Looking Back on the May 10^th Chapter Meeting

Amidst the days and days of rain, the Harmonizers made their way to Durant ready to work on the new contest set.  A crowd of guys met with Chuck McKeever to review the presentation plan for the uptune.  The front row worked on the stage.  And the board met at 6 pm too.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups. Then director Joe Cerutti and his team of Tony and Carlos Barillo, choreographer, worked with us on the contest songs.  During the evening there was a 15-minute sectional time, and a major chunk of time for Carlos to help us expand our plan for the uptune.

At one point, executive director Terry Reynolds and membership director Rich Hewitt met with all men who plan to sing in Nashville but have never sung in an international contest with the Harmonizers before.  This was the start of the Class of 2016 and helps the men get a handle on what is expected, what will happen during convention week and what they need to do in advance.

The work sessions included time for self recordings of guys preparing for Nashville.

Chuck McKeever continued his great efforts to video us for our personal review and education.

Terry conducted the chapter meeting portion of the nite.

The call time for the Armed Forces Show is 12:30 pm. Word from Greg Tepe, package show producer, that the uniform for the Armed Forces Day performance on Saturday May 21 at the Memorial Chapel at Ft Myer will be black suit, white hidden button shirt, red/white/blue tie, black patent leather shoes, black socks, black belt. See Tom Kern if you are a new member and don’t have some of those uniform parts. 

There are also some specific requirements for admission onto the Fort.  Stay tuned and watch announcement email.

The M-AD Southern Division May 27-28 in Reston at the Hyatt.  Anyone can attend – you can buy tickets onsite.  Friday nite the quartet contest starts at 6:27 pm.  Saturday morning the chorus contest starts at 10:57 am. Looks like a couple quartets with Harmonizers will compete –HANDSOME REWARD and MISFIRE.

President Randall Eliason reported on health matters for some of our members.  Terry Jordan is home now still recovering. Rich Payton has pneumonia added to his back issues. And Ken Fess has come down with pneumonia.  Frank Fedarko is still fighting health complications. We wish them all speedy recovery.

Randall presented a Presidential Valor Award to Tom Kern for his eight years service and dedication as our uniform guy! Thanks Tom.

Randall also asked members to respond when the operations team sends out a list of jobs that need someone to do for the chapter.

Bob Wachter was in the house this week.  Great to see him.

The make-up session for vocal studios is Thursday nite May 12^th from 7-9 at Durant. Members should be getting in their $100 payment for the contest retreat, June 3-4-5, to Bruce Minnick. Vocal studio sign-ups will be conducted by Terry.

Mark your calendar for the fall show called Revolution at Schlesinger on Sat. Oct. 15^th.

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to David DesPortes for nine years; Noah Van Gilder for nine years; Steve Murane for fourteen years; Mike Fasano for 21 years; and Chris Buechler for 31 years.

Rich Hewitt welcomed applicants, new members and guests.  When we sang the ‘Harmonizer Welcome Song,’ it was taped for YouTube.

Before we went home, the chorus sang thru the songs for the Armed Forces 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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the May 3^rd Chapter Meeting

The AC was still not working at Durant, but we worked hard all nite anyway and made lots of progress on our contest package.

Riser set up was a little delayed as several guys worked on repairing some sections of the risers.  Thanks to that crew. The front row continued its intensive rehearsal on the stage at 6 pm.

Director Joe Cerutti did the warm ups while associate director Tony Colosimo revised the riser position chart for this contest season.  The new sound seemed to please all musical leaders.  Many of us are on different sides of the chorus and in different rows.

Joe used the tag to “Mary Had a Baby” for warm up exercises.  Then he went right to work on the uptune adding some interp and some reminders for end of phrases. This arrangement by David Harrington is fun but has lots of rhythm challenges. The ballad also arranged by David is coming along great too.

Executive director Terry Reynolds conducted the chapter meeting time.  He reminded us about the visual studios this Saturday. He reminded us that payment ($100) for the retreat at McDaniel College is Westminster MD on June 3-4-5 should go to Bruce Minnick ASAP. Coach David Wright will be there to help us polish the package.  Requests for roommates in the suites should go to Chuck McKeever.

Singers and their families and patrons should mark their calendars for the Armed Forces Day Show on Sat May 21 at Fort Meyer.

Congrats and thanks to TBD for their recent appearance and subsequent significant financial gift to the chapter.

