Camp Director Terry Reynolds and his counselors were ready for the Harmonizer Campers who came out for this summer break event. It was fun for all with a lot of variety.
There were no risers, nor a chorus rehearsal. Thanks to Scott Kahler for getting us sound for the evening. Warm up time was singing a “Pole Cat” directed by Bob Wachter. Music vp and camp director, Terry, did a part-by-part review of “Keep The Whole World Singing” and the “Harmonizer Welcome Song” which we sing each week to welcome visitors to our chapter. Words and music for this song were created by former director, John Hohl.
Dr. Jeremy Richardson conducted a class on the physics of sound with av, demonstrations using glasses filled with water and a thorough printed handout. There was a great student/teacher Q&A period.
The evening also included a period of Ask The Music Committee which brought out some good topics about repertoire, voice parts, etc.
YeEd inserted trivia questions between program items. One item was “Which quartet was disqualified by judges at International and then announced at that moment by the contest emcee?” The quartet was the POTOMA CHORDS with our director then, Oz Newgard. But YeEd didn’t know what they were given a zero score. So while the chapter meeting was going on, he called former director Scott Werner in FL. (Scott says hi to all!) He also recalls the incident well, as his quartet, the NOVA CHORDS were next to sing in that contest and it shook them up a lot to have heard the emcee announce the DQ. No quartet has likely had that happen since. Scott says the DQ was given by the arrangement judges for inappropriate song selection.
Another Summer Camp session was about truly woodshedding. Bob Blair sang the melody to a song and then the guys tried their hand at finding their parts to sing along.
The campers were then given a chance to attend one of three breakout sessions – building a barbershop chord; learning other “Pole Cat” songs; or watching contest videos of Harmonizer performances in the past and one of the Midwest Vocal Express from WI and their “fishes in a glass fish tank” package.
For break, there was lots of tasty watermelon.
After break, quartet promo guy, Eric Wallen, conducted a tag singing contest. There were 9 entries – mostly put together earlier in the evening. Lew Klinge was emcee (and he did not disappoint – he made a “call” to his friend at BHS headquarters, Ev Nau).
Judges were Ellen Dellert, one of our fans from the FRIENDS group; Adams Bradley, a member of the Class of 2011; and Chuck Harmer, a member of the Class of 1976, YeEd was secretary for the judging event.
Third place was won by THE MIGHTY WA-WA’s – Drew Fuller, Brian Ammerman, Eric Wallen and Steve Murane.
Second place was won by TAGS AND SWIPES FOREVER – Rick Savage, Bob Blair, Chuck Hunter and Eric Wallen.
First place was won by EVIL COMPANIONS – Scipio Garling, Noah Van Gilder, Jeremy Richardson and Terry Reynolds. They sang a tag to “Old Kentucky Home” and “Evil Companions.”
Eric Wallen was declared winner of the George-Azzam-Who-Could-Sing-in-The-Most-Quartets Award! He showed up in three.
There were a number of guests present for Camp and a some of them sang in tag quartets in the contest. Welcome to all – great to have you singing with us. Some were in the DC area for summer internships, for special work assignments or on vacation. Congrats to Josh and Amy Roots who were married this past weekend. Josh’s uncle, Chuck, was a guest. He officiated at the wedding ceremony – and was the guy who talked Josh into joining our chorus a few years ago – and thus earned the Man of Note for sponsoring Josh.
Great to have Chuck Hunter in town one more time before his trip to Bagdad.
Martin Banks brought a great display for guests to see about the chapter’s participation in International chorus contests.
There was a little business session with announcements conducted by Camp Life Guard, Mark Klostermeyer. Brian Ammerman reminded guys to work on ticket sales for the fall show and word that a new show flyer is out which includes a direct phone number for customers to use in ordering tickets.
Bruce Lauther will be gone for a couple weeks to Europe so will suspend medal engraving and Carnegie Hall CD sales til he returns.
Scipio Garling stressed the Membership 125 Drive.
After the quartet contest, we closed shop and a big crowd went to the Hilton for an afterglow. We were outside since it was cooler, and thus there was some tag singing. The guys wanted to be sure to get in one more tagging session with Chuck before he leaves us again. He was using his famous teaching method of using his fingers to create the lines and spaces of a musical staff.
Guest Cameron Bolt directed KTWWS.
YeEd has heard a little news from our Harmonizer pals at Harmony University in MO. Stay tuned for a special report.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Looking Back on the 2011 Ft. Ward Show, July 28th
This year’s show at Ft. Ward Park was really a success – good sized chorus for almost 200 folks seated in the amphitheater. It was hot, but no rain!
The blue shirts with black looked good. Scott Kahler helped the city-provided sound guy. Other Harmo helpers include a riser crew that had to set things up in the heat; John Pence for the song board; Keith Jones taking attendance; and YeEd.
Tony Colosimo did vocal warm ups on the hill beyond the show venue. The show was completely directed by the chorus assistant directors – Will Cox, Tony Colosimo and Mike Kelly. Director Joe Cerutti was in MI as faculty for a youth vocal camp.
Our debut of “That’s Amore” was a hit – lots of audience interaction, great job by Terry “Terrance” Reynolds as singing waiter, and “Guido” played by Don Dillingham. Scipio Garling set up the song so the audience was willing to get in on the fun.
We did the same to set up the contest package for the audience to understand the theme of the two-song package. New emcees this show did a great job – Don Dillingham, Steve White, and Andrew Plocher!
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES quartet did a great job entertaining – Rick Savage, Tony Colosimo, Ken Ives and Mike Kelly.
From the stage, our emcee crew invited men to come sing with us. We thanked the Alexandria Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities for their support. We also thanked the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Alexandria Arts Forum for attending the show.
Chapter shows vp, Ken White, announced the details about the fall show at the Hylton Center, Sept. 24th. Brian Ammermann set up a table at the edge of the stage after the show to sell tickets.
All the guys came off the stage to meet and greet and thanks folks for coming and to suggest guys come sing with us.
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —Ye Ed.)
The blue shirts with black looked good. Scott Kahler helped the city-provided sound guy. Other Harmo helpers include a riser crew that had to set things up in the heat; John Pence for the song board; Keith Jones taking attendance; and YeEd.
Tony Colosimo did vocal warm ups on the hill beyond the show venue. The show was completely directed by the chorus assistant directors – Will Cox, Tony Colosimo and Mike Kelly. Director Joe Cerutti was in MI as faculty for a youth vocal camp.
Our debut of “That’s Amore” was a hit – lots of audience interaction, great job by Terry “Terrance” Reynolds as singing waiter, and “Guido” played by Don Dillingham. Scipio Garling set up the song so the audience was willing to get in on the fun.
We did the same to set up the contest package for the audience to understand the theme of the two-song package. New emcees this show did a great job – Don Dillingham, Steve White, and Andrew Plocher!
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES quartet did a great job entertaining – Rick Savage, Tony Colosimo, Ken Ives and Mike Kelly.
From the stage, our emcee crew invited men to come sing with us. We thanked the Alexandria Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities for their support. We also thanked the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Alexandria Arts Forum for attending the show.
Chapter shows vp, Ken White, announced the details about the fall show at the Hylton Center, Sept. 24th. Brian Ammermann set up a table at the edge of the stage after the show to sell tickets.
All the guys came off the stage to meet and greet and thanks folks for coming and to suggest guys come sing with us.
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —Ye Ed.)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Looking Back on the July 26th Chapter Meeting
YeEd was in New Orleans Tuesday, so a big thanks to Alan Wile for taking the following notes for this week’s column.
Summer continues as the Harmonizers prepare for the usual July and August shows AND for Summer Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Visitors welcome for those fun summer meeting nites.
This week’s meeting and rehearsal was a busy one.
Will Cox conducted the warm-up. There were sectionals to work on “That’s Amore” and “No More Sorrows.” As Director Joe Cerutti will not be here for the Fort Ward show, the assistant directors will be out front. With that in mind, and when all sections returned, Mike Kelly directed “No More Sorrows.”
Will directed “That’s Amore” and Joe announced that if we sing this song at the “A” level at Fort Ward that will be the first and last time we sing it. Great cheers erupted.
Mike did “Great Day.” Tony Colosimo did “Hello My Baby,” Mike did “Ob La Di, Ob La Da” with a slight shortening of the song. Joe did a lot of coaching on this one. Will did “Summertime.”
There was a buzz in the hall about all of our Harmonizer buddies going to Harmony University, Director’s College and Candidate School for future judges. Joe was leaving Wednesday for a youth chorus festival in Michigan and then to Harmony University where he will be on the faculty again. Others on the faculty are Gary Plaag, Mike Kelly and Jay Butterfield. Dan O’Brien and Tony Colosimo will be going a bit early to attend candidate school to determine whether they may become candidates in the music and singing categories, respectively. Chris Buechler will be teaching at the candidate school. DA CAPO will attend Harmony U as a quartet for coaching. The quartet, Dan and Kellen Hertz are attending on scholarships from the chapter.
(YeEd figures there might be other Harmonizers and former Harmonizers in St. Joseph, MO, so he has asked some reporters to keep us posted. Stay tuned.)
Joe announced that he’s selected the up-tune for the 2013 contest and then taught the tag.
Mark Klostermeyer conducted the chapter meeting portion of the evening.
• Show tickets on sale – see Brian Ammerman.
• Bruce Lauther reminded about medal engraving – give him yours and pick it up the next week. Small fee.
• Bruce encouraged the members to sign a large card for Dean Rust who is taking an extended sabbatical from the active chorus.
• And Bruce noted that Mike Shirota arranged for a DVD of the entire Carnegie Hall Show to be produced – sign up with Bruce; cost is $20/each.
• Phil Ashford announced/introduced guests:
o Paul Douglas (an applicant)
o Alex Kuessa from Munich but who sports a gold medal won with the Ambassadors of Harmony in KC – visited once before (some time ago).
o Larry Goodfried – also wearing a AoH gold medal too.
o Josh Ehrlich – from the Voices of Gotham (Hell’s Kitchen Chapter) AND he brought a guest (next).
o Aaron Wiener – Josh’s guest … who lives in DC.
o Long-time member, Terry Jordan, was in house for this week’s meeting.
When back on the risers, Fort Ward Show Producer, Greg Tepe, brought us up-to-date on show details (riser crew at 6:00 p.m.; chorus call at 6:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather stay alert for cancellation. Uniform: short-sleeve teal travel shirt and everything else in black!
• Alan Wile urged members to take a brochure on one of the “after international” barbershop cruises to Alaska being offered next year with Jo and Ron Black.
• M&P VP Terry Reynolds hyped “summer camp” which will take place the next two Tuesdays. Next week will include a tag contest (each contesting quartet will sing two tags; prizes will be awarded).
• Shows VP, Ken White, hyped three shows: Fort Ward Park, Market Square, and our Dog Days … and our fall show. With lots on our plate, he urged the members NOT to miss. Noted again that Brian Ammerman had tickets for the fall show and encouraged all to sell, sell, sell. Tickets will also be sold at Fort Ward Park.
• President Steve Murane reported that he’d sung in a large mixed ensemble it the Hylton (venue in Manassas for our fall show) and it is an excellent performance hall.
• Steve also displayed a photo portfolio of pictures taken at the Carnegie Hall show and presented to him by a Japanese attendee at the Kansas City convention. Evidently the pictures are also on a CD. The point is that our performance at that benefit show had and continues to have great impact on the Japanese people.
• Joe highlighted the significant aspects of the upcoming fall show and suggested that IF we sell out the hall, we may be in line for a place in the facility’s concert series … which would be awfully beneficial financially. If you can’t sell a ticket, buy an ad – Nick Leisersen is our “ad guy” for this show.
• Joe insists that there be 125 guys on the international stage when next we compete (2013); said the third Tuesday is important because of the upcoming major show; and expects everyone to come up with two viable candidates for membership.
Back to singing, Tony directed “Stars and Stripes” (front row out to lobby to drill their routine) and then “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor?” (who ever heard of such a thing? Must be Army propaganda!) and the front row returned.
Will directed “NY, NY” and “If I Loved You.”
KTWWS was directed by Chuck Hunter in town before returning to his new post with the State Department. And then the night was over, save for putting away the risers, et al, and an afterglow at the Hilton.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Summer continues as the Harmonizers prepare for the usual July and August shows AND for Summer Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Visitors welcome for those fun summer meeting nites.
This week’s meeting and rehearsal was a busy one.
Will Cox conducted the warm-up. There were sectionals to work on “That’s Amore” and “No More Sorrows.” As Director Joe Cerutti will not be here for the Fort Ward show, the assistant directors will be out front. With that in mind, and when all sections returned, Mike Kelly directed “No More Sorrows.”
Will directed “That’s Amore” and Joe announced that if we sing this song at the “A” level at Fort Ward that will be the first and last time we sing it. Great cheers erupted.
Mike did “Great Day.” Tony Colosimo did “Hello My Baby,” Mike did “Ob La Di, Ob La Da” with a slight shortening of the song. Joe did a lot of coaching on this one. Will did “Summertime.”
There was a buzz in the hall about all of our Harmonizer buddies going to Harmony University, Director’s College and Candidate School for future judges. Joe was leaving Wednesday for a youth chorus festival in Michigan and then to Harmony University where he will be on the faculty again. Others on the faculty are Gary Plaag, Mike Kelly and Jay Butterfield. Dan O’Brien and Tony Colosimo will be going a bit early to attend candidate school to determine whether they may become candidates in the music and singing categories, respectively. Chris Buechler will be teaching at the candidate school. DA CAPO will attend Harmony U as a quartet for coaching. The quartet, Dan and Kellen Hertz are attending on scholarships from the chapter.
(YeEd figures there might be other Harmonizers and former Harmonizers in St. Joseph, MO, so he has asked some reporters to keep us posted. Stay tuned.)
Joe announced that he’s selected the up-tune for the 2013 contest and then taught the tag.
Mark Klostermeyer conducted the chapter meeting portion of the evening.
• Show tickets on sale – see Brian Ammerman.
• Bruce Lauther reminded about medal engraving – give him yours and pick it up the next week. Small fee.
• Bruce encouraged the members to sign a large card for Dean Rust who is taking an extended sabbatical from the active chorus.
• And Bruce noted that Mike Shirota arranged for a DVD of the entire Carnegie Hall Show to be produced – sign up with Bruce; cost is $20/each.
• Phil Ashford announced/introduced guests:
o Paul Douglas (an applicant)
o Alex Kuessa from Munich but who sports a gold medal won with the Ambassadors of Harmony in KC – visited once before (some time ago).
o Larry Goodfried – also wearing a AoH gold medal too.
o Josh Ehrlich – from the Voices of Gotham (Hell’s Kitchen Chapter) AND he brought a guest (next).
o Aaron Wiener – Josh’s guest … who lives in DC.
o Long-time member, Terry Jordan, was in house for this week’s meeting.
When back on the risers, Fort Ward Show Producer, Greg Tepe, brought us up-to-date on show details (riser crew at 6:00 p.m.; chorus call at 6:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather stay alert for cancellation. Uniform: short-sleeve teal travel shirt and everything else in black!
• Alan Wile urged members to take a brochure on one of the “after international” barbershop cruises to Alaska being offered next year with Jo and Ron Black.
• M&P VP Terry Reynolds hyped “summer camp” which will take place the next two Tuesdays. Next week will include a tag contest (each contesting quartet will sing two tags; prizes will be awarded).
• Shows VP, Ken White, hyped three shows: Fort Ward Park, Market Square, and our Dog Days … and our fall show. With lots on our plate, he urged the members NOT to miss. Noted again that Brian Ammerman had tickets for the fall show and encouraged all to sell, sell, sell. Tickets will also be sold at Fort Ward Park.
• President Steve Murane reported that he’d sung in a large mixed ensemble it the Hylton (venue in Manassas for our fall show) and it is an excellent performance hall.
• Steve also displayed a photo portfolio of pictures taken at the Carnegie Hall show and presented to him by a Japanese attendee at the Kansas City convention. Evidently the pictures are also on a CD. The point is that our performance at that benefit show had and continues to have great impact on the Japanese people.
• Joe highlighted the significant aspects of the upcoming fall show and suggested that IF we sell out the hall, we may be in line for a place in the facility’s concert series … which would be awfully beneficial financially. If you can’t sell a ticket, buy an ad – Nick Leisersen is our “ad guy” for this show.
• Joe insists that there be 125 guys on the international stage when next we compete (2013); said the third Tuesday is important because of the upcoming major show; and expects everyone to come up with two viable candidates for membership.
Back to singing, Tony directed “Stars and Stripes” (front row out to lobby to drill their routine) and then “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor?” (who ever heard of such a thing? Must be Army propaganda!) and the front row returned.
Will directed “NY, NY” and “If I Loved You.”
KTWWS was directed by Chuck Hunter in town before returning to his new post with the State Department. And then the night was over, save for putting away the risers, et al, and an afterglow at the Hilton.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Looking Back on the July 19th Chapter Meeting
Even in the hot and humid DC weather, we had a decent crowd, but we missed some of the guys on the risers. It was a catch up night after our being gone from Durant since June. There were a lot of guys still hacking and coughing – don’t know what has hit us!
