Looking Back on the July 29, 2025 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting and Sing in Old Town
Even at 7 pm, it was hot as Hades in Old Town. But the AACC crowd was strong and eager to stroll and sing AND to put flyers and signs up to recruit mixed voice youth as singers for the Capital Force ensemble.
Capital Force director, Tessa Walker, was in Denver for the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) Harmony University (HU) as an instructor. [Artistic director, Joe Cerutti, was also at HU as major staffer in charge of that annual educational event.] Tessa had left detailed instructions to AACC members as to canvassing the Old Town and general NoVA area to recruit youth singers. Many members brought copies of color flyers and posters, and tape and tacks as needed. Members had fun doing their part.
At Market Square at 7 pm, the cheer for “AA ---- CC” went out and AACC signers gathered for vocal warm up with Maggie McAlexander, conducting. Members wore their black AACC t-shirts. Assistant director of the Harmonizers, Jason Lee, directed “Africa” for their warm up; and director of Metro Voices, Samantha Tramack, directed their warm up song, “Happy Together,” as well as “I’m Still Standing” for the combined AACC chorus.
The chorus sang on the corner of Market Square and then made several stops down King Street amidst all the eateries. Terry Reynolds introduced the singers to the audiences and invited them to consider passing info to interested youth singers. Mark Klostermeyer brought the large identification sign to put out front at each stop. There was also the usual stop at the Torpedo Factory stairs – but the chorus had to share the space and time with a street musician who played his trumpet along with the chorus on a song or two. A chapter first!!!
Several members of the previous Capital Force ensemble were on hand to help promote. Good to see them singing with AACC, and to visit with their parents who came out too. Some of those families planned to post recruitment posters at libraries and rec centers in Fairfax County near Springfield and Kingstowne. YeEd too.
Terry Reynolds was chief organizer for the “Capital Force Flyer Brigade” with assignments and mini teams to get the materials to all parts of the area. He thanked those who made the hike to North Old Town on a really hot night! There was a channel on Slack for the teams to report their successes or challenges or issues at the end of the evening.
About 20 folks made it to Chadwicks for an afterglow, but there was also some evidence on Slack that members found the Pops Old Fashioned Ice Cream shop for treats on a hot summer night
There was lots of behind-the-scenes chatter among members in preparation for the Ireland trip as travelers compared notes, asked questions, and made final arrangement. Departure is generally the first of next week, with some folks making earlier departures to get in more sights. YeEd noted several Ireland t-shirts being exchanged and or given to a fellow member to pass on to another.
Members should mark their calendars noting that the next regular chapter meeting will not be until Tuesday, August 26. There will be no organized meeting on Aug. 5 and Aug. 12 – perhaps some members will organize a Zoom or a gathering to practice choreo. So watch on Slack while the bulk of the AACC chorus is in Ireland.
Aug. 19 the chorus will be back to sing in Old Town. And Looking Back reports will resume for that event as well. YeEd would appreciate periodic feedback from members while they are in Ireland.
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 77th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement: Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
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