Looking Back on the Sept. 26, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
The week’s chapter meeting was all about preparing for the Mid Atlantic District (MA-D) contest and convention coming up in York, PA, Sept.29 and 30. Several members are also competing with their quartets that week end - REVERB with Dennis Ritchey, Reed Livergood, Paul Grimes and Steve White; LEGACY with Rick Taylor; BREAKTHROUGH with Mike Fasano, Jordan Zimmerman, Jason Lee and Ken White; and BETTER TOGETHER with Elizabeth and Tony Colosimo and Heather and Andrew Havens.
Samantha Tramack, director of Metro Voices, did the warm up sessions for both ensembles on the risers. She concluded the warm up with a new exercise with the words “I Breathe In PEACE and I Breath Out LOVE.”
Associate director Tony Çolosimo, welcomed Chuck Hunter who was the coach for the two Harmonizer contest songs this week. Tony reported on the health status of former artistic director Geri Geis in FL – all communications with her should go to Bruce Roehm, brsigmachi@aol.com.
Tony asked for a show of hands for how many first timers to sing on the district chorus contest stage. A big number!
Metro Voices will be mic testers for the chorus contest and will receive a score and an evaluation from the judging panel. The Harmonizers will receive a score hoping to qualify for the International chorus contest in Cleveland in 2024.
Tony also asked about Harmonizers singing in other chorus groups and there were several hands raised including those men who will sing with the M-AD Seniors Chorus.
The chapter business session was held early before the two ensembles worked on their music.
Music team coordinator, Terry Reynolds, alerted all singers that there will not be a meeting of the two ensembles on Friday night in York as previously announced. The first call for Metro Voices is at 8 am. The Harmonizers will all go into the contest arena to cheer for them, then those singers will go to their meeting room. Both groups should arrive dressed in their contest uniform/outfits. Terry assured everyone that he would be sending final word in a message to all members about the weekend. As an advance alert, everyone should bring their casual outfit if the chapter is invited to sing on the Saturday night show.
Terry also shared that next week work will start on holiday songs including a new song that is already on Groupanizer.
Membership director, Jacob Broude, reminded the whole chapter that there will be a guest night for the chapter on Tuesday, Oct. 10th, at the Scottish Rite Temple (SRT). Each member is expected to bring one prospective singer for either ensemble. This week there were five returning guests – two Harmonizers and three Metro Voices. Assistant director emeritus, Will Cox, directed the chapter “Welcome Song.”
The two ensembles then started work on their two songs for the weekend. In working with the Harmonizers, Chuckspent his allotted time to help the men know the story and true message of the song; and to recognize the gems in the arrangement that Walter Latzko gave us for “Wee Small Hours.” Chuck helped the men recognize contrasts, emotions, flow of the song and lessons learned by the story teller. It was an awesome work session and yielded power to the performance.
For “New York, New York” his opening remark said it all – “it always has to be a new song!”
There were several repetitions for the benefit of all. Then near the end of the evening, each group sang their package for the other.
Chuck directed “Keep the Whole World Singing” to end the evening.
All hands were needed to load out all of the chapter’s equipment from the auditorium for the weekend. Operations director, Gary Cregan, helped things go to the right places.
The afterglow was 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 75th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
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