Looking Back on the Dec. 16 and 17, 2023 Alexandria Holiday Shows
The singers in Alexandria A Cappella Collective (AACC) were busy with two major holiday shows on Sat. Dec. 16 and Sun. Dec. 17. There was a dress rehearsal for those shows on Tues. Dec. 12.
The Fredrick, MD, Catactones barbershop chorus invited the Harmonizers and Metro Voices to do a holiday show for them at Urbana High School in the Fredrick area. The theme for their show was The Secret of Christmas and started at 3:30 pm. The Alexandria part of the show included basically the same songs as were used for the show on Sunday. The Catactones had refreshments for all singers back stage and that allowed for the two groups to visit and meet each other. Great to see former Harmonizers Scott Hoge, Garry vom Lehn and Biff Gaut at this performance.
On Sunday, the Harmonizers and Metro Voices repeated the holiday music and performance for their own show at Fairlington United Methodist Church (UMC) on King Street at 3:30 pm. Show patrons responded generously to bring canned goods to the show for Alive!, an Alexandria food gathering group to serve those in need. Over 500 pounds was donated!
The Sunday performance was Live Streamed and Harmonizer leadership from Dean Rust, made certain that residents at the following eight senior living facilities could watch the show: Brandywine Living; Sunrise of Mt. Vernon; Sunrise in Alexandria; Paul Springs; Elance at West Side; Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center; Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads; and Goodwin House Alexandria.
AACC shows director, Doug White, and chapter general manager, Susan Fitzpatrick, with some volunteers, welcomed all the patrons (who had preregistered for the free concert). Other volunteers helped collect the food donations at the door and helped patrons to their seats (patrons had arrived during a severe rain storm in the local area!).
The chorus filled the choir area and the patrons filled the sanctuary and its balcony – the acoustics were great. Singers wore dressy black attire with green and red accents (many guys pulled out red ties from a previous chorus uniform).
Artistic director, Joe Cerutti, took his position to audience applause and the Harmonizers kicked off the concert with “J I N G L E Bells.” Steve White brought his family heirloom sleigh bells to ring during this fun number.
Terry Reynolds welcomed everyone to this special event during the 75th year of the chapter. All during the concert, various members came forward to introduce the song or tell a little story. Associate Harmonizer director, Tony Colosimo, directed “Deck The Halls;” Joe directed “Believe;” Tony directed “Little Saint Nick;” Joe directed “Let It Snow” and “Grinch.” Terry did the narration about the grinch with a crazy hat plus he created chaos as he told the story by moving all through the chorus and hiding behind some of the singers.
A combined chorus of the two Alexandria ensembles performed “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Matt Ambler and Catherine La Valley sang solos for this number.
The Harmonizers left the stage and Metro Voices sang with Samantha Tramack, directing “Sing We Noel,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “The Man with the Bag.”
Will Cox entertained the audience, as he has at many holiday shows, with his comedic recitation of “The Night Before Christmas” – even as he forgot some of the words, or made up some in order to make things rhyme.
Joe invited many of the singers out into the aisles to help with an audience sing-along – “Rudolph,” “Joy to the World,” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with singers coaching a few rows of the audience with crazy words for each of the twelve days. It was fun to bring back this tradition from the era of holiday dinner shows organized by the Harmonizers. Another tradition was for the chorus musical leadership to steal the spotlight for the ‘Five Golden Rings’ line – and our team stole the show with a louder and higher tag each time! Thanks to Maggie McAlexander, assistant director of the Metro Voices; Samantha, Joe and Tony.
The Harmonizers returned to the stage and David Breen sang the solo to start “Let All Mortal Flesh.” A small ensemble sang an original “Dreidel” song created by Josh Meyer. The singers were Kellen Hertz, Heidi Krukowski, Devin Gerzof, Michael Berkson, Matt Ambler, David Breen, Josh Meyer, Turner Arndt, Ben Watsky, Sheryl Berlin, and Tony Colosimo.
Following that song, a quartet with Lance Fisher, Tony Colosimo, Josh Meyer, and David Breen sang “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” which was an introduction for the chorus to sing “Silent Night.”
As a wrap up for the show, Joe thanked the Fairlington UMC for their welcoming help to host the show; thanked the folks at Alive! for their work; and thanked all those who made it to the show in the rain. He invited them to make a freewill offering as they left the church to singers stationed at the door. The final song was “Do You Hear What I Hear” with both ensembles combined for an eight-part arrangement. The soloists for this year’s version of this holiday show closer were Frank Fedarko, Terry Reynolds, and Heidi Krukowski.
The chorus sang holiday greetings, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’ as the show ended.
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.
