Looking Back on the June 23, 2026 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting and Send Off
The Harmonizers have held a send-off concert for many years prior to taking a package to the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) International convention. The 2026 send-off celebration was a great success this week at Beth El synagogue. Both ensembles performed at a very high level. Some friends and family of the chapter were there for the warm up rehearsal that started at 7 pm led by Tony Colosimo, associate director of the Harmonizers.
A big thank you to the crew of members who helped set up all the extra chairs for the standing-room-only audience at the venue and of course for those who brought in risers and sound equipment for the evening. Mike Kelly and Dennis Ritchey managed the sound and filming equipment operation. Thanks also to the members who volunteered to iron the waiter towel props that the Harmonizers will use in St. Louis.
Additional guests and fans arrived for the 8 pm start of the performances. Alex Corson, tenor of FIRST TAKE quartet, was emcee for the performance.
Metro Voices sang their package first. Their attire for contest is a combination of black and teal semi-formal attire along with several accent pieces of airline attire and bling to carry out the theme. Samantha Tramack, director of Metro Voices, directed the set which included “Yes I Can” arranged by Steve Tramack, and “Me and the Sky” arranged by Maggie McAlexander.
The Harmonizer package led by artistic director, Joe Cerutti, included “Harmony” and “Stars in the Night” both arranged by Steven Armstrong. The songs were part of the Broadway musical “Harmony” and tell the amazing story of the Comedian Harmonists, who were a popular close harmony ensemble of five singers and a piano player. (The Harmonizers will use a piano prop that was built by Dennis Ritchie for the package.) The chorus wore all black semi-formal attire and the six Harmonists wore tux and tails.
The Harmonizers who appear as the Comedian Harmonists for the 2026 contest package are Chad Ross as Harry Frommermann; Ben Watsky as Young Roman Cyckowski; Matt Ambler as Erick Collin; Rob Santine as Ari Leshnikoff; Matt Darouse as Erwin Bootz; and Rob Stark as Robert Biberti. Randall Eliason will understudy for Older Roman, who will be portrayed by Stuart Zagnit for the contest. Michael Berkson will understudy the six Harmonists portrayed by fellow chapter members and will be the radio announcer. Patrick Horn will be the soldier for the contest and his understudy is Terry Reynolds.
The Harmonizers have conducted an extensive social media campaign to expand awareness about the work of the Harmonists. Alex Chen was manager of that effort with help from several other members to prepare copy and manage the technical details including Randall Eliason and Mike Kelly.
Because the evening was so busy this week, there was no official ‘bandana check’ for the Class of 2026, although there was evidence that many did have them with them on stage (such as one YeEd saw that was pinned on the inside of a jacket!). The class includes 11 Harmonizers: Matt Darouse, Robby Della Bernarda, Cooper Schwartz, Jerry Candrilli, Devante Lucas, Billy Ermlick, Ben Raja, Owen Lyons, Josh Frakes, Logan Glauser, and Ben Hawker; and five Metro Voices: Susan Friel, Morgan Fabber, Laura Rutledge, Renee Tramack and Sarah Lott.
Before the AACC chorus sang, chapter leadership presented a 50-year membership card and pin to another AACC member, Bill Colosimo. Also, Ken Rub, chapter development coordinator, invited attendees to consider donations using QR codes he had posted in the hall to support contest efforts by the chapter and its two ensembles.
The two ensembles combined on the risers as the AACC chorus to sing “We Are One” directed by Samantha Tramack. The song was written by AACC member Zak Sandler and arranged by AACC member Lance Fisher. The finale song of the AACC chorus was “I’m Still Standing” directed by artistic director, Joe Cerutti.
It is terrific to have two ensembles competing in the 2026 chorus contest. This year will be the first time for Metro Voices to compete at the International. Then add to that excitement, three quartets in the contest too – GQ, FIRST TAKE, and SUPERNOVA – with AACC members – who were recognized at the send-off.
Among the huge crowd of guests for the sendoff, there were many former members, partners and spouses of singers, and long-time friends of the chapter. The large crowd yielded an extremely full house for the afterglow at the Harmo House – cars were parked for blocks around the neighborhood! The attendees ate about a dozen large pizzas, and a cake, and the usual snacks.
There were several gold medal quartet singers there; a quartet in town who are also instrumentalists from the British Royal Marines Band, who are performing at DC area landmarks (they are friends of Tessa Walker) agreed to sing a song; plus, in addition to tag singers in the basement, BELTWAY quartet was on hand and singing for folks in the kitchen. The patio and outside areas were full since the weather was so great.
In other news, AACC held an extra rehearsal on Thursday, June 18, and both ensembles worked hard to fine-tune their package musically and visually. There will be another extra session on Thursday, June 25, at AlexRenew. The chapter’s Culture team is launching a monthly BIRTHDAY TREATS NIGHT – the first one set for June 25. Their team is also looking to create a Sunshine Committee as part of their operation. The purpose of that committee is to help the chapter show support for any member during times of both celebration and/or hardship. Anyone interested in serving should contact Matt Darouse.
There also will be a work crew needed to load the Harmo truck on June 25 that will be driven to St. Louis with risers, sound equipment, and such. Drivers will be Ken Rub and Patrick Horn. Plus Terry Reynolds has asked for volunteers to iron the white hand towels used by the Harmonizers in their package prior to St. Louis.
Then here is more news about AACC members who attended the Mid Atlantic District (M-AD) Harmony College East (HCE) education weekend, in Westminster, MD, at McDaniel College. The following list of AACC members and some former Harmonizers (hopefully it is correct and we didn’t miss anyone!) were involved as organizers, as district leaders, as quartet singers, as individual students, as coaches, as presenters, as tech team, and as tag singers: Tony Colosimo, Andrew Havens, Joe Cerutti, Mike Wallen, Rick Taylor, Mike Kelly, Mike Fasano. Bob Eckman, Jay Butterfield, Julian LeFlore, Biff Gaut, Sam McFarland, Mike Geipel, Heidi Brown, Jerry Candrilli, Paul Grimes, Devante Lucas, Susan Friel, Scott Beach, Will Daniel Simmons, Tessa Walker, Samantha Tramack, Kenny Floyd, Ben Hawker, and David Welter.
Bill Colosimo and Sheryl Berlin continued their long years of service as “deans” of the weekend. Alan Wile was on hand as usual to accept donations to the M-AD endowment fund all weekend. He happily reports a record-breaking donation total at the event. A special recognition to Tessa Walker and her student ensemble, JAMD, who assisted with the music educator’s program and then performed on the Saturday night show.
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 78th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement: Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
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