all how they helped promote our youth festival in the DC Metro area.

Overall host for the gala was Alex Morris from Australia, who often hosts the Webcast at International convention.

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 72nd year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

 

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