But no one was discouraged. And we were all eager to hear Music VP, Terry Reynolds, annual analysis of scores and contest results by the numbers.
After great warm ups by Will Cox, Director Joe Cerutti took the reins and welcomed guys “home” from the battle. And he went right to work on songs for the upcoming shows we have to do for the City of Alexandria. First is Thurs, July 28th at the Ft. Ward Park amphitheater, 4301 W. Braddock, Alex 22304. Second is Aug. 12 at Market Square near the fountain at the town hall market area. This is our chance to promote the chorus, recruit new singers AND to thank the city for their support of the chapter (our meeting space and financial grants).
Joe also had the assistant directors lined up to direct various numbers on those shows too. Joe promises to use the pull-guys-out-front and have them sing the songs next week again. So that is the warning. (Tho the octet he pulled out this week did a good job on “No More Sorrows.”
There was a good crowd of FRIENDS and family and singing guests. Great to see Carolyn Hall back! The meeting hall was set by the usual crew plus YeEd noted some new helpers this week – thanks to all.
Operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted the weekly chapter meeting and announced this week’s birthdays. He reported that Bruce Lauther is set up to accept the new medals we earned in Kansas City and have them engraved with the singer’s name and the Harmo logo. Only $7. Bring your medals next week. Bruce has envelopes for you to put them in.
Secretary Chris Buechler presented, on behalf of the chapter president, medals to guys who didn’t get theirs at convention. He also has a supply of name tag lanyards that were given to us by Westminster.
Membership vp, Phil Ashford, welcome a good group of guests – two barbershoppers from other countries: Jon from Australia (he sang in a chorus at International in Kansas City and was invited to attend a choral workshop in Alexandria), and Chris from Bremen, Germany (he was visited the USA and DC with his parents – he sings in the chorus that Director Joe will be coaching this fall). The other three guests were barbershop singers from other chapters – a couple having relocated to this area and looking to sing again, others in DC for summer jobs and eager to sing while they are away from their chapter. Did you know you can go on the BHS website and find info about other chapter meetings—locations, times, and contacts. Useful when you are on travel and need to hear a 7th chord.
Break time and the guys raided the kitchen and took a breather.
Then back to meeting announcements: fall show ticket sales news from Brian Ammerman; thanks from Carl Kauffmann for ALL those who did the admin and physical work to make our convention week go smoothly; reminder of chapter board meeting Wed. eve, July 20th at 7 pm at Durant – any member is welcome to attend.
Music and performance vp, Terry, suggested that new guys should learn as many of the songs for the upcoming shows as possible, but both venues allow for easy exit and return to the risers if you need to skip a song. He also announced the plans for this year’s SUMMERCAMP 2011 – Tuesday Aug. 2 and 9, usual time, at Durant. No formal rehearsal, but plenty of singing – tags, push out quartet events, likely a movie or video clip, good snacks, FAQ sessions, and a contest or two. Don’t miss this chance to relax and have fun with your singing buddies. Bring a friend that likes to sing.
While the guys were seated on the risers, Joe took some time to give his reactions and thanks for the hard work and dedication to excellence by our chorus. He shared his pride of the 5th place medal we earned this summer. He endorsed the contributions of the Special Forces troops and the nearly 20 newbies in the Class of 2011. He gave his sincere appreciation to Carl Kauffmann for solving the rehearsal room problem in the Hyatt.
Joe reflected that no chorus had done so much performance and work during their prep for International. He thanked the guys for accepting his contest-week major change of the visual and interpt – which brought applause from all.
Then Joe let Terry take the mic and share the details – charts and numbers to show where we did great, how we are doing in the big picture, how much our singing has improved, how the contest system worked.
Joe then talked about the future. First off – we are NOT TAKING A YEAR OFF. We will be working hard on our music and singing and performance. The hugely important fall show with CROSSROADS is coming up fast. We need to sing well and match the level of our guest quartet. Plus we need to sell tickets and spread the word for the Sept. 24th how at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.
The holiday show is on track too with a plan to introduce five new tunes for our audiences who love this show and help us sell it out each year.
We are gonna do something especially fun and bring back our 1995 gold medal package of “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” for our package in the Southern Division contest.
Big news also that we are headed to China, AND that Toronto Northern Lights Chorus will go with us. Amazing that two medalist choruses are traveling together to another nation! Joe and their director have been talking and discussing possible joint songs we will work on for our shows there. It is not too late to sign up – a speaker will be at the Harmo meeting on Aug. 30th with specifics. If money is a challenge, Joe figures a guy could put away $5 a week to cover the major cost.
Then finally, we will be working to build up and continue our climb in better singing and performing, for the International contest in Toronto in 2013.
Joe is looking for each man’s dedication and commitment for the growth period ahead.
He also invited comments from all and there were some good ones about audience reaction, about the dead stage. A ground-swell of appreciation and applause went out to Joe for his willingness to help us improve.
There was a reminder to plan ahead to make personal arrangement to attend the fall M-AD contest Sept. 31-Oct. 1 in Lancaster. We will help the host chapter escort choruses, if needed. And we will have a number of chapter reps in quartets in the contest Fri nite. So save the weekend. Make plans to order tickets and get a room via the district website – www.harmonize.com/MAD/.
And similarly, make plans to go to the International in Portland. YeEd figures we will also have some quartets in the battle that week. And we will be able to have some fun during the week. Won’t hurt to be seen as a chapter supporting others and reminding folks we will be back. (The last time we sat out of International competition in Detroit, we took a huge 50-ft. banner that said “The Harmonizers will be back” and held it up outside the contest venue for folks to see after they came out of the chorus contest. We did what we promised too!)
Back to singing, Joe and his team worked on a few more of the songs for the shows.
We finished a little early and the crew put all of the equipment away.
Our guest from Australia took us out with “Keep The Whole World Singing” and it had a special meaning to have our fellow barbershopper from “down under” to lead us in our singing.
A big crowd found its way to the Hilton for afterglow. The usual Metro riders headed out just in time to catch the last train – thanks to cell phones that give exact times of trains.
YeEd has other news about members.
Did you know Bill Colosimo was in Rome a week before we went to Kansas City. The church choir he directs sang for the Pope and attended the usual events at the Vatican.
Craig Kujawa sent word that he would be gone a couple weeks to be with his family after his step father died on Sunday.
Jim Lucey sent word that his wife, Ruthanne, is still in Kansas City after breaking her hip at International. She will be there for therapy for a week or so more before they return to CO. Cards could go to her at North KS City Hospital, 2800 Clay Edwards Dr. Rm. 1028, N. Kansas City, MO 64116.
Thanks to Catherine Colosimo for her help with flyers for the fall show.
And YeEd also needs to add here a couple items regarding the report of International week – forgot to recognize our own Harmo dog – Tango, who was with us all week to cheer and support the chorus. He was with his family, the Brian Millers. (And not to be out done by FRANK THE DOG!) Also we hear he provided a good bit of doggy therapy to weary Harmonizers in the hideaway!
Plus YeEd wanted to thank contributors/reporters for last week’s column – Dixie Kennett, Chris Buechler, Steve Lingo, Clark Chesser, and Alan Wile. Appreciate the input.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
But no one was discouraged. And we were all eager to hear Music VP, Terry Reynolds, annual analysis of scores and contest results by the numbers.
After great warm ups by Will Cox, Director Joe Cerutti took the reins and welcomed guys “home” from the battle. And he went right to work on songs for the upcoming shows we have to do for the City of Alexandria. First is Thurs, July 28th at the Ft. Ward Park amphitheater, 4301 W. Braddock, Alex 22304. Second is Aug. 12 at Market Square near the fountain at the town hall market area. This is our chance to promote the chorus, recruit new singers AND to thank the city for their support of the chapter (our meeting space and financial grants).
Joe also had the assistant directors lined up to direct various numbers on those shows too. Joe promises to use the pull-guys-out-front and have them sing the songs next week again. So that is the warning. (Tho the octet he pulled out this week did a good job on “No More Sorrows.”
There was a good crowd of FRIENDS and family and singing guests. Great to see Carolyn Hall back! The meeting hall was set by the usual crew plus YeEd noted some new helpers this week – thanks to all.
Operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted the weekly chapter meeting and announced this week’s birthdays. He reported that Bruce Lauther is set up to accept the new medals we earned in Kansas City and have them engraved with the singer’s name and the Harmo logo. Only $7. Bring your medals next week. Bruce has envelopes for you to put them in.
Secretary Chris Buechler presented, on behalf of the chapter president, medals to guys who didn’t get theirs at convention. He also has a supply of name tag lanyards that were given to us by Westminster.
Membership vp, Phil Ashford, welcome a good group of guests – two barbershoppers from other countries: Jon from Australia (he sang in a chorus at International in Kansas City and was invited to attend a choral workshop in Alexandria), and Chris from Bremen, Germany (he was visited the USA and DC with his parents – he sings in the chorus that Director Joe will be coaching this fall). The other three guests were barbershop singers from other chapters – a couple having relocated to this area and looking to sing again, others in DC for summer jobs and eager to sing while they are away from their chapter. Did you know you can go on the BHS website and find info about other chapter meetings—locations, times, and contacts. Useful when you are on travel and need to hear a 7th chord.
Break time and the guys raided the kitchen and took a breather.
Then back to meeting announcements: fall show ticket sales news from Brian Ammerman; thanks from Carl Kauffmann for ALL those who did the admin and physical work to make our convention week go smoothly; reminder of chapter board meeting Wed. eve, July 20th at 7 pm at Durant – any member is welcome to attend.
Music and performance vp, Terry, suggested that new guys should learn as many of the songs for the upcoming shows as possible, but both venues allow for easy exit and return to the risers if you need to skip a song. He also announced the plans for this year’s SUMMERCAMP 2011 – Tuesday Aug. 2 and 9, usual time, at Durant. No formal rehearsal, but plenty of singing – tags, push out quartet events, likely a movie or video clip, good snacks, FAQ sessions, and a contest or two. Don’t miss this chance to relax and have fun with your singing buddies. Bring a friend that likes to sing.
While the guys were seated on the risers, Joe took some time to give his reactions and thanks for the hard work and dedication to excellence by our chorus. He shared his pride of the 5th place medal we earned this summer. He endorsed the contributions of the Special Forces troops and the nearly 20 newbies in the Class of 2011. He gave his sincere appreciation to Carl Kauffmann for solving the rehearsal room problem in the Hyatt.
Joe reflected that no chorus had done so much performance and work during their prep for International. He thanked the guys for accepting his contest-week major change of the visual and interpt – which brought applause from all.
Then Joe let Terry take the mic and share the details – charts and numbers to show where we did great, how we are doing in the big picture, how much our singing has improved, how the contest system worked.
Joe then talked about the future. First off – we are NOT TAKING A YEAR OFF. We will be working hard on our music and singing and performance. The hugely important fall show with CROSSROADS is coming up fast. We need to sing well and match the level of our guest quartet. Plus we need to sell tickets and spread the word for the Sept. 24th how at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.
The holiday show is on track too with a plan to introduce five new tunes for our audiences who love this show and help us sell it out each year.
We are gonna do something especially fun and bring back our 1995 gold medal package of “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” for our package in the Southern Division contest.
Big news also that we are headed to China, AND that Toronto Northern Lights Chorus will go with us. Amazing that two medalist choruses are traveling together to another nation! Joe and their director have been talking and discussing possible joint songs we will work on for our shows there. It is not too late to sign up – a speaker will be at the Harmo meeting on Aug. 30th with specifics. If money is a challenge, Joe figures a guy could put away $5 a week to cover the major cost.
Then finally, we will be working to build up and continue our climb in better singing and performing, for the International contest in Toronto in 2013.
Joe is looking for each man’s dedication and commitment for the growth period ahead.
He also invited comments from all and there were some good ones about audience reaction, about the dead stage. A ground-swell of appreciation and applause went out to Joe for his willingness to help us improve.
There was a reminder to plan ahead to make personal arrangement to attend the fall M-AD contest Sept. 31-Oct. 1 in Lancaster. We will help the host chapter escort choruses, if needed. And we will have a number of chapter reps in quartets in the contest Fri nite. So save the weekend. Make plans to order tickets and get a room via the district website – www.harmonize.com/MAD/.
And similarly, make plans to go to the International in Portland. YeEd figures we will also have some quartets in the battle that week. And we will be able to have some fun during the week. Won’t hurt to be seen as a chapter supporting others and reminding folks we will be back. (The last time we sat out of International competition in Detroit, we took a huge 50-ft. banner that said “The Harmonizers will be back” and held it up outside the contest venue for folks to see after they came out of the chorus contest. We did what we promised too!)
Back to singing, Joe and his team worked on a few more of the songs for the shows.
We finished a little early and the crew put all of the equipment away.
Our guest from Australia took us out with “Keep The Whole World Singing” and it had a special meaning to have our fellow barbershopper from “down under” to lead us in our singing.
A big crowd found its way to the Hilton for afterglow. The usual Metro riders headed out just in time to catch the last train – thanks to cell phones that give exact times of trains.
YeEd has other news about members.
Did you know Bill Colosimo was in Rome a week before we went to Kansas City. The church choir he directs sang for the Pope and attended the usual events at the Vatican.
Craig Kujawa sent word that he would be gone a couple weeks to be with his family after his step father died on Sunday.
Jim Lucey sent word that his wife, Ruthanne, is still in Kansas City after breaking her hip at International. She will be there for therapy for a week or so more before they return to CO. Cards could go to her at North KS City Hospital, 2800 Clay Edwards Dr. Rm. 1028, N. Kansas City, MO 64116.
Thanks to Catherine Colosimo for her help with flyers for the fall show.
And YeEd also needs to add here a couple items regarding the report of International week – forgot to recognize our own Harmo dog – Tango, who was with us all week to cheer and support the chorus. He was with his family, the Brian Millers. (And not to be out done by FRANK THE DOG!) Also we hear he provided a good bit of doggy therapy to weary Harmonizers in the hideaway!
Plus YeEd wanted to thank contributors/reporters for last week’s column – Dixie Kennett, Chris Buechler, Steve Lingo, Clark Chesser, and Alan Wile. Appreciate the input.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Looking Back on the 2011 International Contest and Convention, Kansas City
The Alexandria Harmonizers came to the 73rd annual BHS International contest battleground and earned another 5th place medal. The months of work paid off! Our score was 2,663 out of 3,000. Our 99 guys filled the risers and performed “If I Loved You” and “What Do I Need With Love?”
This was the 17th medal earned by the Alexandria Harmonizers, including the four golds. We have competed at 23 International chorus contests since our first one in 1978.
Director Joe Cerutti used the many rehearsals in Kansas City to hone the performance. We actually relocated our rehearsal site after Tuesday nite since the hotel ballroom was like an echo chamber. Thanks to our convention chairman, Carl Kauffmann, for working the phone with Society convention planners and other chorus contacts to find a place we could work. We moved to the convention center on Wednesday morning – about a mile from our Hyatt hotel where most of the chorus and their family was staying. It was close to the Marriott headquarters hotel and the Sprint contest stage. So that was good. It did mean we had to move the props early in the week to this new location.
The contest package uniform was bright blue shirts with black slacks and such, including shiny black patent leather shoes, suspenders for the riser singers, and sunglasses for the front row. Props for the show included huge wooden blocks that were used to create height and energy for the uptune. Two of the boxes actually included trampolines which guys jumped onto in the tag and bounced high into the air with bright colored streamers in their hands. Thanks to Dennis Ritchey for construction, Bob Blair and other guys for hauling them on Tuesday nites, and he and his painting crew for frequent touch-up. Thanks to Joel Golden and Bert Phillips who “pulled the tabs” on the streamer gizmos our trampoline jumpers tossed.
This year we were fortunate to have our major coaches with us all week – Geri Geis, Kirk Young (who arranged the uptune), Cindy Hansen, and Steve Tramack (who arranged the ballad). They helped Joe keep the chorus on target and offered advice and ideas.
Before going into details about the chorus work sessions all week, YeEd needs to recognize our quartet guys who did us proud in the contest too. DA CAPO made the cut for the top 20 semi-finals round. They ended up 14th for their first time at the International level! Each time they sang, the Harmonizer crowd led the cheering and clapping routine to get the audience ready and to send a signal backstage that we were proud of Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer and Wayne Adams. Fun to see their family members with the da capo musical symbol on their tee shirts. Our guys also were named winners of the International Dealer’s Choice Award for the highest placing first-time quartet in the contest.
OLD SCHOOL, also from the Mid-Atlantic District, won the quartet contest gold with 8,090 points – 121 points over MUSICAL ISLAND BOYS. MASTERPIECE, who sang on our show last summer, was third. Our retreat coach, Tony De Rosa, sang in a new quartet called MAIN STREET and they took 5th. All three of their performances featured an old-time quartet look with huge “skimmers” and tap dancing. The popular and funny quartet, LUNCH BREAK, was the mic tester quartet on Saturday nite and pulled off some great bits. Last years’ quartet champs, STORM FRONT, also used their comedic skills to entertain while the finals scores were calculated that nite.
