Looking Back on the Mar. 12, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting and DCPS Event
The Alexandria A Cappella Collective (AACC) met at the AlexRenew building in Alexandria this week for their rehearsal. Traffic was a challenge for those who had to drive thru DC since there are already traffic jams from folks out to see the Cherry Blossoms.
YeEd heard that a few guys are walking from the Metro stations near AlexRenew – at King Street and on Eisenhower. Both are about 15 minute walks.
There were a lot of members and guests present this week, including 21 Metro Voices singers. The warm up session for the combined ensembles was conducted by Harmonizer associate director, Tony Colosimo. He used the tag, “To The Last Goodbye” as part of the exercise.
Then artistic director, Joe Cerutti, just back from Ireland, thanked everyone for a super successful event with DC Public School music educators and their students. He declared it was a “milestone event” for the chapter and for youth education in the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), as well as for the music educators in DC.
AACC provided support for the DC Public Schools Youth Harmony event at Capital Turnaround in the Navy Yard area of DC, Friday, March 8. The chapter helped with musical education and organization, brought risers and sound equipment, staffed rehearsal sessions, provided snacks and water for the day for the 100 or more student singers, and came to cheer and support the event. The chapter also hosted SIGNATURE quartet to come help with the training and to perform with the student chorus at 4 pm on Friday. A number of parents and members of AACC were on hand to cheer and encourage.
The leadership team from DCPS arts department helped organize the participating schools and encouraged the local music educators to bring students and come experience the workshop as well. At the show, each of those educators were introduced and thanked for bringing their students by Robert Battle from DCPS music department.
Tony Colosimo was dean of the event and host for the show. Tessa Walker was clinician for the day with help from Sheryl Berlin, Julian LeFlore and Maggie McAlexander. Their experience in local music education was important to the success of the day.
Some folks from the chapter also played important support roles like Gary Cregan, risers and equipment; Cy Shuster, sound set up; Dean Rust, refreshments for the day; Dean and Carl Kauffmann, general helpers during the event; Liz Birnbaum, refreshment set up; Ken Rub and David Breen, delivery of 60 large pizzas; Doug White, David Breen, Ken Rub, Tony Colosimo, Cy Shuster, Adam Afifi, Patricia Chow, Tyler Carpenter, Carl Kauffmann and EJ Harold helped with unloading and reloading the truck with all the equipment and supplies. A good number of members of both the Harmonizers and Metro Voices were present at various times during the day and particularly at the 4 pm show and move out. They also enjoyed the afterglow with the DCPS staffers who organized the event and with SIGNATURE.
Members of the AACC were generous in donating snacks and water bottles and/or cash donations to raise over $400 to stock supplies for the day. (Info for this event provided by Dean Rust)
This week before the two ensembles adjourned to their own rehearsal spaces, Joe made some general announcements. He started with a reminder that our major fundraiser, Spring2ACTion, will be Wed. April 24. The chapter will wrap up that day with our second cabaret night at The Bike Club where we will watch the results come in from the donations (patrons will be able to watch too). To add to the fun of that night, members of the chapter are encouraged to put together a
non-barbershop act. It can be solo, with other members or family, with instrument or comedy or magic. Auditions must be done by April 1. Interested entries should speak with Joe or Terry Reynolds. An accompanist will be available for all entries.
Next Joe highlighted the plans for another outreach opportunity for the two choruses to share their talents and friendship with members of the Northeastern District (NED) of BHS, May 3-4-5 in Lake George, NY. Leaders of that district have invited both ensembles to sing as mic testers for the chorus contest, to provide educational sessions and possibly coaching, and to do a show. A survey will come to all members soon to determine who will be going to sing and who will ride the bus or drive separately.
The bus will likely depart from the metro area Friday afternoon and return Sunday, although some members may wish to drive with a carpool. Most expenses will be covered by the NED with AACC members covering some minimal costs.
This will be the second time the chapter has gone to another BHS district as an outreach project. The first was to the Seneca Land District in Rochester, NY, a couple years ago in the fall.
Last week Joe announced that the combined ensembles will perform “Why We Sing” in Lake George. All NED members are getting the song in advance and will be invited to join us on the risers as the finale for the show.
As a reminder of the upcoming schedule, the AACC choruses will gather at City Hall in Old Town, Alexandria, Mar. 19, and then serenade folks in restaurants and on the street. After the singing, singers will stay in Old Town for an afterglow. The following three weeks the chapter will meet back at AlexRenew.
The chapter business session was managed by Terry Reynolds and he and Joe clarified the words for the tag of the chapter welcome song – “We’ll harmonize til break of day in the barbershopper way, barbershopper way.”
Mary Cooper welcomed our two newest members Ker Medero and William Vesilind. She also welcomed the recent guests who were back: Callie, Charley, Matt, Mary, Hannah and David; and the first time guests this week: Jim, a former barbershop singer in Lansdale, and Tess, a Metro Voices guest of Catherine. Will Cox, directed the chapter “Welcome Song.”
Becca Williams and Devin Gerzof got everyone involved in a fun ice breaker before the two ensembles started their rehearsals. Both groups held sectionals during the evening.
Before the evening wrapped up, chapter secretary, Heidi Krukowski, presented membership renewals for Bruce Roehm, 23 years; Brad Jones, 32 years; and Brian Ammerman, 30 years.
Just after 9 pm Joe invited the guests and members to come to the Harmo House for an afterglow, and then he directed“Keep the Whole World Singing.”
As a correction to last week’s Looking Back, a few members attended the graveside ceremony in memory of former member Austin Cotton and his wife, Sue, at Arlington National Cemetery on March 4. Harmonizers were invited to join other barbershop singers from nearby chapters to sing the “Irish Blessing.”
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.
