Looking Back on the August 16th 2022 Harmonizer Hybrid Chapter Meeting
This week’s meeting concentrated on preparation for the fall show which is coming up soon – Sept. 10th at Schlesinger Hall.
The evening started with a warm up session conducted by assistant director emeritus Will Cox. It was a good session and artistic director Joe Cerutti thanked Will for his “always solid” warm up sessions.
Joe had some announcements. First he shared that he was at a choral event last week and was seated next to our a cappella music friend, Dr. Joyce Garret, from Alfred Street Baptist. She confirmed that our proposed singing-together event is still on target for October.
Masks were optional this week, and music team admin guy Terry Reynolds announced that “we will use Facebook live for the rehearsal via the private Facebook group.” It is much easier to manage the technical aspects at the rehearsal location.
As was announced recently, the Harmonizers Chorus has been invited to sing in the evening on Sept. 18th at Wolf Trap with other major choral groups from the DC area. A Wolf Trap promotional brochure calls it a “community powered singing celebration.” The show organizers changed their request and asked us to sing “Circle of Life” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Then all the singers will perform two numbers as a group – stay tuned for details. The organizers expect a crowd of over 8,000 in the audience.
The Harmonizers will share the program with seven other groups: Children’s Chorus of
Washington, Duke Ellington School of the Arts Concert Chorale, Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and GenOUT, The Heritage Signature Chorale, Towson University Singers, The Washington Chorus, and the Washington Performing Arts Gospel Chorus.
According to Joe, each singer will not need to buy a ticket, and will receive two free tickets. Singers from 29 other choral groups in the DC area will be invited to attend and will be encouraged to join in group singing during the concert from the audience.
For the fall show on September 10th, take note that we are honoring First Responders/Front Line Workers who served early in the COVID outbreak. They will receive free tickets to the show and be recognized. If you know of any folks who should be so honored, get their names to Dean Rust or Randall Eliason ASAP. That show will be at Schlesinger Hall and will include some performing guests to join us. It is important for members to push ticket sales for this show now and not wait. Folks will get busy in September and so now is the time to alert them about the show.
The Harmonizers will also be attending the Mid Atlantic District (M-AD) contest and convention in Lancaster, PA, Oct 7 and 8. Although we will not be competing in the contest, we will sing on the Saturday night show and will be hosting a masters’ class. Harmonizers need to indicate their participation via Groupanizer ASAP so chapter leaders can confirm with the District leaders – or respond to Terry. The chorus will basically only need to be at the convention early Saturday afternoon and evening.
No doubt we will have several quartets from the chapter in the quartet contest on Friday night, Oct. 7th. Plus, some of the great quartets from our M-AD that were in Charlotte will be singing. Some of them are eager to take a shot at being named district champ!
Joe was excited to welcome our newest member who passed his audition last week – David Killinck, singing baritone. Joe presented David a wrapped welcome gift – his own Harmonizer black camp shirt. Always exciting to welcome new members.
Another important announcement from Joe was the intention of the music team to continue the culture of recording, feedback and self-assessment. The process will be used for “Chorus Line Medley.” Also, any singers who did not sing in Charlotte should get self-assessed at a level 5.
Then the singing began along with choreo review with Turner Arndt leading it for “Help from My Friends.”
Next the leads and baritone went to a combined sectional to work on “Remember Me.” The basses and tenors worked on “Chorus Line” with Joe. Then after 25 minutes, the groups switched.
When the chorus came back into the auditorium, work continued on “Chorus Line.”
The chapter’s business meeting was conducted by communications director, Sam Whiteoak. Tickets are on sale now for the Sept. 10th fall show.
Jack Pitzer welcomed guests this week. Great to see Mike Kelly back in the hall along with Craig Odell, Dennis Ritchey’s Mom, MaryAnn, and Joe and Janet Cerutti – Joe’s parents. Nic Petersen was back in the lead section and prepared for his audition after rehearsal. Will directed the Harmonizer “Welcome Song.”
Joe also welcomed David Breen and Lance Fisher back from Vail, CO, where they were vocal mentors at an opera camp for members of the Washington Children’s Choir.
There was a reminder that there will be a show program for the fall show, with advertisements. Frank Shipp is collecting the ad materials and the payments.
Plus a reminder about the campaign to “pay back what you would have paid in chapter dues.” You can donate by giving a check to Randall or Carl Kauffmann at rehearsal, or by PayPal to Alexandia.Harmonizers@gmail.com. If donating by PayPal, please add a note that it is for the "Replace my Dues" campaign.
Back to singing then on “Circle of Life” combined with choreo review (especially with the ribbons).
There was a fun afterglow at Rampart’s this 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 for the great things going on each week during the 74th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. - YeEd)