Our M-AD friends, ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT, came in 12th and FRANK THE DOG came in 26th.. Several former Harmonizers sang in quartets that competed: Dennis Malone in IGNITION!, 15th; Mike Louque in SKYLINE, 20th; Harold Nantz in FLASHBACK, 32nd; Ron Rogers in RACKETEERS, 44th. Our M-AD collegiate quartet, THE FRAT PACK, was 21st.
Now back to coverage of the chorus contest. As was expected, the Masters of Harmony from CA won with 2,829 points at 94.3%. Great Northern Union earned second after taking a year out of contest with 2,824 points at 94.1%. There was a tie for third – The Northern Lights from Toronto and Sound of the Rockies from Denver earned 2,733 points at 91.1%. Alexandria then was fifth. We earned 88.8%.
The other M-AD chorus, Brothers in Harmony from Hamilton Square, NJ, was 27th at 76%. They were directed by Jack Pinto, the bari of OLD SCHOOL. The chorus contest mic testers were also from our district – Voices in Gotham, Hell’s Kitchen, NY, directed by Larry Bombeck.
This was the second 5th place medal for the Harmonizers. The 2011 medals were distributed right after the contest results were announced, back at the Hyatt. President Steve Murane presented each Harmonizer his medal and shook his hand.
The chorus had arrived early in the week for the first rehearsal on Tuesday eve, July 5th (a couple guys had to stay at their jobs until Wed. and Thurs.). Our chorus was at the Hyatt and most of our guys had used the chapter fundraising plan and bought scrip to use in paying for their hotel room. Great way to help the chapter raise some much needed funds.
There was a huge buzz in the air when we started gathering at the Hyatt Tuesday eve with news that Joe Cerutti and Gary Plaag had been elected to three-year terms on the BHS board of directors earlier in the day. Another former president of our chapter, Dwain Chambers from the Dixie District now, was also a candidate.
Joe and Gary were introduced with the other board members during an evening convention session. The Society Board of Directors met early in the week. Chris Buechler serves the board as assistant parliamentarian.
Another former Harmonizer, Larry Deters, has been named Acting Executive Director for the BHS. He will serve during the search for a new executive director. Ed Watson retired July 15th.
The kick off rehearsal for the chorus was exciting. As usual we had sound equipment thanks to Scott Kahler and Dennis Ritchey. It came with our risers and props on a rental truck which Howard Nestlerode and Drew Fuller drove to Kansas City – a 2,200-mile round trip. The chapter board also invited chorus members to send luggage on the truck, space available, for a modest fee. It saved guys from paying luggage fees to the airlines and helped the chapter pay for the rental. Thanks to all the guys who came to help unload. (YeEd learned that we didn’t drive our own Harmo van as it is getting some “age” on it and the air conditioning doesn’t work these days.)
YeEd also heard about several fun pre-convention trips by chorus families such as Yellowstone, family reunions in KS and MO.
Every one of our rehearsals drew a crowd of Society VIPs and always a good number of our own FRIENDS IN HARMONY. Bob Cearnal, who was our emcee for the East Coast Harmony Show, stopped in on Tues, as did FRANK THE DOG quartet. Great to have Chuck Hunter and John Hohl on site with us. Our coaches were there from the start.
Tony Colosimo and Will Cox did the vocal warm ups. Chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, did a blue bandana check for the Class of 2011. This is one of our largest classes: Adam Bradley, Jay Butterfield, Clark Chesser, Chris Clark, Bill Colosimo, Clyde Crusenberry, Thom Faircloth, Jacob George, Michael Gilmore, Kevin Kaiser, Dave Kohls and Nick Leiserson. (These are current singers who have not previously sung with the Alexandria Harmonizers on an International stage.) We also added guys who now live out of town who came to sing with us: Mike Wallen, Bob Wilson and Pete Frank. They all had sung with the Harmonizers before.
The first rehearsal included time for the chapter visual team to review and drill moves and focals with Chuck McKeever, Scipio Garling and Craig Kujawa in charge.
Before we adjourned Tuesday nite, Joe recognized DA CAPO and we all wished them the best for their performance in the quartet contest.
There were morning and afternoon/evening rehearsals both Wed. and Thurs. All of them included hard work, solid input from our coaches Geri, Cindy, Kirk and Steve. Our coach from Harmony College East, Rik Johnson, stopped by to give a cheer. The schedule varied with front row extra rehearsals, or with work sessions with props or with the riser chorus coming early.
Many times the rehearsal room audience included former members who came to see their Harmonizer friends. And often guests from around the BHS came to check us out. M-AD president, Dick Powell and his wife Roxanne, came to wish us the best on behalf of all of the members of our district. He also reported that our own Chuck Harner has been elected to the Harmony Foundation International Board of Trustees. (Later, YeEd learned that Chuck Hunter’s Dad, Chuck Sr., was also elected to that body.) Congrats to both.
Our friends from Westminster, CA, chapter – last year’s chorus champs and our guests in July 2010 – sent a messenger to wish us well and bring each guy a nametag lanyard.
We held our traditional Togetherness Breakfast early Friday. President Murane was emcee. He thanked the FRIENDS group for the nifty decorations (ducks in a row and Tootsie rolls – all a play on the words to our song.) Andrew Plocher gave the invocation. Keith Jones was coordinator having organized ticket for all well in advance and coordinating with the hotel and Friends group. He reports we had 175 attendees – 99 competing members; 15 non competing members; 51 guests such as significant others, family members and friends; and 10 VIPs which included our coaches and M-AD officials – Cindy Hansen and David Ellis, Geri and Royall Geis, Dick and Roxanne Powell, Bill and Linda Colosimo, Steve Tramack and Kirk Young.)
The program included remarks by Class of 2011 President, Thom Faircloth; remarks from Bob Wachter who spoke about the lifetime of relationships in our hobby; remarks from one of our youngest member, Kellen Hertz; and a poetic response by Ina Berkey on behalf of the FRIENDS group, who presented inspirational gifts for all the contest chorus to take on stage with them.
Each of the coaches spoke and brought important messages about the work ethic, chapter brand, tradition and reputation and talent pool of the Alexandria Chapter. Joe Cerutti was the final speaker and he inspired us with a story of how our singing influences and changes lives of others.
Following the breakfast, fans and family headed to the contest site. The Harmonizers were in the queue to prepare for their performance. They rested, they got uniform and make up ready, they practiced more and they lined up to take command from our chorus manager. Our contest guide this year happened to be Brad Cox, Will’s brother.
At the contest venue, the Harmonizer fans were ready and started a huge cheering and clapping routine to send a signal to our guys back stage. Greg Tepe was drafted to call the camera cues backstage for our chapter. Someone reminded us that this is the 25th anniversary of our first gold medal in 1986 and that we got our second medal in Kansas City in 1989.
There were a number of guys from the Harmonizer family in other choruses in the contest: Ryan Killeen, Larry Deters and Paul Wietlisback in Nashville, TN; John Adams, Research Triangle Park, NC; Jack Stevens, San Marcos, TX; Terry Traylor and Ray Kahler, Phoenix, AZ; Bob Thames and Lynn Hineman, Tampa, FL; Bill Power and Ray Johnson, Santa Fe Springs, CA; and Dennis Malone, Denver, CO.
There were some familiar names among the list of judges for the contests at the convention: David Wright, Mike Louque, Richard Lewellen and Dwain Chambers. Steve Tramack judged the collegiate contest. Bob Cearnal was emcee for one quartet contest session.
And three of our chapter friends made major presentations of awards during the convention: John Hohl, who is vice chair of the BHS chorus development committee; Bill Colosimo, who is chair of the BHS music and performance committee; and Steve Tramack, who is chair of the same committee as John. John presented Master Director recognition to the director of the New Zealand chorus. Bill recognized Ev Nau as recipient of the Dave LaBar Award for emcees. Steve gave the Joe Liles Lifetime achievement Award to Ray Danley, first gold medal director of a Canadian chorus.
When the chorus results were about to be announced, most Harmonizers gathered in the section where we were assigned to sit so we could support each other as the results were announced. We waited patiently for Westminster, last year’s champs to sing. Then the contest officials started the countdown. Fifth place and we erupted with cheers.
YeEd was proud to see our guys stand and cheer and face the area where the Masters of Harmony, 2011 chorus champs, were seated.
Our gang rushed back for the medal ceremony (our chapter was given the supply of medals immediately after the results were released). Everyone tried to get some dinner and found the Harmo Hideaway, which Steve and Lise Lingo managed. The hospitality room had been open often and long all during the week. Steve thanked Drew Fuller and Thom Faircloth for helping with shopping, Clark Chesser and Clyde Crusenberry for volunteering to cover one nite. Lise was the housemother, though, and the guys all say thanks.
Friday nite, the hideaway was moved to a ballroom so everyone could celebrate. Many guys helped with that move. The highlight of the nite was the “balloon tags” which Steve organized. He salvaged the helium-filled balloons from the Togetherness breakfast. Tag singers inhaled the helium and sang some high pitched tags. It was really funny and guys were literally rolling on the floor, they laughed so much.
One of our members, Ron Rich, was recognized as a new 50th year member of the BHS. He joined our chapter in 1962. He was in our front row once upon a time and was a dedicated tag singer. Another member, Darryl Flinn, was named judge emeritus by the BHS contest and judging community.
Saturday before the finals quartet round, there was a chorus of fathers/sons/grandsons. We had several of our folks on the riser for that: Ray and Scott Kahler; Alan Wile and his grandson Thomas who sings in CAPITOL FORCE; Chuck Hunter and his dad, Chuck; and Jay Butterfield and his dad, Gene.
Two of our guys, Edris Qarghah and Bert Phillips, even were captured by the media and found themselves in a video clip, which has found its way to Facebook fame!
It is amazing how many Harmonizers come to convention. Here is YeEd’s attempt to list all the others not mentioned above in this article. (Thanks to Dixie Kennett, our attendance taker all week, for keeping a list). YeEd lists current and/or former Harmonizers in this list: Ross Johnson, Martin Banks, Bob Hirsh, Tom Gannon, Joe Wagovich, Lew Klinge, Jack Pitzer, John Rettenmayer, Joe Kane, Jim Lucey, Jim Shoenhard, Bill Sowers, Norm Richards, Bill Ward, Larry Shelton, Ron Dionne, JT Price, Rich Garodnick, Will Winder and Ed Allen. If we missed anyone, it would be fun to hear about it.
As is Harmonizer tradition, there was a major administrative team that worked for months behind the scenes to organize our chapter appearance in the contest. Carl Kauffmann was committee chair and he started a year ago with his trip to Kansas City along with other chorus reps. Carl put together a coordinated rehearsal schedule for the eight choruses staying at the Hyatt, including the foreign affiliate representatives from New Zealand and Great Britain. Mike Schwartz was housing chair. Bob Rhome coordinated registrations. Keith Jones managed the myriad details of the contest day Togetherness Breakfast. Bob Blair managed a lot of logistics including taking care of the props as we moved to and from the different rehearsal rooms and the Sprint Center. Jack Cameron is handling the ordering and distribution of chorus photographs. A very useful handbook was prepared by Dixie to help every guy know what to expect, when to be places, what to bring, where to eat, when our quartet friends would sing, and more. And when it comes to food, the Harmonizer gang didn’t miss the chance for some great BBQ and a big Kansas City steak.
YeEd will report that several members of the Harmo family were injured or got sick in Kansas City. Jim Lucey’s wife, Ruthanne, broke her hip (she is on the mend and they will stay in Kansas City for a week or so for therapy after a successful operation). Thom Faircloth fell and badly scraped his knees. Vince Cazenas fell and cut his arm and needed stitches. Craig Kujawa fell in the auditorium and smashed a finger. Carol Dangel stumbled getting down the ramp of the airplane. John Hohl had a mild ankle sprain. And who can count all the colds and coughs and congestion attacks.
On Monday night, July 11th, Howard and Drew returned with the rental truck to the Lee Center back in Alexandria for transfer of equipment back to the Harmo truck. Again there was a contingent of dedicated Harmonizers on hand to do the transfer and off-load luggage for transport to the Harmo house.
Even with all the success and accomplishment by Harmonizers, there is no time to rest and celebrate. We are already at work on our next show, our future plans to go to China and our new music for future audiences.
There is no doubt, “It’s Great To Be A Harmonizer!”
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)
This was the 17th medal earned by the Alexandria Harmonizers, including the four golds. We have competed at 23 International chorus contests since our first one in 1978.
Director Joe Cerutti used the many rehearsals in Kansas City to hone the performance. We actually relocated our rehearsal site after Tuesday nite since the hotel ballroom was like an echo chamber. Thanks to our convention chairman, Carl Kauffmann, for working the phone with Society convention planners and other chorus contacts to find a place we could work. We moved to the convention center on Wednesday morning – about a mile from our Hyatt hotel where most of the chorus and their family was staying. It was close to the Marriott headquarters hotel and the Sprint contest stage. So that was good. It did mean we had to move the props early in the week to this new location.
The contest package uniform was bright blue shirts with black slacks and such, including shiny black patent leather shoes, suspenders for the riser singers, and sunglasses for the front row. Props for the show included huge wooden blocks that were used to create height and energy for the uptune. Two of the boxes actually included trampolines which guys jumped onto in the tag and bounced high into the air with bright colored streamers in their hands. Thanks to Dennis Ritchey for construction, Bob Blair and other guys for hauling them on Tuesday nites, and he and his painting crew for frequent touch-up. Thanks to Joel Golden and Bert Phillips who “pulled the tabs” on the streamer gizmos our trampoline jumpers tossed.
This year we were fortunate to have our major coaches with us all week – Geri Geis, Kirk Young (who arranged the uptune), Cindy Hansen, and Steve Tramack (who arranged the ballad). They helped Joe keep the chorus on target and offered advice and ideas.
Before going into details about the chorus work sessions all week, YeEd needs to recognize our quartet guys who did us proud in the contest too. DA CAPO made the cut for the top 20 semi-finals round. They ended up 14th for their first time at the International level! Each time they sang, the Harmonizer crowd led the cheering and clapping routine to get the audience ready and to send a signal backstage that we were proud of Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer and Wayne Adams. Fun to see their family members with the da capo musical symbol on their tee shirts. Our guys also were named winners of the International Dealer’s Choice Award for the highest placing first-time quartet in the contest.
OLD SCHOOL, also from the Mid-Atlantic District, won the quartet contest gold with 8,090 points – 121 points over MUSICAL ISLAND BOYS. MASTERPIECE, who sang on our show last summer, was third. Our retreat coach, Tony De Rosa, sang in a new quartet called MAIN STREET and they took 5th. All three of their performances featured an old-time quartet look with huge “skimmers” and tap dancing. The popular and funny quartet, LUNCH BREAK, was the mic tester quartet on Saturday nite and pulled off some great bits. Last years’ quartet champs, STORM FRONT, also used their comedic skills to entertain while the finals scores were calculated that nite.
Our M-AD friends, ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT, came in 12th and FRANK THE DOG came in 26th.. Several former Harmonizers sang in quartets that competed: Dennis Malone in IGNITION!, 15th; Mike Louque in SKYLINE, 20th; Harold Nantz in FLASHBACK, 32nd; Ron Rogers in RACKETEERS, 44th. Our M-AD collegiate quartet, THE FRAT PACK, was 21st.
Now back to coverage of the chorus contest. As was expected, the Masters of Harmony from CA won with 2,829 points at 94.3%. Great Northern Union earned second after taking a year out of contest with 2,824 points at 94.1%. There was a tie for third – The Northern Lights from Toronto and Sound of the Rockies from Denver earned 2,733 points at 91.1%. Alexandria then was fifth. We earned 88.8%.
The other M-AD chorus, Brothers in Harmony from Hamilton Square, NJ, was 27th at 76%. They were directed by Jack Pinto, the bari of OLD SCHOOL. The chorus contest mic testers were also from our district – Voices in Gotham, Hell’s Kitchen, NY, directed by Larry Bombeck.
This was the second 5th place medal for the Harmonizers. The 2011 medals were distributed right after the contest results were announced, back at the Hyatt. President Steve Murane presented each Harmonizer his medal and shook his hand.
The chorus had arrived early in the week for the first rehearsal on Tuesday eve, July 5th (a couple guys had to stay at their jobs until Wed. and Thurs.). Our chorus was at the Hyatt and most of our guys had used the chapter fundraising plan and bought scrip to use in paying for their hotel room. Great way to help the chapter raise some much needed funds.
There was a huge buzz in the air when we started gathering at the Hyatt Tuesday eve with news that Joe Cerutti and Gary Plaag had been elected to three-year terms on the BHS board of directors earlier in the day. Another former president of our chapter, Dwain Chambers from the Dixie District now, was also a candidate.
Joe and Gary were introduced with the other board members during an evening convention session. The Society Board of Directors met early in the week. Chris Buechler serves the board as assistant parliamentarian.
Another former Harmonizer, Larry Deters, has been named Acting Executive Director for the BHS. He will serve during the search for a new executive director. Ed Watson retired July 15th.
