Looking Back on the August 29, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
Work continued at the Alexandria chapter meeting for the 75th anniversary show that is just 10 days away on Sept. 9that Schlesinger Hall. Both ensembles will perform.
Associate director of the Harmonizers, Tony Colosimo, was in charge of warm ups for the chorus of the Harmonizers and Metro Voices that filled the risers. When the warm ups ended there was a cheer to sing Happy Birthday to him!
Since artistic director Joe Cerutti was in Bloomington, IL, coaching their chorus in preparation for the district contest in Illinois, Tony was at the helm the whole time for the Harmonizers. Samantha Tramack was at the helm for Metro Voices.
Plans have been set in motion to launch our newest ensemble, Capital Force, as a seasonal youth chorus for rising 8th-11th grade students. The event is Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1-4 pm at Clarendon Presbyterian Church, 1308 North Irving Street, Arlington, VA 22201 (that is the address for the church’s parking lot). Both ensembles will sing for the students and their parents and friends. A flyer was released recently and every member is urged to distribute it far-and-wide to get a good number of students on the risers from the start. Contact Tessa Walker, director of that ensemble, for any questions.
To clarify show week plans, there will NOT be an extra rehearsal that week, as has been the case in years past. The Sept. 5 chapter meeting will be used to “run the show.” The call for Harmonizers will be at 11 am on Sat., Sept. 9. It will be 11:30 am for Metro Voices. The venue requires the space be empty for two hours so that we will all need to leave the building between 2:30 – 4:30 , which will be the time for members to get their dinner.
After the September 9 show and the Capital Force kickoff, there will be no rehearsal on September 12. However, an extra rehearsal will be held on September 21 as the ensembles prepare for appearances at the Mid Atlantic District (M-AD) convention in York, PA, Sept. 29-30.
The first singing this week was sectionals to work on “Defying Gravity” with Maggie McAlexander leading the tenors, Sophie Clarke leading the leads, Lance Fisher leading the baritones, and David Breen leading the basses.
Before the two ensembles began work on their own songs, there was a Game Time led by Tessa Walker. She kept the singers on the risers in the same sections as “Defying Gravity” and they had to bring out front the youngest and the oldest person in that section – without any talking. It was fun for all and another great proof of the success of our multigenerational chapter. The youngest singer was 18 and the oldest was 83.
Chapter communications director, Steve Murane, coordinated the chapter business meeting. He took a couple minutes to nudge all members to promote tickets sales for the show and suggested some flyers and media pieces to use. He also suggested how to help get information about the Capital Force kickoff event. There are just 40 tickets left foe the afterglow, so members should not delay in getting theirs.
Membership director, Jacob Broude, welcomed several returning guests –Norm Barth, Ellen Dellert, Jonah Phillipp, Thomas Keeping. Marsha Ansel and Leah Musico. Bob Blair’s son-in-law Tony, plus family, were there this week. Joe Cerutti Sr. was in the building – he is producer of the show on the 9th. Julian LaFlore was at the meeting – he is new director of the Wilmington, DE, chorus. Ike Gallagher was a first-time guest – he had been to the Heavy Medal concert earlier this year. Another first-time guest, Dave, had visited us back when the chorus met at the Durant Rec Center on Cameron Street (he remembered the mirrors on the wall so guys could check themselves with their choreography. Emeritus assistant director, Will Cox, directed the chapter welcome song.
Operations director Gary Cregan was busy all evening getting new show uniform parts to several new Harmonizers.
After a short break for the members to get off the risers, Metro Voices worked on their songs and the Harmonizers worked on their songs after confirming new riser positions. Congratulations to Chad Ross and Matt Ambler who are hard at work as the new guys in the front row for the Harmonizers.
The two ensembles regrouped and did the 50/50. Samantha directed “Keep the Whole World Singing” to end the evening. 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.
