Looking Back on the Sept. 30, 2025 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting
AACC members were ready to put final touches on their contest songs at this week’s rehearsal. A riser crew of volunteers from both ensembles arrived early to do the set up. Both ensembles are eager to deliver a solid barbershop performance at the fall Mid Atlantic District (M-AD) contest in NJ.
There had been a flurry of messages on Slack about room reservations, arrival times, and uniform details. AACC singers are ready.
AlexRenew was a busy place this week, and the two groups also sang their packages for each other which stimulated much applause and cheering and support for each chorus.
The district contest will be at Middle Township Performing Arts Center in Cape May, NJ. Many members will go up on Friday afternoon to cheer for our six quartets that will compete on the Friday night contest stage. (In case you have not heard, that contest starts at 4:30 pm. Make travel plans accordingly – especially if you plan to use the Ferry.) The quartets with AACC members are MENTAL NOTE with Scott Beach, Mike Geiple, and Jerry Candrilli; BELTWAY with Rob Santine, Suranjan Sen, Josh Myers, and Ryan Mextorf; FANTATIC 4, with Heidi Brown; BETTER TOGETHER with Elizabeth and Tony Colosimo, and Heather and Andrew Havens; GQ with Samantha Tramack; and INSTAGRAMPS with Rick Taylor and Steve White.
Saturday is the chorus contest starting at 9 am. For those interested, there is a meet the new CEO of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) at 5:15 pm, then the finals for the quartet contest starts at 6:30 pm. Clearly, attendees will need to plan ahead to get to everything and get some dinner. Often there are food trucks outside the contest venue, so that might be an option.
The Harmonizers sing 10th – about 10:53 am or the second chorus after intermission. The Harmonizer music team will stay for the evaluation/coaching meeting with the judges, but all members are welcome to stay as well. Metro Voices sing 12th at about 11 am. Their members will all stay for the chat with the judges since this is the first official contest for several of their members.
Coming soon on the Harmonizer calendar is the annual Men’s Fellowship sing with Alfred Street Baptist Men’s Choir. This year, the West Point Alumni Chorus will be singing as special guest of the Harmonizers, coordinated by E.J. Herold. Event is at Alfred Street Baptist, 301 S. Alfred in Alexandria, call time for the chorus is 6:30 pm. AACC t-shirt and jeans is the dress code. Songs will be “Africa,” “Wonderful World,” and “Impossible Dream.” We will also sing a song to help honor Joyce Garrett (it’s on Groupanizer for review) at this year’s event and to recognize her contributions and leadership in support of male singing in the community.
Looking ahead, on Oct. 7, the AACC chorus will sing in Old Town Alexandria. On Wed., Oct. 8, the Harmonizers will attend the men’s fellowship with Alfred Street Baptist Men’s Gospel Choir. Joe encourages all Harmonizers to attend this fun and meaningful musical sharing event, and if a member can’t do both Tuesday and Wednesday night chorus events of that week, then choose the Wednesday night event. On Oct. 14, AACC will meet at AlexRenew, hold the annual election of officers and board of directors, and launch the musical work for the holiday show. The Oct. 21 meeting will be at Beth El Synagogue.
The meeting agenda is also hectic as AACC prepares for its holiday show. Chapter leadership is working hard to locate a suitable venue for that show – the venues are getting harder and harder to find (and to afford). Artistic director, Joe Cerutti, is leading the effort for the chapter on this front.
Holiday music is on Groupanizer so members can get a start on reviewing or learning the songs that have been used in the past for the holiday shows. New holiday songs will be added soon including an arrangement of “Welcome Christmas” for the AACC chorus.
Membership director, Jacob Broude, welcomed the guests this week, including Devante Lucas, Cooper Schwartz, Steven Pei and Jen Wheaton. Terry Reynolds lead the chapter welcome song.
Joe was emcee for the annual “shedding of the bandanas” for the Class of 2025. The ceremony took place with Joewelcoming singers to the riser based on their class year for their first contest starting with a few men who were in the 1978 class. The Class of 2025 was welcomed to the risers and allowed to discard their red AACC bandanas.
As part of the formal meeting, Joe also recognized the quartets that will represent the chapter in the contest. He thanked Catherine LaValley for her work on the fall show, and presented a gift from the chapter to Brad Jones for his year-long administrative leadership for the trip to Ireland.
Rehearsals ended close to 10 pm this week with “Keep the Whole World Singing” directed by Zak Sandler.
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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