The kick off rehearsal for the chorus was exciting. As usual we had sound equipment thanks to Scott Kahler and Dennis Ritchey. It came with our risers and props on a rental truck which Howard Nestlerode and Drew Fuller drove to Kansas City – a 2,200-mile round trip. The chapter board also invited chorus members to send luggage on the truck, space available, for a modest fee. It saved guys from paying luggage fees to the airlines and helped the chapter pay for the rental. Thanks to all the guys who came to help unload. (YeEd learned that we didn’t drive our own Harmo van as it is getting some “age” on it and the air conditioning doesn’t work these days.)
YeEd also heard about several fun pre-convention trips by chorus families such as Yellowstone, family reunions in KS and MO.
Every one of our rehearsals drew a crowd of Society VIPs and always a good number of our own FRIENDS IN HARMONY. Bob Cearnal, who was our emcee for the East Coast Harmony Show, stopped in on Tues, as did FRANK THE DOG quartet. Great to have Chuck Hunter and John Hohl on site with us. Our coaches were there from the start.
Tony Colosimo and Will Cox did the vocal warm ups. Chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, did a blue bandana check for the Class of 2011. This is one of our largest classes: Adam Bradley, Jay Butterfield, Clark Chesser, Chris Clark, Bill Colosimo, Clyde Crusenberry, Thom Faircloth, Jacob George, Michael Gilmore, Kevin Kaiser, Dave Kohls and Nick Leiserson. (These are current singers who have not previously sung with the Alexandria Harmonizers on an International stage.) We also added guys who now live out of town who came to sing with us: Mike Wallen, Bob Wilson and Pete Frank. They all had sung with the Harmonizers before.
The first rehearsal included time for the chapter visual team to review and drill moves and focals with Chuck McKeever, Scipio Garling and Craig Kujawa in charge.
Before we adjourned Tuesday nite, Joe recognized DA CAPO and we all wished them the best for their performance in the quartet contest.
There were morning and afternoon/evening rehearsals both Wed. and Thurs. All of them included hard work, solid input from our coaches Geri, Cindy, Kirk and Steve. Our coach from Harmony College East, Rik Johnson, stopped by to give a cheer. The schedule varied with front row extra rehearsals, or with work sessions with props or with the riser chorus coming early.
Many times the rehearsal room audience included former members who came to see their Harmonizer friends. And often guests from around the BHS came to check us out. M-AD president, Dick Powell and his wife Roxanne, came to wish us the best on behalf of all of the members of our district. He also reported that our own Chuck Harner has been elected to the Harmony Foundation International Board of Trustees. (Later, YeEd learned that Chuck Hunter’s Dad, Chuck Sr., was also elected to that body.) Congrats to both.
Our friends from Westminster, CA, chapter – last year’s chorus champs and our guests in July 2010 – sent a messenger to wish us well and bring each guy a nametag lanyard.
We held our traditional Togetherness Breakfast early Friday. President Murane was emcee. He thanked the FRIENDS group for the nifty decorations (ducks in a row and Tootsie rolls – all a play on the words to our song.) Andrew Plocher gave the invocation. Keith Jones was coordinator having organized ticket for all well in advance and coordinating with the hotel and Friends group. He reports we had 175 attendees – 99 competing members; 15 non competing members; 51 guests such as significant others, family members and friends; and 10 VIPs which included our coaches and M-AD officials – Cindy Hansen and David Ellis, Geri and Royall Geis, Dick and Roxanne Powell, Bill and Linda Colosimo, Steve Tramack and Kirk Young.)
The program included remarks by Class of 2011 President, Thom Faircloth; remarks from Bob Wachter who spoke about the lifetime of relationships in our hobby; remarks from one of our youngest member, Kellen Hertz; and a poetic response by Ina Berkey on behalf of the FRIENDS group, who presented inspirational gifts for all the contest chorus to take on stage with them.
Each of the coaches spoke and brought important messages about the work ethic, chapter brand, tradition and reputation and talent pool of the Alexandria Chapter. Joe Cerutti was the final speaker and he inspired us with a story of how our singing influences and changes lives of others.
Following the breakfast, fans and family headed to the contest site. The Harmonizers were in the queue to prepare for their performance. They rested, they got uniform and make up ready, they practiced more and they lined up to take command from our chorus manager. Our contest guide this year happened to be Brad Cox, Will’s brother.
At the contest venue, the Harmonizer fans were ready and started a huge cheering and clapping routine to send a signal to our guys back stage. Greg Tepe was drafted to call the camera cues backstage for our chapter. Someone reminded us that this is the 25th anniversary of our first gold medal in 1986 and that we got our second medal in Kansas City in 1989.
There were a number of guys from the Harmonizer family in other choruses in the contest: Ryan Killeen, Larry Deters and Paul Wietlisback in Nashville, TN; John Adams, Research Triangle Park, NC; Jack Stevens, San Marcos, TX; Terry Traylor and Ray Kahler, Phoenix, AZ; Bob Thames and Lynn Hineman, Tampa, FL; Bill Power and Ray Johnson, Santa Fe Springs, CA; and Dennis Malone, Denver, CO.
There were some familiar names among the list of judges for the contests at the convention: David Wright, Mike Louque, Richard Lewellen and Dwain Chambers. Steve Tramack judged the collegiate contest. Bob Cearnal was emcee for one quartet contest session.
And three of our chapter friends made major presentations of awards during the convention: John Hohl, who is vice chair of the BHS chorus development committee; Bill Colosimo, who is chair of the BHS music and performance committee; and Steve Tramack, who is chair of the same committee as John. John presented Master Director recognition to the director of the New Zealand chorus. Bill recognized Ev Nau as recipient of the Dave LaBar Award for emcees. Steve gave the Joe Liles Lifetime achievement Award to Ray Danley, first gold medal director of a Canadian chorus.
When the chorus results were about to be announced, most Harmonizers gathered in the section where we were assigned to sit so we could support each other as the results were announced. We waited patiently for Westminster, last year’s champs to sing. Then the contest officials started the countdown. Fifth place and we erupted with cheers.
YeEd was proud to see our guys stand and cheer and face the area where the Masters of Harmony, 2011 chorus champs, were seated.
Our gang rushed back for the medal ceremony (our chapter was given the supply of medals immediately after the results were released). Everyone tried to get some dinner and found the Harmo Hideaway, which Steve and Lise Lingo managed. The hospitality room had been open often and long all during the week. Steve thanked Drew Fuller and Thom Faircloth for helping with shopping, Clark Chesser and Clyde Crusenberry for volunteering to cover one nite. Lise was the housemother, though, and the guys all say thanks.
Friday nite, the hideaway was moved to a ballroom so everyone could celebrate. Many guys helped with that move. The highlight of the nite was the “balloon tags” which Steve organized. He salvaged the helium-filled balloons from the Togetherness breakfast. Tag singers inhaled the helium and sang some high pitched tags. It was really funny and guys were literally rolling on the floor, they laughed so much.
One of our members, Ron Rich, was recognized as a new 50th year member of the BHS. He joined our chapter in 1962. He was in our front row once upon a time and was a dedicated tag singer. Another member, Darryl Flinn, was named judge emeritus by the BHS contest and judging community.
Saturday before the finals quartet round, there was a chorus of fathers/sons/grandsons. We had several of our folks on the riser for that: Ray and Scott Kahler; Alan Wile and his grandson Thomas who sings in CAPITOL FORCE; Chuck Hunter and his dad, Chuck; and Jay Butterfield and his dad, Gene.
Two of our guys, Edris Qarghah and Bert Phillips, even were captured by the media and found themselves in a video clip, which has found its way to Facebook fame!
It is amazing how many Harmonizers come to convention. Here is YeEd’s attempt to list all the others not mentioned above in this article. (Thanks to Dixie Kennett, our attendance taker all week, for keeping a list). YeEd lists current and/or former Harmonizers in this list: Ross Johnson, Martin Banks, Bob Hirsh, Tom Gannon, Joe Wagovich, Lew Klinge, Jack Pitzer, John Rettenmayer, Joe Kane, Jim Lucey, Jim Shoenhard, Bill Sowers, Norm Richards, Bill Ward, Larry Shelton, Ron Dionne, JT Price, Rich Garodnick, Will Winder and Ed Allen. If we missed anyone, it would be fun to hear about it.
As is Harmonizer tradition, there was a major administrative team that worked for months behind the scenes to organize our chapter appearance in the contest. Carl Kauffmann was committee chair and he started a year ago with his trip to Kansas City along with other chorus reps. Carl put together a coordinated rehearsal schedule for the eight choruses staying at the Hyatt, including the foreign affiliate representatives from New Zealand and Great Britain. Mike Schwartz was housing chair. Bob Rhome coordinated registrations. Keith Jones managed the myriad details of the contest day Togetherness Breakfast. Bob Blair managed a lot of logistics including taking care of the props as we moved to and from the different rehearsal rooms and the Sprint Center. Jack Cameron is handling the ordering and distribution of chorus photographs. A very useful handbook was prepared by Dixie to help every guy know what to expect, when to be places, what to bring, where to eat, when our quartet friends would sing, and more. And when it comes to food, the Harmonizer gang didn’t miss the chance for some great BBQ and a big Kansas City steak.
YeEd will report that several members of the Harmo family were injured or got sick in Kansas City. Jim Lucey’s wife, Ruthanne, broke her hip (she is on the mend and they will stay in Kansas City for a week or so for therapy after a successful operation). Thom Faircloth fell and badly scraped his knees. Vince Cazenas fell and cut his arm and needed stitches. Craig Kujawa fell in the auditorium and smashed a finger. Carol Dangel stumbled getting down the ramp of the airplane. John Hohl had a mild ankle sprain. And who can count all the colds and coughs and congestion attacks.
On Monday night, July 11th, Howard and Drew returned with the rental truck to the Lee Center back in Alexandria for transfer of equipment back to the Harmo truck. Again there was a contingent of dedicated Harmonizers on hand to do the transfer and off-load luggage for transport to the Harmo house.
Even with all the success and accomplishment by Harmonizers, there is no time to rest and celebrate. We are already at work on our next show, our future plans to go to China and our new music for future audiences.
There is no doubt, “It’s Great To Be A Harmonizer!”
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Looking Back on the July 12th Chapter Meeting
The Harmonizers continued a long-standing tradition of singing at Alexandria INOVA Hospital on the Tuesday after International.
It began when chapter leaders realized many guys were not back from the convention and/or had to tend to other person matters – or maybe just rest up.
About 25 guys made it this year to the Seminary Road facility and warmed up with Will Cox in the hospital lobby. There were adequate singers for all four parts and Director Joe and his assistant directors took the chorus from ward to ward with the aid of a hospital host. Joe chose several songs from the repertoire to sing to patients and staff. The hospital also provided free parking for the Harmonizers.
It was really hot – over 100 degrees – so the show producers allowed shorts. Most guys had some kinda Harmo shirt. The gig lasted about 1 hour.
YeEd is working on his report from International, so stay tuned.
Also YeEd reports that our friends in the Harmony Heritage Singers Chorus of the Mount Vernon, VA, Chapter celebrated their 15th anniversary recently. They met at the Sherwood Hall Regional Library. The chorus sang, as did several of their quartets.
Chapter leader, Mike Everard, inducted the new members who have joined the chapter this year.
Associate director, Chris Buechler, was at the helm for the meeting. Director Bob Wachter was there for the cake cutting ceremony.
Congrats to our brothers in HHS.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
It began when chapter leaders realized many guys were not back from the convention and/or had to tend to other person matters – or maybe just rest up.
About 25 guys made it this year to the Seminary Road facility and warmed up with Will Cox in the hospital lobby. There were adequate singers for all four parts and Director Joe and his assistant directors took the chorus from ward to ward with the aid of a hospital host. Joe chose several songs from the repertoire to sing to patients and staff. The hospital also provided free parking for the Harmonizers.
It was really hot – over 100 degrees – so the show producers allowed shorts. Most guys had some kinda Harmo shirt. The gig lasted about 1 hour.
YeEd is working on his report from International, so stay tuned.
Also YeEd reports that our friends in the Harmony Heritage Singers Chorus of the Mount Vernon, VA, Chapter celebrated their 15th anniversary recently. They met at the Sherwood Hall Regional Library. The chorus sang, as did several of their quartets.
Chapter leader, Mike Everard, inducted the new members who have joined the chapter this year.
Associate director, Chris Buechler, was at the helm for the meeting. Director Bob Wachter was there for the cake cutting ceremony.
Congrats to our brothers in HHS.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Looking Back on the June 30th Extra Rehearsal
We had our only special pre-International rehearsal at the school next door to Durant on Thursday eve. Almost all of the 99 contest chorus members were there – as is tradition, we probably won’t have all 99 until mid-contest-week. (The price we pay for having so many government and military guys who travel all over the world for their jobs.)
Director Joe Cerutti was ready to take over after Tony Colosimo got the singers voices warmed up and ready. The set-up crew had to bring in the risers and props from Cameron Street (with the Harmo van out in the street while it was unloaded) since those were the only doors things could come thru.
But we started on time and Joe worked hard. He revisited the ballad and then launched a push on the uptune. He used the same techniques from Tuesday nite to help the guys go beyond just good or great: sometimes he had them just stand and sing, and then he had them go back to total performance. He had his section leaders for basses and leads to take their guys out for some touch up – and it made a huge change.
The hall was full of guests who wanted to see our package and won’t get to the convention. A big crowd of the guys from Mount Vernon Harmony Heritage Singers were with us. Bill Clark and his two young sons came down from NJ (and for the boys to see Chris on the front row). Jay Butterfield’s sister and her family came in to see us too.
Geri Geis was on hand to help with the polish and of course, her partner Royall, was on hand to lead the cheering section.
At break we had lemonade and some snacks left from the recent show. Ellen Dellert brought chocolate donuts for all to enjoy.
Admin work continued: uniform part swaps and make up kits – thanks to Tom Kern; Scott Kahler and Steve Lingo gave details on how guys could get luggage onto the truck we are driving out to KC; Steve also gathered up coolers guys brought in so he could put them on the truck – they will be used to keep drinks and snacks cold in the Harmo Hideaway at the Hyatt all week; Brian Ammerman launched brief details about the Sept. 24th fall show.
Reminders for all: review the convention handbook for details about uniform parts, especially casual uniform, as well as to have a handle on the Harmonizer schedule as it fits around the convention schedule. Also a suggestion to go to the convention headquarters hotel, the Marriott, on Tuesday to pick up a name tag and holder to wear, plus to get a printed program which you will want all week. That is a good time to check out the Harmony Marketplace for CDs, clothes and often some good sales! Plus that is where you would get tickets for other events during the week. Might be a good time to try out the shuttle bus service from our hotel to the headquarters hotel and to the contest site.
Don’t forget to bring a pen to jot notes – and see how close you can come to picking the quartet winner.
Be sure to bring some other Harmo clothing to wear during the week. About 30 guys got in on the huge order of shirts that Chris Buechler made after our retreat and distributed one Tuesday nite recently.
YeEd got a great note from Victor Hills after his first day of hard training at West Point. He is hanging in there and looks forward to hearing good news about the convention. As soon as things calm down for him at school, he plans to audition for the glee club.
Congrats to former director, Scott Werner, for his 49-year membership renewal recently.
YeEd has more follow up from the East Coast Harmony Show. Thanks to Mike Kelly for his work on a video shot at the show. Mike Everard is another name we left out of our coverage of that event.
Great to have DA CAPO sing for us last Tuesday as a preview of their shot in KCMO. We will all be there to cheer and applaud. Good luck to Ryan, Tony, Joe C and Wayne!!
Thanks to new Echo editor Clark Chesser for taking on the task. He just published his second edition online. He has invited a crew of folks to help him with reviewing the copy since he is a brand new Harmonizer.
Well – it feels like the Harmonizers are ready for a week of fun and further expansion of their performance during the chorus contest on Friday, July 8th.
See you there. And if you are a former member and plan to attend the convention, be sure to come by the Hyatt and see us. If you won’t be in MO, check into watching the contest on the Internet. Go to the Society website.
Keep an eye on your email box, as we continue to organize luggage details and sharing rides from the airport to the hotel.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Director Joe Cerutti was ready to take over after Tony Colosimo got the singers voices warmed up and ready. The set-up crew had to bring in the risers and props from Cameron Street (with the Harmo van out in the street while it was unloaded) since those were the only doors things could come thru.
But we started on time and Joe worked hard. He revisited the ballad and then launched a push on the uptune. He used the same techniques from Tuesday nite to help the guys go beyond just good or great: sometimes he had them just stand and sing, and then he had them go back to total performance. He had his section leaders for basses and leads to take their guys out for some touch up – and it made a huge change.
The hall was full of guests who wanted to see our package and won’t get to the convention. A big crowd of the guys from Mount Vernon Harmony Heritage Singers were with us. Bill Clark and his two young sons came down from NJ (and for the boys to see Chris on the front row). Jay Butterfield’s sister and her family came in to see us too.
Geri Geis was on hand to help with the polish and of course, her partner Royall, was on hand to lead the cheering section.
At break we had lemonade and some snacks left from the recent show. Ellen Dellert brought chocolate donuts for all to enjoy.
Admin work continued: uniform part swaps and make up kits – thanks to Tom Kern; Scott Kahler and Steve Lingo gave details on how guys could get luggage onto the truck we are driving out to KC; Steve also gathered up coolers guys brought in so he could put them on the truck – they will be used to keep drinks and snacks cold in the Harmo Hideaway at the Hyatt all week; Brian Ammerman launched brief details about the Sept. 24th fall show.