Board member Steve White introduced a new chapter committee – Choral Affairs Committee – composed of guys who members can talk with confidentially about how it is going in the chapter(s).  The new committee members are Casey Belzer, Jeff Burkey, Randy Lazear, Rick Savage, Joel Golden, Jeremy Richardson and Steve.

Terry spoke about the status of the qualification process – the first phase is wrapping up. Absent forms are on Groupanizer for anyone who cannot attend any of the mandatory rehearsals between now and International. 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Dean Sherick for 4 years, John Oswald Green for 5 years, Tom Berkey for 19 years, Rick Savage for 42 years; and Dick Hall for 52 years.

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed and introduced new applicants, and guests, and we sang our Harmonizer Welcome Song to them all.

After refreshments during the break, it was promptly back to work on the risers. 

Tony started a new series of Craft Maxims – three new ones to move us on from the earlier era maxims we all know and love!

Then we used most of the rest of nite to learn the presentation plan from our choreographer Carlos Barillo.  It is fun.  Before we wrapped up, the front row joined the chorus to put it all together.  McKeever filmed Carlos’s instruction for us all to review.

In other news, this info from Dick Dangel: For many years now, POTOMAC RIVER RASCALS  quartet, (which includes Drew Fuller, tenor; Dick, lead; and two Harmony Heritage Singer members Bob Scarlet, bari; and Wes Kriebl, bass) have performed for the Washington DC annual salute to DC Centenarians. Office of Aging puts on a nice luncheon for them and their support people. So we get a free lunch, get paid, serenade arriving centenarians and perform for them on stage once a year. The oldest one in attendance today was born in 1909. The oldest one currently living in DC was born in 1906.  (Dick says they sometimes earn the name Rascals as they mix with the honorees.)  The quartet did meet the DC Mayor and were seen on local Ch. 7 evening news in the background of that news item.

Kudos to David Jarzen for his lead role in “Starlight Express” performed by students at West Potomac High School in Alexandria.  Instructor Peelee Clark performed the show himself for several years in Germany and was able to help the students with their skating and music.

Alan Wile reports: Last week Terry Jordan was disoriented a bit, wobbly on his feet, vision fuzzy, and just not doing well. Went to Loudoun INOVA Hospital in serious condition on Monday where he was diagnosed with kidney failure. He’s doing well now but expects to remain in the hospital for three days or so. The condition is treatable and he does NOT need dialysis treatment. To complicate things, he is suffering from shingles. Terry says all is under control and he’s feeling a lot better. Phone to the nursing station is 703-858-6770 (they will transfer calls to his room).

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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the April 26^th Chapter Meeting

This week we launched our serious work on the contest package and celebrated our successful performances at Strathmore.  (There was no chapter meeting at Durant on April 19^th as we rehearsed at Strathmore that evening.)

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups with choreographer Carlos Barillo. Director Joe Cerutti did a wrap up from Strathmore and invited any members who wanted to comment to come to the mic.  Many guys poured out thoughts and reactions from the heart and it was another moving outcome from the “I Am Harvey Milk” experience.

Then we jumped right into working on the contest package and it included some times for different voice parts to go into sectional rehearsal for parts of the song.

Executive director Terry Reynolds made the announcements (and they were sent to all members): (1) our third Armed Forces Day Show will be Sat May 21^st (some earlier announcements that it was on Sunday were wrong) at Ft. Myer chapel. (2) Mark Klostermeyer is taking orders for Strathmore photos – both framed or unframed. (3) As a follow up to our Strathmore appearance and our support of the show there, we have been invited to their annual gala and its after party with a special Harmo rate. (4) Many details listed about contest rehearsals including the switch in on for them to become mandatory at this point, check the calendar for vocal and visual sessions, a form was provided for members to record their personal Valor points, and the reminder about the contest retreat – sign up for roommates and pay your retreat fee to Bruce Minnick.

Chapter president Randall Eliason reported on the recent death of Mike Fultz, gave a wrap up report for Spring2Action, and did a wrap up report about the recent M-AD prelims where some quartets with Harmonizers qualified for the International contest in Nashville in July (DA CAPO and LAST MEN STANDING):

According to many sources, former Harmonizer Mike Fultz died April 14^th. Mike was the son-in-law of Linda and (Harmonizer Director Emeritus) Scott Werner. There are several accounts of the causes of his death in social media coverage but most comprehensive is that apparently Mike was hit by a car while biking; and although there were no obvious signs of injury at the time. a day or two or three later he died as a result of bleeding of the brain. Mike and Pam were well known and loved dearly by the Harmonizer family during their time in the area. Mike was a U.S. Park Police officer.

