Friday, June 18, 2021

Looking Back on the June 15th 2021 Hybrid Chapter Meeting

      Looking Back on the June 15th 2021 Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 

On Tuesday June 15th, the Alexandria Harmonizers had a second in-person chorus rehearsal. The music team extended an invite to members to attend this week in order to keep the number of singers controlled based on those who had posted their availability on Groupanizer.  Everyone had to be vaccinated and first-time-back guys had to turn in a signed Covid-19 agreement and waiver form to the chapter  The technical crew worked hard to manage Zoom connection for those who weren’t present. (That meant moving cameras and microphones two or three times during the evening.) 

 

At the start of the meeting there was a lot of talking among the guys catching up, seeing old friends they hadn’t seen in a while as folks arrived in the lobby.

 

A chorus of 45 started in the cafateria for a warm up session with associate director Tony Colosimo. He spent some time to remind the Harmonizers about good breath taking practices. Guys on Zoom were encouraged to join in too – their pictures from the Zoom screen were projected on the wall.

 

Artistic director Joe Cerutti thanked everyone for their patience and flexibility in attendance plans and he welcomed a crew of new Harmonizers – Yohan Roh, Josh Myers, Matt Riedl and Michael Berkson.  This was the very first time some of them have been to a rehearsal in person. He also welcomed guest Evan Keely, a friend of Rob Barnovsky, who attended via Zoom. 

 

Our virtual choir project performing “Stars and Stripes Forever” with the Masters of Harmony is moving along thanks to extra work by Joel Golden and Mike KellyJoe promises we will get to hear it next week.

 

Mark your calendars for two outdoor events coming up in August. The chapter has reserved the outdoor stage at Fort Ward Park for a rehearsal on Tues. Aug. 10th and then for a mini performance for friends and family on Tues. Aug. 24th. This event may include some food and fellowship.  Fort Ward is at 4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria VA 22304.

 

At this point everyone moved up to the auditorium for a 30-minute block of time to work on “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin” with others participating through Zoom meeting. Tony directed and Joe coached. 

 

Then we all moved back to the cafeteria and Joe worked on “Never Fully Dressed” and “Help from My Friends.”

 

Finally back to the auditorium for assembly in the seats.  Communications chairman Matt Doniger was emcee for the business session.  Membership chairman Jacob Broude offered to get name tags for anyone who needs one.  Let him know ASAP. Also let Jacob know if you are willing to stop at a Metro Station or Bus Stop on Tuesday night to bring a member the rest of the way to Scottish Rite Temple (SRT). And also alert Jacob if you have a friend or acquaintance that is interested in being a new member.

 

 

The following mem were presented renewal membership cards at the June 8th meeting by secretary David DesPortesJerry Jayjohn – 3 years; Ryan Mextorf – 3 years; Gary Cregan – 4 years; Matt Doniger – 9 years; Rob Barnovsky– 10 years; Noah Van Gilder – 13 years; Jason Lee – 19 years; Joe Cerutti – 20 years; Bob Rhome – 20 years;Bruce Roehm – 20 years; Chris Huber – 29 years; Mark Klostermeyer – 40 years; Don Harrington – 41 years; Dean Rust – 41 years; Steve White – 44 years; and Chuck Hunter – 49 years! 

 

Alan Wile did his 26th interview of a Harmonizer Hero who completed the form for submission on Groupanizer.  This week he spoke with Chris Huber.

 

Chris is another Eagle Scout in the chapter.  He grew up in DE and was active in sports, singing, and learned to play a four-string banjo. He enrolled in college in PA to play basketball, but the coach told Chris he would have to decide if he wanted to play ball or continue singing in the concert choir.  He chose singing!  Good thing for us and for him – he met his wife Judy in the choir!

 

He had a 21-year work career in Navy supply operations.

 

His first barbershop singing was in the Fairfax VA Chapter, and then after seeing a Harmonizer show, he transferred. A highlight of his Harmonizer years was the connection he made with Peggy Harris and the plan to sing for her in Les Ventes, France, after we sang at Normandy.  Actually it was a highlight for every Harmonizer that was there.

 

Chris like rock music and has formed a rock band, RIPTIDE, who often play at chapter events.  He is also an avid gardener. 

 

The evening ended with a run through of “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin” and singing of “Keep the Whole World Singing.”

 

Out next  Harmonizer Tuesday meeting will be a hybrid session beginning at 7 pm on June 22nd, 2021 at SRT following guidelines prescribed by the chapter leadership and per invitation.

 

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 for the great things going on each week during the 72nd year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. - YeEd)

 

Monday, June 14, 2021

Looking Back on the June 8th 2021 Hybrid Chapter Meeting

      Looking Back on the June 8th 2021 Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 

On Tuesday June 8th, the Alexandria Harmonizers had their first large group in-person rehearsal since the pandemic started. The music team extended an invite to members to attend this week in order to keep the number of singers controlled. Everyone had to be vaccinated. The technical crew worked hard to manage Zoom connection for those who weren’t present. 

 

At the start of the meeting there was a lot of talking among the guys catching up, seeing old friends we hadn’t seen in a while.  The chorus was split into two smaller groups known as green and red chorus. Each chorus did a warm up with associate director Tony Colosimo, while director Joe Cerutti was going over announcements with the other chorus in a separate room.

 

Joe shared the details about attendees for next week including reminders about keeping the chapter informed of any changes in your intentions to attend.  He  reminded folks to sign a Covid waiver form.

 

He explained the plans for submitting recordings for our virtual choir project performing “Stars and Stripes Forever.”  

 

After warmup,  the two groups merged together to go through “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin” with others participating through Zoom meeting. After some instruction and several run throughs the chorus split back to their respective rooms, the chorus reviewed “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” splitting the half hour with Joe and Tony working on different aspects of the song.

 

The guys came back together for their final 30 minutes of rehearsal and for our secretary, David DesPortes, to hand out renewal cards from the last several months. After all membership cards were handed out, we did a run through of “Sing.” 

 

We checked in with the guys from Zoom (whose faces were projected on the wall in the hall), to see how it sounded, with resounding thumbs up. We wrapped the evening up singing “Keep the Whole World Singing.” 

 

(Thanks to Jerry Jayjohn for taking the notes for the meeting while YeEd was on vacation in Illinois.)

 

YeEd asked for reactions from guys who attended this week and here is the reply from Frank Shipp:

 

“Joni Mitchell wrote, “Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.” I never realized how dearly I felt about our chapter, and BHS, until the pandemic took it away. Zoom technology, and our amazing tech team and leadership, kept me sane, at least, until we returned to in-person singing. June 1st brought a few of us in for a “trial run”, and a dozen voices sounded like 25 as the harmony in the rooms filled my heart with joy. Then, June 8th, even more of us greeted each other with a genuine affection not felt in in nearly 15 months. The sound we generated near the end of the evening with “Bridge Over Troubled Water” seemed to emanate from the room into the night sky, and out to the whole world, completing the bridge over the troubled waters of the pandemic that we had created by staying together as best we could. A warmth descended upon our group, and filled the room, exceeded only by the love I felt when we finally sang “Keep The Whole World Singing.” We will always build our own bridges. We will always keep our world singing. And all is right with the world. Finally.”

 

Our next  Harmonizer Tuesday meeting will be at 7 pm on June 15th, 2021 at SRT following guidelines prescribed by the chapter leadership and per invitation.

 

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 for the great things going on each week during the 72nd year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. - YeEd)