Reminders for all: review the convention handbook for details about uniform parts, especially casual uniform, as well as to have a handle on the Harmonizer schedule as it fits around the convention schedule. Also a suggestion to go to the convention headquarters hotel, the Marriott, on Tuesday to pick up a name tag and holder to wear, plus to get a printed program which you will want all week. That is a good time to check out the Harmony Marketplace for CDs, clothes and often some good sales! Plus that is where you would get tickets for other events during the week. Might be a good time to try out the shuttle bus service from our hotel to the headquarters hotel and to the contest site.
Don’t forget to bring a pen to jot notes – and see how close you can come to picking the quartet winner.
Be sure to bring some other Harmo clothing to wear during the week. About 30 guys got in on the huge order of shirts that Chris Buechler made after our retreat and distributed one Tuesday nite recently.
YeEd got a great note from Victor Hills after his first day of hard training at West Point. He is hanging in there and looks forward to hearing good news about the convention. As soon as things calm down for him at school, he plans to audition for the glee club.
Congrats to former director, Scott Werner, for his 49-year membership renewal recently.
YeEd has more follow up from the East Coast Harmony Show. Thanks to Mike Kelly for his work on a video shot at the show. Mike Everard is another name we left out of our coverage of that event.
Great to have DA CAPO sing for us last Tuesday as a preview of their shot in KCMO. We will all be there to cheer and applaud. Good luck to Ryan, Tony, Joe C and Wayne!!
Thanks to new Echo editor Clark Chesser for taking on the task. He just published his second edition online. He has invited a crew of folks to help him with reviewing the copy since he is a brand new Harmonizer.
Well – it feels like the Harmonizers are ready for a week of fun and further expansion of their performance during the chorus contest on Friday, July 8th.
See you there. And if you are a former member and plan to attend the convention, be sure to come by the Hyatt and see us. If you won’t be in MO, check into watching the contest on the Internet. Go to the Society website.
Keep an eye on your email box, as we continue to organize luggage details and sharing rides from the airport to the hotel.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Looking Back on the June 28th Chapter Meeting
This week’s rehearsal was one of the best sessions ever! After a fantastic warm up conducted by Will Cox, which got the guys ready to work and excited, Director Joe took over and he was prepared (as he is every week!). His lessons plan was clear to the chorus and it ran smoothly.
Joe teased the chorus with potential great news or really great news – which to share first? Potential news – the AC was due to remain on all evening! Hurray. It did actually go off about 10:15.
Good news – the Harmonizers will appear on the “America Sings” show – likely July 13th at 9 pm on the Gospel Music Channel. Stay tuned for details. Many other barbershop groups will appear as well.
Joe expressed appreciation to Brad Jones for his leadership for the East Coast Harmony show. And Joe thanked Tony Colosimo for helping with the director duties while Joe was working with his Sweet Adeline chorus. (YeEd will add some details about the ECH further in this week’s Looking Back column.)
Joe conducted a huge “SIGH” for the chorus to put aside the months of hard work on the major performances we have had already this year. Now we can concentrate on contest preparation.
And Joe and his music team, including Geri Geis, worked hard until break.
Chapter vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted this week’s chapter meeting session. He led a moment of silence – so you could hear the AC unit!!
Chapter secretary, Chris Buechler, presented membership renewal cards to the following: Jay Butterfield for 38 years; Don Dillingham for 2 years; Will Mudd Simmons for 5 years; Tony Colosimo for 18 years; Ken Rub for 20 years. Bill Colosimo was given his 35 year renewal card and a 35-year pin.
K12 did a bandana check for the Class of 2011!
Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced guests including Ian Poulin’s parents and their family friends. It was great to see some other Harmonizer friends in the hall this week – Martin Banks, Geoff Bermen, and Al Hanenbaum. Dick Hall reports that Carolyn is home now and doing her therapy each day to mend the broken leg.
Guys got a break and enjoyed the goodies which included orange slices and grapes which Dean Rust had brought from this past weekend (goodies for the performers). He even bagged them so guys could grab a supply and move along.
After break, the meeting continued. As is normal the week before International convention, there were a bunch of announcements.
There is a mandatory rehearsal on Thursday evening at the school next to Durant. We need a riser crew to unload props and risers for that location.
Also there is a need for a work crew to transfer things we need in Kansas City from the Harmo van to a larger rental truck (that has working AC!!). Watch for detail emails. Bob Blair is heading up this project. “And you ain’t seen nothin, til you see how he can squeeze a full load of our props and stuff into a truck!”
Related to this is an offer from chapter leaders to allow members to put a bag on the truck, subject to left over space. $10 a bag. Details also to come out via email. Fees will help cover rental cost of the truck for the chapter, and save the member from paying airline baggage fees. (Thanks for the idea, Scott Kahler.)
Music vp, Terry Reynolds, suggested everyone review the convention week schedule now, so they know when we are having our extra rehearsals out there in MO. He reminded all of the singers of Joe’s plea for guys to work on their own so when they get on the risers, it is “Joe’s time.”
Terry also stressed the uniform code of patent leather shoes for the stage.
President Steven Murane presented cash support to Kellen Hertz, Dan O’Brien and DA CAPO guys, Ryan, Tony, Joe S and Wayne, so they can all attend Harmony University in MO later in the summer. Kellen and Dan will attend classes as individuals and the others will be a quartet enrolled in classes. The chapter has budgeted scholarships like this over the years and we have benefitted from the many men who have attended this intense, week-long, barbershop school. YeEd hopes those guys will write up a little something when they get back to share with us.
Quartet promotion chair, Eric Wallen, recognized DA CAPO also as one of the four representatives in the quartet contest at International from our Mid Atlantic District. And of course we are darn proud that all of them are from our chapter. The other quartets are OLD SCHOOL, FRANK THE DOG and ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT.
Then back to singing. As it turned out, we worked the whole nite on the ballad. And what progress – wonderful softs, word emphasis, theater performances by every man, hi energy entertainment.
Joe had a meeting with the basses about some spots and Tony worked with the guys on the risers. When the basses returned, Tony directed so Joe could coach. Joe also asked the section leaders to stand out front to check on some points he was working on. Team work at its best!
At the end of the nite, Joe thanked the guys for the tons of hours and hard work and willingness to “stand there and take it” week after week. He was grateful for each guy – we are the third largest chorus in the contest this summer at 99. Masters of Harmony from CA have like 120 and Denver has just over 100.
Just like clockwork, the AC went off and our guys jumped in and took things down and put things away.
After KTWWS directed by Jay Butterfield, many guys headed over to the Hilton for a relaxing afterglow. As is often the case, a few of the guys had to jump up and run from the afterglow to catch the Metro into the city.
Reminder – if you offered the use of a cooler for the Harmo Hideway (hospitality room at International where our “family” hangs out), bring it on Thurs. nite to the rehearsal so it can go on the truck.
And here is more follow up for the East Coast Harmony show. Brad thanked several folks which YeEd did not include in his report on Monday: Joe Cerutti and Scott Kahler for sponsoring and hosting the emcee for the show; Ken White as afterglow emcee; Catherine Colosimo for developing the show flyer; Steve Lingo for Facebook promotion; the riser crews and script writing crews, and Sam McFarland for hosting CAPRI. Brad also reported that Ken Fess has purchased the huge American flag for our chapter to use on shows like was used during “Stars and Stripes” on Sunday. A huge audience pleaser. Thanks Ken.
YeEd learned last nite that Bruce and Connie Lauther hosted 14 friends from the Carnegie Hall event who came to see our show this past weekend. Mike Shirota and folks from the New York City Japan Choral Harmony group rented a bus to come down to see us all again. They wrote glowing reports about the show to Bruce.
YeEd also missed a few names of folks who were in the audience for the show – Bob Caldwell and John and Sara Thompson.
Our chorus fans were sending news from all around the world – we got the traditional “break a leg “message from Rick Wagner, now deployed as a contractor in Afghanistan.; and a note from Chuck Hunter in Syria wishing he could be here in person to hear the great singing.
Just a sneak preview—here are the Harmonizer quartets who have qualified to sing in the MAD fall contest in Lancaster:
DOWTOWN (Frank Fedarko, Arthur Louis, Drew Fuller)
MAD HATTERS (Steve White, Rick Taylor)
MAYHEM (Kenny White, Mike Pinto)
ROLL O’ THE DICE (Bill Colosimo)
YOUTH RECLAMATION PROEJCT (Mike Wallen)
TOUCHSTONE (Steve White) are the outgoing 2011 District Champs
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Joe teased the chorus with potential great news or really great news – which to share first? Potential news – the AC was due to remain on all evening! Hurray. It did actually go off about 10:15.
Good news – the Harmonizers will appear on the “America Sings” show – likely July 13th at 9 pm on the Gospel Music Channel. Stay tuned for details. Many other barbershop groups will appear as well.
Joe expressed appreciation to Brad Jones for his leadership for the East Coast Harmony show. And Joe thanked Tony Colosimo for helping with the director duties while Joe was working with his Sweet Adeline chorus. (YeEd will add some details about the ECH further in this week’s Looking Back column.)
Joe conducted a huge “SIGH” for the chorus to put aside the months of hard work on the major performances we have had already this year. Now we can concentrate on contest preparation.
And Joe and his music team, including Geri Geis, worked hard until break.
Chapter vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted this week’s chapter meeting session. He led a moment of silence – so you could hear the AC unit!!
Chapter secretary, Chris Buechler, presented membership renewal cards to the following: Jay Butterfield for 38 years; Don Dillingham for 2 years; Will Mudd Simmons for 5 years; Tony Colosimo for 18 years; Ken Rub for 20 years. Bill Colosimo was given his 35 year renewal card and a 35-year pin.
K12 did a bandana check for the Class of 2011!
Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced guests including Ian Poulin’s parents and their family friends. It was great to see some other Harmonizer friends in the hall this week – Martin Banks, Geoff Bermen, and Al Hanenbaum. Dick Hall reports that Carolyn is home now and doing her therapy each day to mend the broken leg.
Guys got a break and enjoyed the goodies which included orange slices and grapes which Dean Rust had brought from this past weekend (goodies for the performers). He even bagged them so guys could grab a supply and move along.
After break, the meeting continued. As is normal the week before International convention, there were a bunch of announcements.
There is a mandatory rehearsal on Thursday evening at the school next to Durant. We need a riser crew to unload props and risers for that location.
Also there is a need for a work crew to transfer things we need in Kansas City from the Harmo van to a larger rental truck (that has working AC!!). Watch for detail emails. Bob Blair is heading up this project. “And you ain’t seen nothin, til you see how he can squeeze a full load of our props and stuff into a truck!”
Related to this is an offer from chapter leaders to allow members to put a bag on the truck, subject to left over space. $10 a bag. Details also to come out via email. Fees will help cover rental cost of the truck for the chapter, and save the member from paying airline baggage fees. (Thanks for the idea, Scott Kahler.)
Music vp, Terry Reynolds, suggested everyone review the convention week schedule now, so they know when we are having our extra rehearsals out there in MO. He reminded all of the singers of Joe’s plea for guys to work on their own so when they get on the risers, it is “Joe’s time.”
Terry also stressed the uniform code of patent leather shoes for the stage.
President Steven Murane presented cash support to Kellen Hertz, Dan O’Brien and DA CAPO guys, Ryan, Tony, Joe S and Wayne, so they can all attend Harmony University in MO later in the summer. Kellen and Dan will attend classes as individuals and the others will be a quartet enrolled in classes. The chapter has budgeted scholarships like this over the years and we have benefitted from the many men who have attended this intense, week-long, barbershop school. YeEd hopes those guys will write up a little something when they get back to share with us.
Quartet promotion chair, Eric Wallen, recognized DA CAPO also as one of the four representatives in the quartet contest at International from our Mid Atlantic District. And of course we are darn proud that all of them are from our chapter. The other quartets are OLD SCHOOL, FRANK THE DOG and ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT.
Then back to singing. As it turned out, we worked the whole nite on the ballad. And what progress – wonderful softs, word emphasis, theater performances by every man, hi energy entertainment.
Joe had a meeting with the basses about some spots and Tony worked with the guys on the risers. When the basses returned, Tony directed so Joe could coach. Joe also asked the section leaders to stand out front to check on some points he was working on. Team work at its best!
At the end of the nite, Joe thanked the guys for the tons of hours and hard work and willingness to “stand there and take it” week after week. He was grateful for each guy – we are the third largest chorus in the contest this summer at 99. Masters of Harmony from CA have like 120 and Denver has just over 100.
Just like clockwork, the AC went off and our guys jumped in and took things down and put things away.
After KTWWS directed by Jay Butterfield, many guys headed over to the Hilton for a relaxing afterglow. As is often the case, a few of the guys had to jump up and run from the afterglow to catch the Metro into the city.
Reminder – if you offered the use of a cooler for the Harmo Hideway (hospitality room at International where our “family” hangs out), bring it on Thurs. nite to the rehearsal so it can go on the truck.
And here is more follow up for the East Coast Harmony show. Brad thanked several folks which YeEd did not include in his report on Monday: Joe Cerutti and Scott Kahler for sponsoring and hosting the emcee for the show; Ken White as afterglow emcee; Catherine Colosimo for developing the show flyer; Steve Lingo for Facebook promotion; the riser crews and script writing crews, and Sam McFarland for hosting CAPRI. Brad also reported that Ken Fess has purchased the huge American flag for our chapter to use on shows like was used during “Stars and Stripes” on Sunday. A huge audience pleaser. Thanks Ken.
YeEd learned last nite that Bruce and Connie Lauther hosted 14 friends from the Carnegie Hall event who came to see our show this past weekend. Mike Shirota and folks from the New York City Japan Choral Harmony group rented a bus to come down to see us all again. They wrote glowing reports about the show to Bruce.
YeEd also missed a few names of folks who were in the audience for the show – Bob Caldwell and John and Sara Thompson.
Our chorus fans were sending news from all around the world – we got the traditional “break a leg “message from Rick Wagner, now deployed as a contractor in Afghanistan.; and a note from Chuck Hunter in Syria wishing he could be here in person to hear the great singing.
Just a sneak preview—here are the Harmonizer quartets who have qualified to sing in the MAD fall contest in Lancaster:
DOWTOWN (Frank Fedarko, Arthur Louis, Drew Fuller)
MAD HATTERS (Steve White, Rick Taylor)
MAYHEM (Kenny White, Mike Pinto)
ROLL O’ THE DICE (Bill Colosimo)
YOUTH RECLAMATION PROEJCT (Mike Wallen)
TOUCHSTONE (Steve White) are the outgoing 2011 District Champs
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Looking Back on the East Coast Harmony Show, June 26
What a show!!! Another great success organized by the Harmonizers to share our hobby with other barbershoppers, introduce our music to our patons and friends and a lot of new barbershop harmony fans, and to present our exciting 2011 contest package for local fans who won’t get to see it on stage in Kansas City.
Our performance was at the George Mason University Concert Hall in Fairfax at 2 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011. The auditorium is great, the back stage is easy to use, and it handles a large crowd of singers.
Brad Jones did yeoman work to pull this one off. YeEd thinks it might have been his idea and he made it happen – with a lot of help from fellow chapter members and FRIENDS.
Here is the run-down on acts for the show. The Harmonizers wowed the audience with the opening set including crowd pleasers “Great Day” and “Stars and Stripes.” Our buddies from down Richmond way, Soundworks chorus, brought a whole new sound and style to the audience. DA CAPO is a new quartet for many of our fans and you could hear the excitement in the crowd response after they sang their first song. (No wonder they won “audience favorite” in the Harmony Sweepstakes contests they won earlier this spring!)
‘ROUND MIDNIGHT is so much fun and the audience loved their energy and fun style. The cheers showed it.
Director Joe Ceruitti had a busy weekend as director of both the Harmonizers and the really successful Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline chorus. The POB sang a great set and entertained in classy style.
It was fun to have the Chorus of the Chesapeake from Dundalk, MD, on the show with us. Altho our choruses are only about 50 miles apart, we don’t get to sing together that often (especially since the M-AD took Dundalk out of the southern division years ago) Their director, Rick Taylor and fellow Harmonizer, was a fun emcee for them and used some of his best stories on the show’s incredible audience.
CAPRI warmed the hearts of all of the audience with their fun style and intimate story-telling-thru-music technique. The Harmonizers surprised them with special recognition as our 2011 recipients of the Harmony Award, given to non-Harmonizers for the things they do to bring real harmony into the lives of others. President Steve Murane made the presentations to each of the quartet members. They have been a key factor in the success of the Harmonizer’s youth harmony festival every year. The Alexandria chapter also will send a contribution to the SAI foundation for youth programs in the name of CAPRI. Thanks ladies.
Keeping all these acts going for the audience was guest emcee, Bob Cearnal, past BHS president and a frequent emcee for the Society’s International contests. Bob was fun and helped the audience provide support and enthusiastic responses to the entertainers. Bob and his wife spent the weekend in DC with us. He is also a member of the Ambassadors in Harmony near St. Louis, MO.