Congratulations on a truly outstanding effort during Spring2ACTion April 20^th. (We all certainly extend a huge congrats to chapter president Randall Eliason for his dedication to get us all involved to make this happen.) When we add in all donations (on and off the website) and the matching grant, our total will be more than $23,000!

 

This is a terrific result that will really help our bottom line this year. Thanks to those who sent out the e-mails, shared the Facebook posts, and otherwise helped spread the word -- and those who made their own contribution.

 

This was our first time participating in Spring2ACTion, and we earned an extra $1500 in prize money for being the first-time organization with the most donors. We also learned some lessons that will help us make next year even bigger and more successful.

 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented a membership renewal card to Alan Kousen for 49 years.

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed several guests, some new applicants and several men returning to the risers to work on the contest package.

For break, we celebrated a belated birthday for Dick Dangel with a great cake.  And peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from Peggy Wagner.

After the break we worked more on the contest package including a session on visual performance efforts for the ballad, and before we left, we did the whole package for filming (check out the videos posted by Chuck McKeever).

In other news, from Mike Everard comes this announcement:  the Mount Vernon VA Chapter, Harmony Heritage Singers, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary along with a salute to Bob Wachter with a luncheon on Thursday, June 23^rd at 11 am in the Mount Vernon Room of the Officers Club at Fort Belvoir. Reservations no later than June 1^st for $35 each to Lou Manfre, 7608 Elmore Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817.  Checks to Harmony Heritage Singers. For more info, contact Everard at smartalexme@aol.com.

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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the April 23-24 Performances of “I Am Harvey Milk” at Strathmore

The performances were among the most successful and perhaps the most rewarding experiences we ever had as a chorus.  Audience reactions to our work was awesome!  For some of us who have been Harmonizers a long time, it ranks high on the list of “breathless moments;” and for new Harmonizers, it is likely the top of their list so far.

 

For months we have worked hard to prepare.  First off, thanks to director Joe Cerutti for having the faith (and courage) that we could do it.  Plus thank you for the hard work from associate director Tony Colosimo for helping teach us the music and preparing the learning materials; from Tom Jackson for our rehearsal piano accompaniment; and from Carlos Barillo for choreography coaching.

 

The faith and support from the folks at Stathmore in taking on the project and inviting us to be the chorus was a great thrill too.  We so much appreciated the help from executive producer Rolando Sanz in the weeks leading up to the performance; and the great team work we established with musical director and conductor Joel Fram; and the fun we had with choreographer Larry Keigwin. We also had camaraderie with the sixteen additional singers/dancers from NYC who joined us for the performances.

 

Certainly we must congratulate and thank Andrew Lippa for the words and music.  We have all been changed!

 

What a pleasure working with the other soloists Kristen Chenoweth (well known for her role in “Wicked”), and young Colin Wheeler who was the young boy Harvey Milk, and Andrew Lippa. Our portion of the performance was actually the second half of the nite following another oratorio titled “I Am Anne Hutchinson” which was also written by Andrew. All of the soloists were integrated into that music too.  This was the first-ever production of Anne Hutchinson.

 

For several months (the first learning tapes were posted for us in December of 2015) we have been having extra rehearsals and using half of our regular meeting nite time to work on this oratorio.  We also were joined by several men who auditioned to sing with us at Strathmore.  We affectionately called them “milkmen” and thank them for the extra hours to work on this with us.  They include Taylor Good, Nelson Robin, Aaron Watts, Larry Cohen, Masahisa Takahaski, Mario Sengco, Dan Hallada, Dan Kaufman, Mark Medrick, Ben Cherington, Joe Bremberg and Justin McCright. Some Harmonizers came back to sing with us too including Max Kieba and Geoff  Berman. There were 110 of us in black pants, shoes and a brilliant blue t-shirt we all wore. The chorus was in two rows on a balcony above the stage behind The National Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Last week there were rehearsals with the whole cast, a couple of dress rehearsals with the orchestra and then Saturday nite at 8 pm and Sunday afternoon at 4 the concerts began.

 

We were all pleased to see so many of our patrons and family members and personal friends at the performance.  Marty Monson (CEO of the Barbershop Harmony Society) and his family drove from Nashville to be with us on Saturday nite. He and his son Luke stopped in to say hello to the chorus and thank us for making this leap into another musical world.  And our coach and friend Cindy Hansen took a red-eye flight from CA to be there on Sunday.