The afterglow, headed by Ken White and Cheryl Wallen, was a great success. It was at the Kena Shriners Ballroom on Rte. 50, which is a great location. And Cheryl and her crew of family and friends (including brother Eric!) made us all welcome. The taco-bar idea was fun too. As you can imagine, she practically had to use a snow plow to get us out of the hall! It was fun.
As you can imagine, there were lots of Harmonizers asked to help with the tasks needed to pull off the show. YeEd will take a stab at recognition of workers for the show:
Dean Rust – snacks backstage for the performers
Bob Blair and Dennis Ricthey – prop repair and re-painting
Mark Klostermeyer – chorus manager
Tony Colosimo and Will Cox – chorus warm ups as assistant directors
Dixie Kennett and Scott Kahler – tech support for lighting and sound
Ian Poulin – afterglow ticket sales
FRIENDS – sales of CDs and other materials for guest quartets and all of the choruses including our materials
Greg Tepe and Craig Odell –stage escorts for the many performers
Keith Jones – host for ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT
Other news YeEd can report. Paul Greiner and his wife brought a guest from the Greensprings residence, where they live – Walter Latzko’s brother. They met him recently at the cafeteria there during meal time.
Many guys from the Harmony Heritage Singers chapter were at the show.
Many familiar faces from the Harmonizer ranks were spotted in the lobby before the show – Bob Braunstein, Barry Galloway, Ross Johnson, Dale Houser, Jeff and Randy and Cecil Ashford, Larry Fagley, Eric Hughes, Terry Jordan, Scott Disney, Royall and Geri Geis.
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)
Our performance was at the George Mason University Concert Hall in Fairfax at 2 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011. The auditorium is great, the back stage is easy to use, and it handles a large crowd of singers.
Brad Jones did yeoman work to pull this one off. YeEd thinks it might have been his idea and he made it happen – with a lot of help from fellow chapter members and FRIENDS.
Here is the run-down on acts for the show. The Harmonizers wowed the audience with the opening set including crowd pleasers “Great Day” and “Stars and Stripes.” Our buddies from down Richmond way, Soundworks chorus, brought a whole new sound and style to the audience. DA CAPO is a new quartet for many of our fans and you could hear the excitement in the crowd response after they sang their first song. (No wonder they won “audience favorite” in the Harmony Sweepstakes contests they won earlier this spring!)
‘ROUND MIDNIGHT is so much fun and the audience loved their energy and fun style. The cheers showed it.
Director Joe Ceruitti had a busy weekend as director of both the Harmonizers and the really successful Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline chorus. The POB sang a great set and entertained in classy style.
It was fun to have the Chorus of the Chesapeake from Dundalk, MD, on the show with us. Altho our choruses are only about 50 miles apart, we don’t get to sing together that often (especially since the M-AD took Dundalk out of the southern division years ago) Their director, Rick Taylor and fellow Harmonizer, was a fun emcee for them and used some of his best stories on the show’s incredible audience.
CAPRI warmed the hearts of all of the audience with their fun style and intimate story-telling-thru-music technique. The Harmonizers surprised them with special recognition as our 2011 recipients of the Harmony Award, given to non-Harmonizers for the things they do to bring real harmony into the lives of others. President Steve Murane made the presentations to each of the quartet members. They have been a key factor in the success of the Harmonizer’s youth harmony festival every year. The Alexandria chapter also will send a contribution to the SAI foundation for youth programs in the name of CAPRI. Thanks ladies.
Keeping all these acts going for the audience was guest emcee, Bob Cearnal, past BHS president and a frequent emcee for the Society’s International contests. Bob was fun and helped the audience provide support and enthusiastic responses to the entertainers. Bob and his wife spent the weekend in DC with us. He is also a member of the Ambassadors in Harmony near St. Louis, MO.
The afterglow, headed by Ken White and Cheryl Wallen, was a great success. It was at the Kena Shriners Ballroom on Rte. 50, which is a great location. And Cheryl and her crew of family and friends (including brother Eric!) made us all welcome. The taco-bar idea was fun too. As you can imagine, she practically had to use a snow plow to get us out of the hall! It was fun.
As you can imagine, there were lots of Harmonizers asked to help with the tasks needed to pull off the show. YeEd will take a stab at recognition of workers for the show:
Dean Rust – snacks backstage for the performers
Bob Blair and Dennis Ricthey – prop repair and re-painting
Mark Klostermeyer – chorus manager
Tony Colosimo and Will Cox – chorus warm ups as assistant directors
Dixie Kennett and Scott Kahler – tech support for lighting and sound
Ian Poulin – afterglow ticket sales
FRIENDS – sales of CDs and other materials for guest quartets and all of the choruses including our materials
Greg Tepe and Craig Odell –stage escorts for the many performers
Keith Jones – host for ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT
Other news YeEd can report. Paul Greiner and his wife brought a guest from the Greensprings residence, where they live – Walter Latzko’s brother. They met him recently at the cafeteria there during meal time.
Many guys from the Harmony Heritage Singers chapter were at the show.
Many familiar faces from the Harmonizer ranks were spotted in the lobby before the show – Bob Braunstein, Barry Galloway, Ross Johnson, Dale Houser, Jeff and Randy and Cecil Ashford, Larry Fagley, Eric Hughes, Terry Jordan, Scott Disney, Royall and Geri Geis.
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Looking Back on the June 21st Chapter Meeting
The Harmonizers were busy over the weekend again as reported earlier. But the guys came “back for more” and worked hard all nite.
Usual set up was done in time, including hauling in the prop boxes – what a task each week! Chuck McKeever did his class to help guys refresh details of the moves for show and contest songs. Ian Poulin sold afterglow tickets for this weekend. Bob and Maggie Eckman distributed scrip cards that guys had bought to use in paying their Hyatt hotel bills in KC. Bob Rhome passed out the very thorough and complete Intl. Week Harmo Handbook with a special envelope to hold each person’s convention registration/ticket. Thanks to Dixie Kennett for the hard work in making the booklet so complete. Carl Kauffmann passed out BHS Convention t-shirts guys ordered. The FRIENDS group sold cold drinks. Jack Cameron took orders for contest chorus photos. Keith Jones was issuing tickets for the convention week Togetherness Breakfast.
It was great to see Tom and Emily Kraus and new son, Ben, who got his first-time visitor pin! He had on his “My Dad Is a Barbershopper” t-shirt. Great to have Thom Faircloth back and on the risers after the weekend health scare. Bill Sowers and Eric Hughes stopped by to check out the contest package. And Bert Szabo came to see us after being at HCE as a coach. Bert is a long-time friend of Bob Wachter. Bert has done hundreds of contestable arrangements, was a Society staffer and a leading advocate of “keep it barbershop” over the years.
Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and when Director Joe took over, he was quick to thank the guys for their truly hard work on Saturday, “It was a truly beneficial day for us in preparation for International.”
Singing period included songs for the East Coast Harmony Show this coming weekend – “In Harmony” which we will sing with other performers, and a drill of “Stars and Stripes” which we will use in our portion of the show.
For work on the contest songs, Joe invited the section leaders to use a few minutes to spot clean some things. Then everyone worked to retain all they had learned over the weekend.
Before break, Steve White conducted the chapter meeting time as he was substituting for K12. He recognized special forces guys Bob Wilson and Pete Frank with us tonite. Membership guy, Phil Ashford, introduced the guests (as listed above).
The goodies supply this week was a class project of the Class of 2011 -- including the homemade cherry pie by Nick Leiserson. Other guys in the chapter also responded to the “empty cupboard” plea. Thanks to all.
Our meeting time resumed after the break. Secretary Buechler presented Edris Qarghah his three year membership renewal.
After the break, Geri Geis was on hand to help recapture the visual points made over the weekend. She offered just a couple suggestions to make things look better or work easier. Steve White thanked her publicly for her very sincere letter after HCE. Music and performance vp, Terry Reynolds, also thanked all the work crew it took to pull off the HCE class, coaching event, and show.
Shows vp, Ken White, and producer, Brad Jones, provided many details for Sunday’s show. For sure, we need to sell a lot of tickets – including for the afterglow! Watch for a complete email with reporting times, parking info, and uniform plan. SELL TICKETS.
Then back to work on the contest songs. We used the closed eye drill that Geri is famous for to get more of the emotion to come out in the ballad. It also helped the guys know themselves and their feelings for the song.
Then work, work, work til 10 pm. The electric fans helped a little after the 9 pm shut off for the AC!
YeEd or the Mother Hen offers more ideas for planning your trip to Kansas City in July. Take a swim suit – the Hyatt has a nice outdoor pool on a deck area. Plan ahead for travel into the city on July 4th – some huge firework displays will be going on. In fact, some places will be closed on the 4th around town.
Then just as we put it all up before the meeting, we had to take it all down. Bob Blair managed to grab some strong guys to load the props. And a good crowd came over to the Hilton for the afterglow.
See you at George Mason Concert Hall on Sunday.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Usual set up was done in time, including hauling in the prop boxes – what a task each week! Chuck McKeever did his class to help guys refresh details of the moves for show and contest songs. Ian Poulin sold afterglow tickets for this weekend. Bob and Maggie Eckman distributed scrip cards that guys had bought to use in paying their Hyatt hotel bills in KC. Bob Rhome passed out the very thorough and complete Intl. Week Harmo Handbook with a special envelope to hold each person’s convention registration/ticket. Thanks to Dixie Kennett for the hard work in making the booklet so complete. Carl Kauffmann passed out BHS Convention t-shirts guys ordered. The FRIENDS group sold cold drinks. Jack Cameron took orders for contest chorus photos. Keith Jones was issuing tickets for the convention week Togetherness Breakfast.
It was great to see Tom and Emily Kraus and new son, Ben, who got his first-time visitor pin! He had on his “My Dad Is a Barbershopper” t-shirt. Great to have Thom Faircloth back and on the risers after the weekend health scare. Bill Sowers and Eric Hughes stopped by to check out the contest package. And Bert Szabo came to see us after being at HCE as a coach. Bert is a long-time friend of Bob Wachter. Bert has done hundreds of contestable arrangements, was a Society staffer and a leading advocate of “keep it barbershop” over the years.
Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and when Director Joe took over, he was quick to thank the guys for their truly hard work on Saturday, “It was a truly beneficial day for us in preparation for International.”
Singing period included songs for the East Coast Harmony Show this coming weekend – “In Harmony” which we will sing with other performers, and a drill of “Stars and Stripes” which we will use in our portion of the show.
For work on the contest songs, Joe invited the section leaders to use a few minutes to spot clean some things. Then everyone worked to retain all they had learned over the weekend.
Before break, Steve White conducted the chapter meeting time as he was substituting for K12. He recognized special forces guys Bob Wilson and Pete Frank with us tonite. Membership guy, Phil Ashford, introduced the guests (as listed above).
The goodies supply this week was a class project of the Class of 2011 -- including the homemade cherry pie by Nick Leiserson. Other guys in the chapter also responded to the “empty cupboard” plea. Thanks to all.
Our meeting time resumed after the break. Secretary Buechler presented Edris Qarghah his three year membership renewal.
After the break, Geri Geis was on hand to help recapture the visual points made over the weekend. She offered just a couple suggestions to make things look better or work easier. Steve White thanked her publicly for her very sincere letter after HCE. Music and performance vp, Terry Reynolds, also thanked all the work crew it took to pull off the HCE class, coaching event, and show.
Shows vp, Ken White, and producer, Brad Jones, provided many details for Sunday’s show. For sure, we need to sell a lot of tickets – including for the afterglow! Watch for a complete email with reporting times, parking info, and uniform plan. SELL TICKETS.
Then back to work on the contest songs. We used the closed eye drill that Geri is famous for to get more of the emotion to come out in the ballad. It also helped the guys know themselves and their feelings for the song.
Then work, work, work til 10 pm. The electric fans helped a little after the 9 pm shut off for the AC!
YeEd or the Mother Hen offers more ideas for planning your trip to Kansas City in July. Take a swim suit – the Hyatt has a nice outdoor pool on a deck area. Plan ahead for travel into the city on July 4th – some huge firework displays will be going on. In fact, some places will be closed on the 4th around town.
Then just as we put it all up before the meeting, we had to take it all down. Bob Blair managed to grab some strong guys to load the props. And a good crowd came over to the Hilton for the afterglow.
See you at George Mason Concert Hall on Sunday.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Looking Back on the Chapter’s Participation at Harmony College East June 18
It was quite a day for the chorus. Many of us got up about 4 am Saturday in our homes around DC, met some other chorus members to form a carpool, and headed to Salisbury State University in Salisbury, MD. The chorus warm up call was for 8:15 am.
The guys from Alexandria joined other student enrollees at the Harmony College East (HCE) weekend event for the daily warm up session led by a faculty member at the school. We were welcomed by dean of the weekend school, Ron Knickerbocker, gold medal bari of THE REGENTS. Some Harmonizers actually were already there in classes on Thursday and Friday including DA CAPO. Quartets that will be competing in the International contest in July were invited to come for coaching with prominent Society coaches.
The chorus then took the risers on the stage of Halloway Hall on campus. Will Cox extended the warm up in Harmo style including the physical moves. When he turned things over to Director Joe Cerutti, Joe introduced our morning vocal coach, Rik Johnson, from the Ambassadors of Harmony. He is also a singing judge in the Society.
M-AD leaders Scott Ward and Dick Powell also welcomed the chapter and thanked us for our support of the weekend and for coming to teach the Masters Class and appearing on the show. District President Dick presented chapter president, Steve Murane, a check for $1000 from the district to support our travel to KCMO. Director Joe also expressed how fortunate we are to have the support of our district.
Chapter music and performance vp, Terry Reynolds, was coordinator of the Harmonizer participation on Saturday. He reviewed the events for the day. And we were off to work singing.
BUT FIRST – a check of blue bandanas for the Class of 2011!
Rik complimented the quality warm up done by Will. Rik and Joe started working on the ballad until morning break time.
Afer the welcomed break, we went back to work on the uptune with Rik and Joe up front.
When Rik had to go coach another group just before lunch, Terry was up front again to explain how we would be conducting a Masters Class after lunch. This class was open for all HCE attendees with the purpose to help them gather ideas and suggestions on how another chapter manages music education, music administration, testing, music selection. Joe alerted our singers how he would be asking them to demonstrate techniques and Tony Colosimo reviewed how he would be asking the guys to demonstrate warm up techniques.
Since it was getting close to lunch, Terry issued meal tickets and explained how to get to the campus cafeteria. In good Harmo style, it didn’t take much explaining to get our guys over there to chow down. We had fun too, sitting with guys from other chapters all around the district.
(YeEd needs to report that late in the morning, Thom Faircloth left the risers, because he felt he was about to pass out. So the guys with some medical training got him stabilized while they waited for respondents to a 911 call. Scipio Garling rode in the ambulance with Thom to the local hospital. Scipio returned after a while with reports that Thom was OK but needed to stay in the hospital for a few more hours. Later in the afternoon we learned that Thom had been released and allowed to go home. He arrived home without incident and will let us know details he learns from his local doctor when we see Thom on Tuesday nite.)
After lunch, the Masters Class was held in the auditorium with the Harmonizers all in their teal shirts and casual uniforms. A couple guys passed out a terrific handout to all attendees. Terry prepared it with a good overview of the music and performance aspects of our chapter. He used a Frequently Asked Questions format. The handout also included statistics about some of our accomplishments in contests and major performances, a flow chart of how the chapter admin team is set up, samples of forms we use to monitor attendance and self evaluation programs. (Hopefully this good document will find its way onto our chapter website. YeEd.)
Speakers during the class besides Joe and Terry and Tony included Scipio, who covered the visual aspects of our performance goals. Chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, demonstrated how he keeps the program on schedule by signaling time left to instructors up front. Terry showed the audience the make-up of the chorus by asking for a show of hands for guys by age, by years of membership, by professional work field, by voice part, by visual quad.
At the end, we saved a big chunk of time for a Q&A session. Terry, Joe and President Steve fielded the questions. The chorus started the class with performance of “Great Day” and ended the class with “New York, New York.”
Before we wrapped up the class, we offered two-for-one tickets to our June 26th East Coast Harmony Show to those who attended our class. We made a few sales later in the lobby and passed out a bunch of color postcards.
After the class ended, the chorus took a little break and get ready for more riser work. Geri Geis was present for the rest of the day and used the afternoon to tidy up moves and facials and focals. She spent a huge amount of time with the guys on the risers not just the front row.
A couple times, Joe invited one of the rows to come out into the audience to watch and be ready to return to the risers and contribute more. And at break time, the whole chorus took seats so they could watch the front row perform. Guys got to see what goes on out front so they didn’t have to wonder and try to sneak a look! Then we added all the props handlers for a run thru so all could watch.
And then back to work. Joe kept up the energy and pushed the guys to keep their musical ears on while performing.
We all got to go to the cafeteria for dinner, then take a little time to relax before dressing in the contest uniform for the evening show.
The HCE Saturday nite show started at 7:30 and we were the second performing group. We did our full contest package with all the props and uniforms, including the new black suspenders which snapped in unison during the uptune!! The guys did a great job of singing and entertaining their fellow barbershoppers.
After our performance, a lot of the chorus members headed home. But some stayed for the rest of the show and to hang out with the HCE attendees to sing tags and mix and mingle.
There were some other Harmonizers involved with the HCE weekend – Gary Plaag worked with the Youth In Harmony (YIH) program, Keith Jones and Bob Wachter coached choruses and quartets, Alan Wile helped sell “opportunity tickets” which generated support for the district’s YIH work. Thanks to all the Harmonizers who made a “purchase” on their way to lunch and dinner. DA CAPO sang on the Friday nite show and also on the Saturday nite show.
Now it is back to Durant on Tuesday, June 21st.
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)
The guys from Alexandria joined other student enrollees at the Harmony College East (HCE) weekend event for the daily warm up session led by a faculty member at the school. We were welcomed by dean of the weekend school, Ron Knickerbocker, gold medal bari of THE REGENTS. Some Harmonizers actually were already there in classes on Thursday and Friday including DA CAPO. Quartets that will be competing in the International contest in July were invited to come for coaching with prominent Society coaches.
The chorus then took the risers on the stage of Halloway Hall on campus. Will Cox extended the warm up in Harmo style including the physical moves. When he turned things over to Director Joe Cerutti, Joe introduced our morning vocal coach, Rik Johnson, from the Ambassadors of Harmony. He is also a singing judge in the Society.
M-AD leaders Scott Ward and Dick Powell also welcomed the chapter and thanked us for our support of the weekend and for coming to teach the Masters Class and appearing on the show. District President Dick presented chapter president, Steve Murane, a check for $1000 from the district to support our travel to KCMO. Director Joe also expressed how fortunate we are to have the support of our district.
Chapter music and performance vp, Terry Reynolds, was coordinator of the Harmonizer participation on Saturday. He reviewed the events for the day. And we were off to work singing.
BUT FIRST – a check of blue bandanas for the Class of 2011!
Rik complimented the quality warm up done by Will. Rik and Joe started working on the ballad until morning break time.
Afer the welcomed break, we went back to work on the uptune with Rik and Joe up front.
When Rik had to go coach another group just before lunch, Terry was up front again to explain how we would be conducting a Masters Class after lunch. This class was open for all HCE attendees with the purpose to help them gather ideas and suggestions on how another chapter manages music education, music administration, testing, music selection. Joe alerted our singers how he would be asking them to demonstrate techniques and Tony Colosimo reviewed how he would be asking the guys to demonstrate warm up techniques.
Since it was getting close to lunch, Terry issued meal tickets and explained how to get to the campus cafeteria. In good Harmo style, it didn’t take much explaining to get our guys over there to chow down. We had fun too, sitting with guys from other chapters all around the district.
(YeEd needs to report that late in the morning, Thom Faircloth left the risers, because he felt he was about to pass out. So the guys with some medical training got him stabilized while they waited for respondents to a 911 call. Scipio Garling rode in the ambulance with Thom to the local hospital. Scipio returned after a while with reports that Thom was OK but needed to stay in the hospital for a few more hours. Later in the afternoon we learned that Thom had been released and allowed to go home. He arrived home without incident and will let us know details he learns from his local doctor when we see Thom on Tuesday nite.)
After lunch, the Masters Class was held in the auditorium with the Harmonizers all in their teal shirts and casual uniforms. A couple guys passed out a terrific handout to all attendees. Terry prepared it with a good overview of the music and performance aspects of our chapter. He used a Frequently Asked Questions format. The handout also included statistics about some of our accomplishments in contests and major performances, a flow chart of how the chapter admin team is set up, samples of forms we use to monitor attendance and self evaluation programs. (Hopefully this good document will find its way onto our chapter website. YeEd.)
Speakers during the class besides Joe and Terry and Tony included Scipio, who covered the visual aspects of our performance goals. Chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, demonstrated how he keeps the program on schedule by signaling time left to instructors up front. Terry showed the audience the make-up of the chorus by asking for a show of hands for guys by age, by years of membership, by professional work field, by voice part, by visual quad.
At the end, we saved a big chunk of time for a Q&A session. Terry, Joe and President Steve fielded the questions. The chorus started the class with performance of “Great Day” and ended the class with “New York, New York.”
Before we wrapped up the class, we offered two-for-one tickets to our June 26th East Coast Harmony Show to those who attended our class. We made a few sales later in the lobby and passed out a bunch of color postcards.
After the class ended, the chorus took a little break and get ready for more riser work. Geri Geis was present for the rest of the day and used the afternoon to tidy up moves and facials and focals. She spent a huge amount of time with the guys on the risers not just the front row.
A couple times, Joe invited one of the rows to come out into the audience to watch and be ready to return to the risers and contribute more. And at break time, the whole chorus took seats so they could watch the front row perform. Guys got to see what goes on out front so they didn’t have to wonder and try to sneak a look! Then we added all the props handlers for a run thru so all could watch.
And then back to work. Joe kept up the energy and pushed the guys to keep their musical ears on while performing.
We all got to go to the cafeteria for dinner, then take a little time to relax before dressing in the contest uniform for the evening show.
The HCE Saturday nite show started at 7:30 and we were the second performing group. We did our full contest package with all the props and uniforms, including the new black suspenders which snapped in unison during the uptune!! The guys did a great job of singing and entertaining their fellow barbershoppers.
After our performance, a lot of the chorus members headed home. But some stayed for the rest of the show and to hang out with the HCE attendees to sing tags and mix and mingle.
There were some other Harmonizers involved with the HCE weekend – Gary Plaag worked with the Youth In Harmony (YIH) program, Keith Jones and Bob Wachter coached choruses and quartets, Alan Wile helped sell “opportunity tickets” which generated support for the district’s YIH work. Thanks to all the Harmonizers who made a “purchase” on their way to lunch and dinner. DA CAPO sang on the Friday nite show and also on the Saturday nite show.
Now it is back to Durant on Tuesday, June 21st.
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 with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Looking Back on the June 14th Chapter Meeting
As you would imagine, if you follow the Harmonizer story at all, this week was destined to be a work session and drill in prep for the upcoming convention in Kansas City and this coming weekend’s participation in the Harmony College East school in Salisbury, MD.
All the usual equipment was needed for set up and the gang was ready to go way before the 7 pm start time. It was nice and cool in the hall and people were buzzing around the admin tables taking care of various ticket orders, signing up for things and getting their copy of any handouts.
Some early birds were on hand to grab some goodies, to take place of the supper they missed in order to be at Durant on time.
Will Cox whipped the chorus into shape vocally and physically and turned it over to Director Joe Cerutti. He was full of excitement, as we have come to expect. He proudly reported all the “mentions” of the Harmonizers in the latest Harmonizer magazine that comes from the BHS. Cool!
Then once he got the singing going, he also coached the guys one what they could expect to be doing for the Masters Class we will be teach at HCE. (This weekend school is operated by our Mid-Atlantic District and provides many kinds of classes for barbershoppers and also high school boys and girls and their teachers. All of the school will attend our session. A Masters Class is a BHS term used when a current champ offers to share programs, ideas, tools and techniques with their fellow barbershop competitors.)
Then after more singing, Joe invited the section leaders to take their guys out for some spot check work on the contest songs. While they were away, about 20 guys who will be managing props for the contest set, used the time to drill and practice with those props.
Geri Geis was with us and worked first with the prop crew, spent time with the front row, and coached finer details of performance for the riser guys. She especially worked on faces and energy for the 20 new guys.
Joe used more technology to play some examples of really good soft/quiet singing by large choruses. And he provided written details of expectations for the ballad. The uptune is next.
At midpointin the evening, operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted the chapter meeting portion of the nite. He reminded everyone who had not stopped at the admin table to pay fees they owe to Howard Nestlerode. And he alerted the guys that tonite was the last chance to order scrip cards to use in paying for your hotel rooms in Kansas City.
Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced our guests- Paul Douglas and his wife Susan. The seating gallery was also full of friends and fans eager to cheer and lend support for the contest drive.
The goodies were wiped out fast. Some really great chocolate treats came in from Victor’s mom and the guys were happy to help her get rid of them!! (The cupboard is empty tho, so if you can bring in some things, it would be appreciated.)
After break, the meeting continued. Craig Kujawa reported a correction in his report of weight loss by members in the 7/11 Challenge – Director Joe should have been on the list of those who lost weight. Congrats to all.
Marketing vp, Steve Lingo, gave a couple marketing ideas to guys for the East Coast Harmony Show, also on our to-do list soon! Ticket sales are lagging and we all need to buy and/or sell more.
The FRIENDS group met tonite and their treasurer, Ellen Dellert, presented money gifts from the FRIENDS group to Tony, Wayne, Ryan and Joe of DA CAPO to help them with their expenses to International, and to Dave Welter, our chorus treasurer, to help the chapter with its convention expenses. Many thanks to the FRIENDS group for its support.
Music vp, Terry Reynolds, took a couple minutes to explain more about the HCE weekend. Meals, arrival times, and the need to wear the Harmonizer casual outfit. He also encouraged all of our guys to get to know singers from other chapters, to try some tags and do a good job of mixing with our fellow barbershoppers from around the district, such as during meal time.
President Steve Murane announced that Chuck Hunter sent word that former Harmonizer, Jim Bayuk, has been named winner of one of the American Foreign Service Association's annual awards. Jim is currently posted in Pretoria, South Africa. He was an active Harmonizer from 1998-2009 and worked hard to be sure senior citizen groups were at our shows. He also was noted for his classic role as the “cow” in one of our Holiday shows.
Here is the official word: The Christian A. Herter Award for this year goes to Dr. James W. Bayuk. a medical officer who, “seeks to improve the medical services offered to his colleagues
wherever he serves.” In 2006, he was awarded the Department’s Award for Innovative Use of
Technology for his work on linking post-specific medical information to the Overseas Briefing Center.
Steve also reported that Dick Hall had called and said Carolyn was in Room 829 at Southern Maryland Hospital Center and will be there for a few weeks for therapy after breaking her leg. Cards can be mailed to her there – 7502 Surratts Rd., Clinton, MD 20735. Dick says she is getting along pretty well but working hard to do all the therapy.
Finally, President Steve reported that the chapter had received a generous check from the Potomac Harmony Sweet Adeline chorus to help us with convention expenses. Thanks to our friends in another local barbershop group in NoVa.
Then back to work on contest drills!
Also Joe got the guys caught up on “In Harmony” which we will sing with the groups on our June 26th show.
He begged for guys to do their homework.
And then Director Joe grabbed a couple chairs and invited Victor Hills and Bill Curtis to sit in front of the chorus so we could sing the traditional “There Will Always Be A Place on The Risers for You.” We wish all the best to Victor who is headed off to West Point, and to Bill who is moving to Colorado.
The two honorees co-directed KTWWS and it was a wrap for the nite.
A good crowd of guys went over to the Hilton for an afterglow and we all sat outside to enjoy a great evening. Former Harmonizer, Mike Louque, stopped by while he was in town and came to the afterglow to see us.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
All the usual equipment was needed for set up and the gang was ready to go way before the 7 pm start time. It was nice and cool in the hall and people were buzzing around the admin tables taking care of various ticket orders, signing up for things and getting their copy of any handouts.
Some early birds were on hand to grab some goodies, to take place of the supper they missed in order to be at Durant on time.
Will Cox whipped the chorus into shape vocally and physically and turned it over to Director Joe Cerutti. He was full of excitement, as we have come to expect. He proudly reported all the “mentions” of the Harmonizers in the latest Harmonizer magazine that comes from the BHS. Cool!
Then once he got the singing going, he also coached the guys one what they could expect to be doing for the Masters Class we will be teach at HCE. (This weekend school is operated by our Mid-Atlantic District and provides many kinds of classes for barbershoppers and also high school boys and girls and their teachers. All of the school will attend our session. A Masters Class is a BHS term used when a current champ offers to share programs, ideas, tools and techniques with their fellow barbershop competitors.)
Then after more singing, Joe invited the section leaders to take their guys out for some spot check work on the contest songs. While they were away, about 20 guys who will be managing props for the contest set, used the time to drill and practice with those props.
Geri Geis was with us and worked first with the prop crew, spent time with the front row, and coached finer details of performance for the riser guys. She especially worked on faces and energy for the 20 new guys.
Joe used more technology to play some examples of really good soft/quiet singing by large choruses. And he provided written details of expectations for the ballad. The uptune is next.
At midpointin the evening, operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted the chapter meeting portion of the nite. He reminded everyone who had not stopped at the admin table to pay fees they owe to Howard Nestlerode. And he alerted the guys that tonite was the last chance to order scrip cards to use in paying for your hotel rooms in Kansas City.
Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced our guests- Paul Douglas and his wife Susan. The seating gallery was also full of friends and fans eager to cheer and lend support for the contest drive.
The goodies were wiped out fast. Some really great chocolate treats came in from Victor’s mom and the guys were happy to help her get rid of them!! (The cupboard is empty tho, so if you can bring in some things, it would be appreciated.)
After break, the meeting continued. Craig Kujawa reported a correction in his report of weight loss by members in the 7/11 Challenge – Director Joe should have been on the list of those who lost weight. Congrats to all.
Marketing vp, Steve Lingo, gave a couple marketing ideas to guys for the East Coast Harmony Show, also on our to-do list soon! Ticket sales are lagging and we all need to buy and/or sell more.
The FRIENDS group met tonite and their treasurer, Ellen Dellert, presented money gifts from the FRIENDS group to Tony, Wayne, Ryan and Joe of DA CAPO to help them with their expenses to International, and to Dave Welter, our chorus treasurer, to help the chapter with its convention expenses. Many thanks to the FRIENDS group for its support.
Music vp, Terry Reynolds, took a couple minutes to explain more about the HCE weekend. Meals, arrival times, and the need to wear the Harmonizer casual outfit. He also encouraged all of our guys to get to know singers from other chapters, to try some tags and do a good job of mixing with our fellow barbershoppers from around the district, such as during meal time.
President Steve Murane announced that Chuck Hunter sent word that former Harmonizer, Jim Bayuk, has been named winner of one of the American Foreign Service Association's annual awards. Jim is currently posted in Pretoria, South Africa. He was an active Harmonizer from 1998-2009 and worked hard to be sure senior citizen groups were at our shows. He also was noted for his classic role as the “cow” in one of our Holiday shows.
Here is the official word: The Christian A. Herter Award for this year goes to Dr. James W. Bayuk. a medical officer who, “seeks to improve the medical services offered to his colleagues
wherever he serves.” In 2006, he was awarded the Department’s Award for Innovative Use of
Technology for his work on linking post-specific medical information to the Overseas Briefing Center.
Steve also reported that Dick Hall had called and said Carolyn was in Room 829 at Southern Maryland Hospital Center and will be there for a few weeks for therapy after breaking her leg. Cards can be mailed to her there – 7502 Surratts Rd., Clinton, MD 20735. Dick says she is getting along pretty well but working hard to do all the therapy.
Finally, President Steve reported that the chapter had received a generous check from the Potomac Harmony Sweet Adeline chorus to help us with convention expenses. Thanks to our friends in another local barbershop group in NoVa.
Then back to work on contest drills!
Also Joe got the guys caught up on “In Harmony” which we will sing with the groups on our June 26th show.
He begged for guys to do their homework.
And then Director Joe grabbed a couple chairs and invited Victor Hills and Bill Curtis to sit in front of the chorus so we could sing the traditional “There Will Always Be A Place on The Risers for You.” We wish all the best to Victor who is headed off to West Point, and to Bill who is moving to Colorado.
The two honorees co-directed KTWWS and it was a wrap for the nite.
A good crowd of guys went over to the Hilton for an afterglow and we all sat outside to enjoy a great evening. Former Harmonizer, Mike Louque, stopped by while he was in town and came to the afterglow to see us.
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Friday, June 10, 2011
Looking Back on Yet Another Busy Harmo Weekend, the Supreme Court Show and the June 7 Chapter Meeting
Besides the hugely successful retreat weekend, chapter members were out there singing and spreading word about the hobby!
Western Division Contest
Friday nite, June 3, there were Alexandria guys performing and working at the Western Division contest in Camp Hill, PA.
Two Harmonizers, Steve White and Rick Taylor, are in a new quartet, MAD HATTERS that won the Western division contest and will sing at the fall district contest, The others in the quartet are former Harmonizer, Scott Disney, and Rob Seay from the Chorus of the Chesapeake.
This makes two division champ quartets that have Harmonizers singing in them – MAD HATTERS and MAYHEM.
Jay Butterfield was emcee for the Friday nite quartet contest. He had the unusual duty of introducing himself and TOUCHSTONE with Steve White, Rich Gray and Rob Seay. Their quartet is the outgoing Western Division Champs and current M-AD Quartet Champs. This was their Division swan song.
WHEELHOUSE was the mic tester quartet for the contest.
Rick Taylor is director of Dundalk, MD, chapter who won the Western Division chorus contest.
YeEd noted that Dennis Richey and Mike Kelley had to leave retreat to go back to the division event on Saturday nite. They both are critical to the operation of division contests.