 

Of course it took a lot of coordination for this weekend to be a success and we thank our chapter’s executive director, Terry Reynolds, for keeping us informed.

At each gathering we did the usual warm ups with Tony; and then Joe and Tony helped us with spots to refresh or to help us adjust to the changes/suggestions from the conductor. Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer kept us ready to be in the right place at the right time.

 

The Strathmore costume department helped us with our uniforms and prepared them between shows. The facility is a great venue and we all hope there will more opportunities to appear there.

 

After Sunday’s performance, we were honored to get a photo with Kristen Chenoweth.  Ken Rub took photos all weekend.  And of course almost every guy got a photo with his cell phone!

 

Thanks to chapter leaders including Clyde Crusenberry and Carl Kauffmann and many FRIENDS IN HARMONY for a fun afterglow nearby the venue after the Sunday show.  We were all plenty hungry and ate “a lot” of pizza! And we celebrated Joe’s birthday with cake and candles!

 

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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

 

Looking Back on the M-AD Prelims in Reading, PA April 15-16, 2016

(Many thanks to Randall Eliason for his coverage of this year’s contest weekend.)

Quartets that include Harmonizers among their members made an outstanding showing at the Mid-Atlantic District Prelims on April 15 and 16. With the quality of the quartets in this District, attending Prelims is almost like going to a mini-International!

 

After the first round on Friday night, four quartets that include Harmonizers -- Da Capo, Last Men Standing, Warehouse Flats, and Forecast - had made it into the top ten and earned the right to compete in the finals on Saturday night.

 

Handsome Reward (Mike Edison, Michael Gilmore) just missed making it into the top ten and had the honor of being the mic testers for the Saturday night finals.

 

A relatively new quartet, Cabin Fever (Alan Kousen, Calvin Schnure, John Santora) competed in the Seniors competition on Friday night, and made a strong showing. In a Steve Harvey moment, the emcee announced from the podium that they had won the Seniors’ competition - but the scoresheets later revealed that they were actually second place! The quartet has announced they are considering changing their name to Miss Colombia.

 

Friday night also featured a Mixed Quartet (two male and two female singers) competition, and the second place award in that category went to Just 4 Fun, which many of us were surprised to see includes our own Kevin McKenzie.

 

In addition, Friday night included the Youth Quartet qualifying round, and two MAD Youth Quartets, Students of the Game and Brothers in Arms, qualified to compete in the Harmony Foundation Youth Quartet Contest in July.

 

Daytime on Saturday featured the District's Youth Adjudication, with about 10 high school quartets (both boys and girls) competing, including an excellent girl's quartet from Gaithersburg coached by our friend Sheryl Berlin.

 

During the quartet finals on Saturday night, Da Capo (Anthony Colosimo, Andrew Havens) came in first place with an overall score of 83.8.

 

Last Men Standing (Mike Kelly) came in 5th, with a 78.2.

 

Forecast (Dan Cook) came in 6th, with a 74.4, and

 

Warehouse Flats (Steve White) came in 8th, with a 72.2.

 

Five MAD quartets qualified to compete at International in Nashville this summer: Da Capo and Last Men Standing, along with Route 1, Gimme Four, and Frank the Dog.

 

Sunday morning was the House of Delegates meeting, which featured remarks by BHS CEO Marty Monson. Many Harmonizers are active in the District leadership, and we were well represented.

 

It was a great weekend, and all of the Harmonizers participating made us proud!

 

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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the April 12^th Chapter Meeting

Usual set up with risers and av equipment for a busy work nite at Durant.  Bari section leader Reed Livergood did the warm ups assisted by choreographer Carlos Barillo.

Before our director Joe Cerutti took over, president Randall Eliason introduced Julie Rizzo who was staffing a Help Table for guys who would participate in Spring2Action for Alexandria nonprofits. She is a community board member of the AH, Inc.

Joe expressed his gratitude for the work of the staff and members at this past weekend’s Youth Harmony Festival. He also alerted us that he would entertain suggestions for talent groups to participate with us on our holiday show. Email him.

Musically we worked hard on the uptune.  And then Joe and Carlos teamed up to help us start physically interpreting the ballad.

Executive Director Terry Reynolds reminded guys that Ike Evans was taking pixs in Room 3 for the chapter photo board.   Good news – John Smith has agreed to take the chapter historian position on the chapter ops team.  John works as an archivist in the military here in DC.

Terry reminded guys to check their calendars for visual studios on 5/7 and then watch for word about vocal studios.

The important retreat with Dr. David Wright in Westminster MD will be the first weekend in June beginning at 8 pm on Fri nite.  (Note that earlier start time.)  Plan ahead and get car pools set up.  Also you can email Chuck by May 31^st about roommates in the suites.

Speaking of contest work, the rehearsal after Milk starts the mandatory rehearsals leading up to Nashville.  Also note that the schedule of rehearsals in Nashville is on Groupanizer.

Complete details about report times and uniform for the Milk show came to us all today from the chapter communications director Scipio Garling.  

Mark your calendar for the Armed Forces Show at Ft. Myer Chapel at 2 pm on May 21^st.  Stay tuned.

This week was the 78^th anniversary of the Barbershop Harmony Society. DA CAPO was on Ch. 5 Television here in the DC market to promote the milestone.

President Randall presented checks from the chapter to quartets that will be competing at the International Prelims this weekend in Reading, PA.  These are the Harmonizers in the quartets:

HANDSOME REWARD - Michael Gilmore, Mike Edison

WAREHOUSE FLATS - Steve White

FORECAST - Dan Cook

DA CAPO  - Tony Colosimo, Andrew Havens

LAST MEN STANDING - Mike Kelly

CABIN FEVER  - Alan Kousen, John Santora, Calvin Schnure

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed guests/applicants.

In other news, recently Jordan Haedtler competed in the FWD’s combined NE and NW Division contest in a quartet with his father (David), and with his brother (Patrick – gold medal lead with MASTERPIECE) and with Rob Menaker (good medal with NIGHTLIFE and MASTERPIECE) called DON’T TELL MOM.  They scored 79.8 singing “You’re the Girl I Love” and “Sweet Pea.”  The quartet will now compete in the FWD fall contest in Riverdale.  Congrats to Jordan.

Brian Miller invites all singers to the remembrance/celebration for Michellle Bruns Miller from 2-5 at the Carlyle Place Apartment club house at 2251 Eisenhower Ave in Alexandria.

Also it was announced that Bob Mattes mother passed away in recent days.  Sympathy to the family.

 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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the April 9^th Youth Harmony Festival in Alexandria

Coodinator Bill Colosimo sends this thank you message to all of the

Harmonizer family:

 

As I reflect on the wonderful Youth Harmony Festival this weekend, I am humbled to recall the selfless help of so many of you to make this event a resounding success. The overwhelmingly positive “in the moment” responses from students, music educators, family members and guests—including so many of you who witnessed the fruits of the amazing work the young men and women put in—still resound in my memory! There are countless stories which will fill the full “report” of the event, complete with photos and video interviews, which attest to the ways in which you, through your commitment and skill, enriched the lives of some extraordinary young people by offering a first-class barbershop festival experience.

 

The gift of music education you provided stirred the hearts of the first five TC Williams students to ever attend such an event, and they committed to spread the word to the other students in their outstanding choral program that this is an event “not to be missed” next year! In fact, that’s true of ALL the student participants! Imagine the exchange student from the Eastern European Republic of Moldova, for whom such a special, new experience inspired her to “tell EVERYONE in (her) country about BARBERSHOP HARMONY!” The skill of our incredible clinicians, Anthony Colosimo  and Vera Crouse, along with the superlative teaching quartets, C’EST LA VIE and THE NEWFANGLED FOUR, convinced the loyal music educators present to align with us in aggressive promotion of ALL our “CHOYCE” initiative programs to their school district colleagues. Finally, the performances by all our ensembles, including an outstanding appearance by the Harmonizers chorus, convinced parents, family and other guests—many of whom had never witnessed our art form in person—of the wonderful value of what we teach and what we do…and the tremendously positive impact it can have on the lives of young people.

 

I am most indebted to Vickie Dennis, as Harmonizer Director of Education, for her tireless work and encouragement to help make this event so successful. Terry Reynolds and Joe Cerutti constituted the remainder of our “planning team;” I am grateful to them for their invaluable help. I must also single out Brad Jones, whose experience as past chair and quiet, steady countenance throughout the planning stages contributed to the smoothing of many “behind the scenes” processes. We have publicly thanked the clinicians and quartets who gave their “all” to us Saturday. But it is impossible, without unfortunate omission, to appropriately acknowledge ALL the other Harmonizers, family members and friends who contributed in ANY way to the day’s event. PLEASE know our hearts are full of gratitude for everything, every task, and every minute of time you contributed, large or small, momentary or—in some cases—all day and evening! Your selflessness and the clear joy you exhibited throughout the event speaks volumes about your commitment to help us continue to broaden our youth outreach initiatives, including our NEXT Festival in 2017!