World War II Honoree Flight
Also squeezed into this week was the gathering of barbershoppers at Dulles Airport to welcome a World War II Honoree flight. There were 16 Harmonizers who made it out to the airport by 8:30 am, Monday, June 6th, to join guys from the Fairfax Chapter and the Harmony Heritage Singers, and some guys from other local chapters. Bob Wachter coordinated a crowd of barbershop singers to help welcome honoree well-known barbershopper, Jim Miller from Louisville, KY. He directed the Louisville Thoroughbreds to 7 gold chorus medals and Cincinnati Western Hills to 1 gold.
There were some delays and flight changes, tho, and some of us had to head back to work.
But Jim’s flight did arrive about 2 pm and he, and all the Veterans, were thrilled. Jim even set aside his walker and directed his barbershopper fans in singing “God Bless America.” Our guys who stayed said it was an amazing experience. Pete Frank, who stayed in VA after the retreat so he could be here for Tuesday’s rehearsal, attended and confessed it was a really moving barbershop moment.
The WWII Honors program brings veterans of that era to DC to see the new memorial. During the morning, CLICHÉ sang “God Bless The USA” and we all joined in with Joe Cerutti directing. The quartet includes Harmonizers Bob Wachter, Rob Nutt and Lou Manfre who sing with Jerry Eiler who, altho not a Harmonizer, is one of the top White Ornament salesmen every year for us.)
Supreme Court Show
Monday nite, the chorus sang again for the Supreme Court Historical Society in the great Supreme Court building. It was an exciting event starting with finding parking or riding the Metro with a chorus uniform bag, then going thru the tight security. Everyone’s Social Security number had to be submitted by the chapter secretary.
Here is reporter Alan Wile’s copy about the experience.
“Don Dillingham, Mike Gilmore, Victor Hills, Carl Kauffmann, Nick Leiserson, Ken Rub, Greg Tepe and Alan Wile met at the Supreme Court “Lawyers Lounge” and enjoyed box lunches while awaiting the arrival of Bob Blair … and permission to bring the Harmovan down to the loading dock area. All were issued “contractor” badges (after security screening).
“Eventually, Bob was cleared to back the Harmovan down the ramp … and did a commendable job. Boxes, risers, and all manner of Harmo-paraphernalia was removed. Some was set aside while the rest was rolled and carried to the elevator … which we had to share with the caterers. Once all the necessary items were unloaded the boxes had to be put back in the truck … and the truck removed until it would return to reverse the process.
“Our riser crew put up six sets of risers (three regular and three reverse sections) in front of the huge American flag at the end of the hall. When in place the risers nearly ran across the entire end of the hall. All this was observed by security and other Supreme Court personnel. Once done, we departed. We received excellent cooperation from the Court Marshals, security personnel, Historical Society personnel, the caterer supervisor, and escorts.
“As it happened, however, after we’d left, it was determined that our risers blocked the route the SWAT Team would have to take (if needed). So “they” removed one riser section and adjusted the remaining sections. With 80 guys expected, we adjusted to the crowded risers, and managed.
“Harmonizers began to arrive about 6 p.m. and were directed to the cafeteria as the staging area for dressing and rehearsing. Terry Reynolds distributed paper copies of all the musical changes to our contest set made at the retreat … and we were informed that the uptune would not be on the evening’s program. Meanwhile, we helped ourselves to water and milled around until 7:30, when chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, called us to line up.
“Will Cox conducted clapping sequences and warm-up drills. Joe rehearsed us on the evenings’ songs and had us turn toward the center and squeeze together to get the feel of what we might experience once on the risers. Although choreography was to be performed (to the extent possible), our focal was to be on Joe for each song.
“Eventually we moved to the ready room where we enjoyed some sweets and more water. Called to line up (in flat lines, a la the riser setup), Joe rehearsed us a bit until it was time to head for the dinner venue and our performance.
“We opened with “Great Day,” followed by “Ob La Di, Drunken Sailor, Summertime, NY-NY,” and ended with the “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Joe was “out front” but because of the closeness of the dinner guests, was restricted to a spot about 24 inches from the front row. So that he could be seen, he directed with his hands held high.
“Scipio Garling handled emcee duties for two of the songs. Scott Kahler handled the sound work. We were well-received and every song resulted in enthusiastic applause.
“Our final number and departure from the risers marked the end of the dinner. After changing, a goodly number helped to strike the set and take it all down to the loading area. Although the Harmovan was allowed to come down the ramp to the loading area, it was not permitted to remain longer than it took to load up. As a result, all our equipment had to be staged and readied for loading. Bob Blair did yeoman work at every stage – it couldn’t have been done as well without him. Kudos to the guys who stayed with him to finish the job.
YeEd has not gotten a confirmed or final list of Justices that were present, but several guys said they saw four.
Tuesday Rehearsal June 7th
This was a crucial rehearsal and chapter meeting and it was a success on all points. After the great retreat weekend, the guys on the risers accepted the challenge of incorporating changes and suggested improvements. The handout prepared by music vp, Terry Reynolds, which summarized the study points, helped the guys be prepared.
The chapter admin team did their usual good job of having the meeting hall ready – risers, guest chairs, coffee on to brew, sound and av equipment set, guest welcome station in place, and a row of admin tables for all the stations where guys needed to take care of the many details for the trip to Kansas City. Getting all the contest props into the hall is a big job each week. Several guys tried their skill on the trampolines as part of the contest set.
Will Cox did the warm up and stimulated a lot of energy on the risers.
Director Joe was ready to lead the work sessions. He has more gift cards to present to hard workers and gave one to Bob Rhome for all the contribution he makes each week. Joe wanted to sing and work. He remarked, “The retreat was awesome. Let’s relive it!”
And that is what happened.
The front row went to the lobby to work with visual coach, Geri Geis.
Joe and the visual team taught guys on the four riser rows the moves that replace the moves needed to handle the sunglasses – which won’t be used on the risers.
The music and visual teams led the chorus thru a solid review with lots of reps. Jim Lake was pitch man this week.
Mid way in the evening, there was a chapter meeting session full of announcements guys needed to hear in prep for the contest and other events the chapter is involved in this month.
Ian Poulin has afterglow tickets for the June 2th East Coast Harmony Show. $20 each. Get yours.
Secretary, Chris Buechler, presented membership renewal cards to Nick Murane for 6 years, and to Ike Evans for 24 years.
Jack Cameron is eager to get everyone’s contest photo order form.
Brad Jones offered consignment tickets for the big show on the 26th.
Steve Lingo welcomed guests including Kevin Lynch from Hilltop, MN, and Jeff Waggett, from McLean, nephew of Ev Nau, who was also a guest this week. Welcome all.
After the coffee break, Joe stressed the need for guys to sell tickets for the June show!!! If you don’t have a customer, he makes his usual offer. Buy 4 or 5 tickets and give them to him to issue to college or hi school guys who would benefit from seeing the show.
Then it was back to work. It was really hot outside and so when the air conditioning was shut off by the city at 9 pm, the temp jumped to 80 degrees in the hall. But the guys didn’t let up. Director Joe apologized to the men for the heat and they all were appreciative and willing to keep going. The repeated drills and reps were a workout for all.
The drills continued til a little after 10 pm and then it was more work to reload the boxes onto the truck.
Other Harmonizer Family News
Dick Hall reported that Carolyn had fallen and broken her leg again. She is at Southern Maryland Hospital Center, Room 435, 7502 Surratts Rd., Clinton, MD 20735. Dick thinks she will be moving from the hospital to another location for therapy. Good luck Carolyn.
Myles Glancy was at Durant to see the contest set and visit with all. He departs soon for graduate studies in music in New England. Good luck. Come see us when you can.
Bruce Roehm is headed to Great Falls, MT, this week for his next military assignment. He has been busy supervising the truck loading process. But he will be with the front row in Kansas City. Hurray!
We closed the meeting with guest, Ev Nau from the BHS Foundation staff in Nashville, TN, directing “Keep The Whole World Singing.” He mentioned that he had been getting a lot of phone calls from someone named Lew Klinge. (Too bad Lew was not there for a face-to-face meeting!)
Everyone was headed home and bidding farewell with a chuckle that we don’t have a Harmonizer event for a whole week!
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Western Division Contest
Friday nite, June 3, there were Alexandria guys performing and working at the Western Division contest in Camp Hill, PA.
Two Harmonizers, Steve White and Rick Taylor, are in a new quartet, MAD HATTERS that won the Western division contest and will sing at the fall district contest, The others in the quartet are former Harmonizer, Scott Disney, and Rob Seay from the Chorus of the Chesapeake.
This makes two division champ quartets that have Harmonizers singing in them – MAD HATTERS and MAYHEM.
Jay Butterfield was emcee for the Friday nite quartet contest. He had the unusual duty of introducing himself and TOUCHSTONE with Steve White, Rich Gray and Rob Seay. Their quartet is the outgoing Western Division Champs and current M-AD Quartet Champs. This was their Division swan song.
WHEELHOUSE was the mic tester quartet for the contest.
Rick Taylor is director of Dundalk, MD, chapter who won the Western Division chorus contest.
YeEd noted that Dennis Richey and Mike Kelley had to leave retreat to go back to the division event on Saturday nite. They both are critical to the operation of division contests.
World War II Honoree Flight
Also squeezed into this week was the gathering of barbershoppers at Dulles Airport to welcome a World War II Honoree flight. There were 16 Harmonizers who made it out to the airport by 8:30 am, Monday, June 6th, to join guys from the Fairfax Chapter and the Harmony Heritage Singers, and some guys from other local chapters. Bob Wachter coordinated a crowd of barbershop singers to help welcome honoree well-known barbershopper, Jim Miller from Louisville, KY. He directed the Louisville Thoroughbreds to 7 gold chorus medals and Cincinnati Western Hills to 1 gold.
There were some delays and flight changes, tho, and some of us had to head back to work.
But Jim’s flight did arrive about 2 pm and he, and all the Veterans, were thrilled. Jim even set aside his walker and directed his barbershopper fans in singing “God Bless America.” Our guys who stayed said it was an amazing experience. Pete Frank, who stayed in VA after the retreat so he could be here for Tuesday’s rehearsal, attended and confessed it was a really moving barbershop moment.
The WWII Honors program brings veterans of that era to DC to see the new memorial. During the morning, CLICHÉ sang “God Bless The USA” and we all joined in with Joe Cerutti directing. The quartet includes Harmonizers Bob Wachter, Rob Nutt and Lou Manfre who sing with Jerry Eiler who, altho not a Harmonizer, is one of the top White Ornament salesmen every year for us.)
Supreme Court Show
Monday nite, the chorus sang again for the Supreme Court Historical Society in the great Supreme Court building. It was an exciting event starting with finding parking or riding the Metro with a chorus uniform bag, then going thru the tight security. Everyone’s Social Security number had to be submitted by the chapter secretary.
Here is reporter Alan Wile’s copy about the experience.
“Don Dillingham, Mike Gilmore, Victor Hills, Carl Kauffmann, Nick Leiserson, Ken Rub, Greg Tepe and Alan Wile met at the Supreme Court “Lawyers Lounge” and enjoyed box lunches while awaiting the arrival of Bob Blair … and permission to bring the Harmovan down to the loading dock area. All were issued “contractor” badges (after security screening).
“Eventually, Bob was cleared to back the Harmovan down the ramp … and did a commendable job. Boxes, risers, and all manner of Harmo-paraphernalia was removed. Some was set aside while the rest was rolled and carried to the elevator … which we had to share with the caterers. Once all the necessary items were unloaded the boxes had to be put back in the truck … and the truck removed until it would return to reverse the process.
“Our riser crew put up six sets of risers (three regular and three reverse sections) in front of the huge American flag at the end of the hall. When in place the risers nearly ran across the entire end of the hall. All this was observed by security and other Supreme Court personnel. Once done, we departed. We received excellent cooperation from the Court Marshals, security personnel, Historical Society personnel, the caterer supervisor, and escorts.
“As it happened, however, after we’d left, it was determined that our risers blocked the route the SWAT Team would have to take (if needed). So “they” removed one riser section and adjusted the remaining sections. With 80 guys expected, we adjusted to the crowded risers, and managed.
“Harmonizers began to arrive about 6 p.m. and were directed to the cafeteria as the staging area for dressing and rehearsing. Terry Reynolds distributed paper copies of all the musical changes to our contest set made at the retreat … and we were informed that the uptune would not be on the evening’s program. Meanwhile, we helped ourselves to water and milled around until 7:30, when chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, called us to line up.
“Will Cox conducted clapping sequences and warm-up drills. Joe rehearsed us on the evenings’ songs and had us turn toward the center and squeeze together to get the feel of what we might experience once on the risers. Although choreography was to be performed (to the extent possible), our focal was to be on Joe for each song.
“Eventually we moved to the ready room where we enjoyed some sweets and more water. Called to line up (in flat lines, a la the riser setup), Joe rehearsed us a bit until it was time to head for the dinner venue and our performance.
“We opened with “Great Day,” followed by “Ob La Di, Drunken Sailor, Summertime, NY-NY,” and ended with the “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Joe was “out front” but because of the closeness of the dinner guests, was restricted to a spot about 24 inches from the front row. So that he could be seen, he directed with his hands held high.
“Scipio Garling handled emcee duties for two of the songs. Scott Kahler handled the sound work. We were well-received and every song resulted in enthusiastic applause.
“Our final number and departure from the risers marked the end of the dinner. After changing, a goodly number helped to strike the set and take it all down to the loading area. Although the Harmovan was allowed to come down the ramp to the loading area, it was not permitted to remain longer than it took to load up. As a result, all our equipment had to be staged and readied for loading. Bob Blair did yeoman work at every stage – it couldn’t have been done as well without him. Kudos to the guys who stayed with him to finish the job.
YeEd has not gotten a confirmed or final list of Justices that were present, but several guys said they saw four.
Tuesday Rehearsal June 7th
This was a crucial rehearsal and chapter meeting and it was a success on all points. After the great retreat weekend, the guys on the risers accepted the challenge of incorporating changes and suggested improvements. The handout prepared by music vp, Terry Reynolds, which summarized the study points, helped the guys be prepared.
The chapter admin team did their usual good job of having the meeting hall ready – risers, guest chairs, coffee on to brew, sound and av equipment set, guest welcome station in place, and a row of admin tables for all the stations where guys needed to take care of the many details for the trip to Kansas City. Getting all the contest props into the hall is a big job each week. Several guys tried their skill on the trampolines as part of the contest set.
Will Cox did the warm up and stimulated a lot of energy on the risers.
Director Joe was ready to lead the work sessions. He has more gift cards to present to hard workers and gave one to Bob Rhome for all the contribution he makes each week. Joe wanted to sing and work. He remarked, “The retreat was awesome. Let’s relive it!”
And that is what happened.
The front row went to the lobby to work with visual coach, Geri Geis.
Joe and the visual team taught guys on the four riser rows the moves that replace the moves needed to handle the sunglasses – which won’t be used on the risers.
The music and visual teams led the chorus thru a solid review with lots of reps. Jim Lake was pitch man this week.
Mid way in the evening, there was a chapter meeting session full of announcements guys needed to hear in prep for the contest and other events the chapter is involved in this month.
Ian Poulin has afterglow tickets for the June 2th East Coast Harmony Show. $20 each. Get yours.
Secretary, Chris Buechler, presented membership renewal cards to Nick Murane for 6 years, and to Ike Evans for 24 years.
Jack Cameron is eager to get everyone’s contest photo order form.
Brad Jones offered consignment tickets for the big show on the 26th.
Steve Lingo welcomed guests including Kevin Lynch from Hilltop, MN, and Jeff Waggett, from McLean, nephew of Ev Nau, who was also a guest this week. Welcome all.
After the coffee break, Joe stressed the need for guys to sell tickets for the June show!!! If you don’t have a customer, he makes his usual offer. Buy 4 or 5 tickets and give them to him to issue to college or hi school guys who would benefit from seeing the show.
Then it was back to work. It was really hot outside and so when the air conditioning was shut off by the city at 9 pm, the temp jumped to 80 degrees in the hall. But the guys didn’t let up. Director Joe apologized to the men for the heat and they all were appreciative and willing to keep going. The repeated drills and reps were a workout for all.
The drills continued til a little after 10 pm and then it was more work to reload the boxes onto the truck.
Other Harmonizer Family News
Dick Hall reported that Carolyn had fallen and broken her leg again. She is at Southern Maryland Hospital Center, Room 435, 7502 Surratts Rd., Clinton, MD 20735. Dick thinks she will be moving from the hospital to another location for therapy. Good luck Carolyn.
Myles Glancy was at Durant to see the contest set and visit with all. He departs soon for graduate studies in music in New England. Good luck. Come see us when you can.
Bruce Roehm is headed to Great Falls, MT, this week for his next military assignment. He has been busy supervising the truck loading process. But he will be with the front row in Kansas City. Hurray!
We closed the meeting with guest, Ev Nau from the BHS Foundation staff in Nashville, TN, directing “Keep The Whole World Singing.” He mentioned that he had been getting a lot of phone calls from someone named Lew Klinge. (Too bad Lew was not there for a face-to-face meeting!)
Everyone was headed home and bidding farewell with a chuckle that we don’t have a Harmonizer event for a whole week!
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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
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