 

One final, affirming note for all of you. Just today, I attended the Alexandria Commission for the Arts’ Grant Task Force meeting, open to the public and all applicants’ representatives, during which the Harmonizers’ grant application was discussed by the panel. Although I was there primarily to represent The Alexandria Singers, I was present for and attentive to the discussion regarding the Harmonizers. Suffice it to say that the “number one plus” of all the positive comments regarding the Harmonizers’ grant proposal was the extent of successful YOUTH OUTREACH, current and planned, embodied in the proposal, with particular reference to the CHOYCE initiative. (In fact, the designated “presenter” of the grant for consideration by the panel even took the time to translate the acronym: "Comprehensive Harmonizers Outreach for Youth Choral Education!”) This year’s festival is one component of the fine work for which the Harmonizers are justifiably recognized.

 

Congratulations on YOUR success…and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work closely with all of you!"  Bill Colosimo

 

This was the 9^th annual youth harmony festival the chapter has hosted. About 60 youth attended and about 10 music educators. Many parents and family friends attended the Saturday nite show to hear the student groups and the Harmo chorus at Convergence Church.  Social time, breaks and meals were hosted by the chapter during the day in the Convergence Lab building across the street.

As a surprise, Elizabeth Ryktarsyk, daughter of Todd, filled in on a song with the guest quartet on the show too. Congrats!!

Devon Thompson, son of Don, sang in the boy’s chorus. And the only student tenor in the boy’s chorus was our own “milkman” singer – Masahisa Takahaski. Congrats to them too!

The chorus sang “America, “Lullaby,” “Bring Him Home,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Tony directed and sang the solo.

 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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

 

Looking Back on the April 5^th Chapter Meeting

So much going on with our chapter this month, but two big ones are done, Youth Harmony Festival is this weekend, and soon comes the Milk show!!  Great to see such dedication from the singers and leaders and admin teams.

Tuesday we had to meet at First Baptist cause Durant Rec Center was undergoing some repair work on the floors. The 6 pm time slot was filled with front row guys working up a sweat in a side room on their routines for the uptune. Set up crews jumped right to work when the Harmo truck arrived and got the risers, sound and av materials ready to use.

There were a number of us under the weather this week, but the show must go on.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and then turned the chorus over to director Joe Cerutti.  Joe was full of excitement about the successful nite at the UMD men’s invitational (and the warm comments from other musical directors at that event).  It was clear the message go thru to the younger college singers there that barbershop can be a great option for singing after college.

Joe took time to knock out the rhythms and tricky work combinations for the back part of the uptune.  And choreographer Carlos Barillo introduced some basics for the ballad.

Chapter executive director Terry Reynolds welcomed some members we don’t see often – Al Hannenbaum, Bob Sutton; Terry thanked Bob Mattes for preparing the music books for us to use at UMD. Chapter director of education Vickie Dennis was in house too as the chair for this weekend’s Youth Harmony Festival.

Many hands will be needed during the day on Sat (and some in fact on Fri eve for set up).  Chorus call is 5:45 pm with casual uniform and tennis shoes.  Also chorus is asked to park on the streets so parents and families of the youth will find parking when they come to hear their child sing.

Terry suggests we all be alert for emails in case Durant is not ready to go back on Tues.

Then the Milk show rehearsals are Mon, Tues, Thursday and Saturday at Strathmore. 

Finally there were sign-up sheets for attending visual studios.

President Randall Eliason spoke about the Spring2Action campaign for non-profits in our community. He has asked some guys to be precinct captains to help us all do our parts.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Art Medici for 7 years; Kevin McKenzie for 17 years; Tom Jackson for 21 years; Brad Jones for 24 years; Dennis Ritchey for 24 years; Sam McFarland for 29 years; Bob Sutton for 32 years; and Will Cox for 38 years.  Both Al Hannenbaum and Bruce Lauther received their 30 years and customary lapel pin.

Director of membership Rich Hewitt introduced applicants and guests and had Will Cox direct the welcome song.

In other news, congrats to Tom Berkey who stayed in DC last Sat nite so as to be ready for the Cherry Blossom Run around the tidal basin very early Sunday morning.   Congrats.

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 of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd