Looking Back on the March 20^th Together in Harmony Show 

The Alexandria Harmonizers joined forces with the Alexandria Singers to host Vocal Collective from Christchurch, New Zealand, in a concert Wed., March 20^th, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.  The sellout crowd filled the grand auditorium in the Memorial as a tribute and in support of the victims of the violence recently in Christchurch.

Vocal Collective is on tour in the USA and added the stop in Alexandria to join with barbershop friends here for the concert. But after the massacre in their hometown, the trip took on a whole new dimension. After this stop in Virginia, they will go on to New York and later sing at Carnegie Hall.

About 200 singers combined for the finale of the Together in Harmony show! The night started with remarks of encouragement and thanks from New Zealand Ambassador Rosemary Banks. She set the tone for the whole event with her assessment that the evening would be “unity and love exemplified by music.”

Emcee Bill Colosimo, director of the 80-member Alexandria Singers, also welcomed Imam Zia and Ms. Fatimah Popal, co-founder of Makespace American Muslim Community, who spoke and offered comfort as well as appreciation for early responders and the outpouring of national support for their brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Christchurch mosques. She suggested that “music can soothe and will make our hearts lighter.”

The 80-men of the Alexandria Harmonizers barbershop chorus were first up with an excitement-building performance of “Blow Gabriel Blow” featuring our great front row and Tony Colosimo as Gabriel.  Director Joe Cerutti thanked all those who came to support the effort and explained a little about the roots of barbershop which lead right into the chorus having fun with their rendition of “There Must Be a City” made famous by our friends THE FAIRFIELD FOUR. Frank Fedarko did the solo for this one. The chorus wore their black camp shirts.  

Our contemporary a cappella group, TBD – Jacob Broude, Josh Roots, Troy Hillier, Nick Lieserson, Noah Van Gilder, Connor Goss, Terry Reynolds, Clark Chesser, Brian Ammerman, Kellen Hertz, and Jeff  Berkey – sang “Rhythm of Love. ” 

For their final numbers, the Harmonizers performed Neil Diamond’s “America” and then involved the audience in singing “All You Need Is Love” with an interlude for everyone to hug and greet the person next to them. Clyde Crusenberry did the solo on this song. 

Without much break, the Alexandria Singers took center stage dressed in their royal blue and black combination outfits. The mixed voices group was formed in 1975 to sing pops music. They have grown and perform often in the DC metro area and have traveled overseas several times.

One of their songs featured songs from American Bandstand and that got folks in the audience doing the twist in the aisles.  Their piano accompanied show also included an Irish song they sang in Ireland and a great arrangement of “Shenandoah.”  Their special group was a cabaret set with Spanish guitar and dancers. Their finale was a collection of songs from the new movie “Sing.”

During the show, emcee Bill announced that the two Alexandria choruses would be giving their share of the show’s profit to the New Zealand support fund.  And he also announced the late breaking news that the venue hosts of the Masonic Memorial were also yielding their fee for the use of the hall to the fund raising effort.

The 40 singers from Christchurch took the stage next wearing black outfits with accent pieces in bright pastel colors. Their artistic director, Matthew Everingham was their accompanist and spokesperson.  He too spoke about the special treat to share the joy of their music with the other singers and the audience.  They had a number of friends in the audience waving New Zealand flags and leading the cheers!
 
Their mixed voice 40-singer group is an outgrowth of the Christchurch Pop Choir. They sang Bruce Springsteen’s “Up for the Rising” and Carol King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” They sang one beautiful song in the Maori language.  Their special group was a barbershop quartet with David Merriman, tenor;  Ed Dempsey, lead, both barbershop singers from NZ who are in Vocal Collective; Bill Colosimo from the Singers on bari; and Andrew Havens from the Harmonizers on bass.  They sang “Now Is the Hour” with a second verse with the NZ guys in their language and the Virginia guys in English.  It was awesome.

The Vocal Collective finale was “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”

Then there was a huge finale of all three groups! The Harmonizers and Vocal Collective sang Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” accompanied by Matthew. And then the Alexandria Singers joined the stage for all three groups to sing Joe Liles’ original song and SATB arrangement of “Let There Be Music, Let There Be Love.”

The newsworthy event did attract local media from NBC and Fox and they both had coverage on the late evening news. It was broadcast via Acaville.org to their subscribers. 

Leaders who coordinated the event from the beginning and then adjusted many aspects of the night after the disaster in New Zealand included Bill Colosimo, Joe Cerutti, Randall Eliason, Liz Birnbaum, Joe Cerutti Sr., Catherine Colosimo, Robyn Murane, Shawn Tallant, and Steve Murane.

Ticket chairman was Dean Sherick. Robyn coordinated a large crew of volunteers to manage tickets sales and collection, usher guests, host singing guests, and collect donations to the relief fund. The Harmonizer usual riser crew was on hand to move in and out. Mike Kelly and Dennis Ritchey and crew provided the sound equipment for the show.

There was a program insert distributed to all attendees for the show offering a QR Code for individual giving.  The link is https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/christchurch-shooting-victims-fund for those who might wish to contribute to the fund suggested by the Vocal Collective.

There was a fun afterglow at Chadwicks in Old Town Alexandria after the show with a huge crowd of singers from all three choruses there to meet and greet and support the new friends from New Zealand. 

Until next time – editorjack! 

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 70^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the March 19^th Chapter Meeting 

The chorus arrived at the meeting place ready to work on the music for Wednesday nite’s Together in Harmony show.  Associate director Tony Colosimo conducted the warm up session in conjunction with Reed Livergood.  Then Tony worked with the singers on the two songs we will sing in the show finale with the Alexandria Singers and the Vocal Collective.

Director Joe Cerutti then announced some major changes for the show because of the awful news that came in from New Zealand a few days ago. Our goal is to help our singer friends from Christchurch in Vocal Collective to know that we support them in light of the disaster that happened in their home town just before they had to depart for the USA.

Song selection changes meant we would not sing “Empty Chairs” and replace it with “America.” 

There will be some special guests on hand for the nite including the New Zealand Ambassador. There is already word that there will be media on hand from local NBC and Fox Channels.

With that news, it was on to work on the songs for the show.  The chorus has worked hard on their own to prepare the music and visual presentation for the package.  The front row has worked extra hard too, as have all the brand new chorus members who had it all to learn!

During the evening, the chorus also worked on some of the brand new songs we are adding for 2019. 

Three guests were on hand from NZ early in the evening.  Joe welcomed barbershopper Ed Dempsey, Loretta Dempsey, and David Merriman.

Communications director Steve Murane conducted this week’s meeting which included some details about arrivals and duty assignments for the show. Mostly note that the chorus arrives warmed up and dressed at 5:15 pm.  Earlier groups will be there to set up risers and ticket counters and such. 

There will be tickets for sale at the door. Just $10 ea. There will be an afterglow at Chadwicks in Old Town after the show.

Our next big chpater event is the Youth Harmony Festival on Fri. April 5^th.  Harmonizer education director Sheryl Berlin has increased the number of student attendees to 130!!

Then comes Spring2ACTion – one of our major fund raiser activities – April 10^th.

President Shawn Tallant reported that Mark Klostermeyer ruptured his achilles tendon over the weekend.  Stay tuned for more details.  Joe reports that Scott Kahler’s dad, Ray, has been placed in hospice.  Both Scott and his dad were Harmonizers.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Connor Goss for 2 years; Turner Arndt for 5 years; Dave Branstetter for 14 years; Kevin McKenzie for 20 years; and Chris Huber for 27 years.

In addition to the guests from New Zealand, Jimmy Miotto was present for his second visit.  He is a tenor singer and friend of Jacob Broude.

In other chapter news, the Harmonizer history team was happy to receive four boxes of former show scripts from Ken Fess who is preparing to sell his home and is downsizing.  Thanks to committee member Bob Rhome for getting the donation from Ken.

Thanks to Dean Sherrick for offering to take on the project of scanning our 50^th anniversary book “Breathless Moments.”  And thanks to Gary Cregan for spotting a coffee pot for a good price on sale at a thrift store to replace the one we lost this winter. 

Until next time – editorjack! 

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 70^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the March 12^th Chapter Meeting 

The pre-meeting time was busy tonite – setting risers back in place in the performance space at Scottish Rite Temple, a board of directors meeting  in the library, the front row guys working on their routine for uptunes in another room, and a stage presence review for new guys with Chuck McKeever in the main lobby space. As usual Mark Klostermeyer staffed the welcome station for guests in the lobby as well.

To start off the music workout for tonite, associate director Tony Colosimo conducted a vigorous warm up session and then turned the chorus over to director Joe Cerutti.  He announced coach Cy Wood will be with us April 9^th, and gave a brief preview of what music would be worked on tonite and then enthusiastically  welcomed our coach and chorus friend, Kevin Keller from the Ambassadors of Harmony in the St. Louis area.  

Kevin gave a plug to the weekly “Looking Back” he also receives as a coach of the chapter and thanked us for keeping him well informed about things in Alexandria. (He shared with YeEd that he figures it a great help for members to know what they missed if they were on travel or were ill.) 

Kevin worked with the chorus on “Anything Goes” which he had arranged for the chorus a few years ago (we sang it at the International contest in Toronto where we earned a third place medal).

Communication director Steve Murane conducted the chapter meeting portion of the nite.  He encouraged guys to prepare for the March 20^th show and especially for new guys to talk to Robyn Murane regarding any uniform needs they have for that performance.

Earlier in the evening Joe and Tony worked with the singers on the two songs for the  Together in Harmony show which we will sing with the other singing groups – “Let There Be Music, Let There Be Love” with the Alexandria Singers directed by Bill Colosimo, and “Hallelujah” with Vocal Collective  from New Zealand.

The show starts at 7 pm  altho the chorus reports at 5:15, volunteers 5 pm at George Washington National Memorial in Alexandria. Harmonizers and volunteers wear black camp shirt with black pants. Tickets are just $10.  Help spread the word on this fun show – Dean Sherick has tickets for those who want them to sell directly.

There was more good news about our Youth Harmony Festival set for Friday, April 5^th here at SRT.  Education director Sheryl Berlin has preregistered 107 students so far!!  Then Rob Barnovsky reported more operational details about our Festival.  He is recruiting volunteers for registration; food operations such as breaks, lunch and dinner; and ushers to welcome parents and friends to the evening concert when the chorus and youth choruses will sing.

Donations will be collected on Tuesday March 26^th and April 2 such as chips and snacks, cookie packets; fruit such as apples, bananas, grapes and oranges; bottled waters; and assorted sodas and juices, OR $5 to use day of the event.  Rob will also need about 6 large coolers – tell him if you can offer one. 

The chapter’s History Committee would like to digitize “Breathless Moments” and wants  to hear from any member who has equipment and time to tackle such a big job.  Contact Jack Pitzer for more details if you can help.

Executive director Randall Eliason reminds the entire chapter – all the active and former members, as well as family members, about Spring 2ACTion which will be April 10^th.  He will be informing all of us about how to make donations during the day, and final arrangements for the always-fun time at Virtue Feed & Grain in Old Town that nite when donors and customers help us raise funds.  Members and guests are all welcome.

Randall also shared a letter from a former member who sang with us in our first International contest competition – Phil Krepps. Originally Phil responded to a recent letter from the chapter that went to all Harmonizer alumni. He explaining that for some reason because of travel after that 1978 convention in Cincinnati, he never got his fourth place medal.  So one of our members gave up his bronze medal from that contest, and the chapter sent it to Phil.  He was overjoyed to get it and wrote to say thanks for making the 40-year memory complete!   There was resounding response that “It Is Great to Be a Harmonizer!”

The Harmonizers guys in “Riptide” band welcome anyone to come to the battle of the bands at the Electric Palm in Occoquan, VA, March 31^st at 4pm.

President Shawn Tallant reports that some guys have visited with Mick Stamps and the report is he will be headed back to see us soon!

Shawn thanked Joe and the good turn-out of singers who helped with the celebration of life for Ken Ives’ wife Charlene last Friday. 

We all joined Shawn in welcoming our newest member Turner Arndt! 

Shawn also announced that the chapter will not appear at the Southern Division contest convention in Baltimore on the May 31/June 1 weekend.  

Finally he announced another Meritorious Service Award presented to Jason Lee who has provided work in the chorus including assuming bari section leader duties recently.  This was another of the awards that the president makes annually.

Next, quartet members of SILVER ALERT (Rick Savage, Mike Edison, Will Cox, and Steve Murane) spoke to their fellow members and in short, offered to help anyone who is interested in forming a quartet.  The spoke of the fun great experiences of singing in an organized quartet. Several guys met with them at break!! This is a great addition to the chapter plan for 2019.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented new membership materials to Ryan Mextorf and a Man of Note pin to his sponsor, Terry Reynolds; plus membership renewal cards to Frank Shipp for 17 years and to Chuck Powell for 25 years. Chuck also received his 25-year lapel pin from the chapter.  

Jon Frank helped the membership team and introduced this week’s guests – Chris and Laird. 

After break we worked on “Empty Chairs” with Frank Fedarko doing the solo, and then a chunk of time on Jay Giallombardo’s arrangement of “Brotherhood of Man.”

We closed the nite with Kevin and “Keep The Whole World Singing.”

A much larger crowd of guys were at this week’s afterglow around the corner at Ramparts.

In other news, the chapter history committee was pleased to receive Harmo materials from Lynn Andrew’s widow, Pat.  Bob Rhome and Martin Banks retrieved it for our archives.  As is always the case, the committee is happy to accept all materials from members, then they sort it for historical relevance or other uses.  In this case, there was a lot of music which will be shared with chapter librarian Bob Mattes. Lynn was a Harmonizer for 28 years and did much to arrange and manage music for the chapter.  He died in 2013 at age 72.



Until next time – editorjack! 

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 70^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the March 5^th  Chapter Meeting 

The extreme cold weather didn’t seem to reduce the numbers of Harmonizers at the meeting this week.  Early arrivals were there for a front row drill with new front row guy Jacob Broude, and a stage presence review with Chuck McKeever behind the riser area. When things kicked off at 7 pm, associate director Tony Colosimo conducted another thorough warm up exercise.

When director Joe Cerutti took the helm, he shared some fun stories from his recent trip to the convention of the American Choral Directors Association conference.  Two folks coming thru the trade show who stopped at the BHS booth asked Joe if he had heard of the Alexandria Harmonizers!!  Joe had a big surprise for them when he told them he was our director!  Joe also shared a wonderful note the chapter had received from Joyce Garrett who was key in our relationship with the Alfred Street Men’s Choir – and was our Award of Harmony honoree last year. 

Joe reminded everyone that coach Kevin Keller will be with us next Tuesday nite.

Finally Joe suggested that guys should contact Mick Stamps now that he is doing better; and that guys should reach out to support Ken Ives at this time of the sudden loss of his wife Charlene. 

When we went to work on our music for the nite, Joe started with the two songs that we will sing on the March 20^th Together in Harmony show with the other singing groups – “Let There Be Music, Let There Be Love” with the Alexandria Singers directed by Bill Colosimo, and “Hallelujah” with Vocal Collective  from New Zealand.

The show starts at 7 pm  altho the chorus reports at 5:15, volunteers 5 pm at George Washington National Memorial in Alexandria. Harmonizers and volunteers wear black camp shirt with black pants. Songs will be “Blow Gabriel,” “There Will Be a City,” “We Kiss,” “Empty Chairs,” and “All You Need is Love.” Tickets are just $10.  Help spread the word on this fun show – Dean Sherick has tickets for those who want them to sell directly.

As previously announced in the HarmoGram published each week prior to chapter (thanks Dave Branstetter), the chorus members were assigned to four different discussion groups for one hour to flesh out the short term actions needed to continue progress on our chapter’s strategic plan.  The break out topics were Vocal Excellence, Community Outreach, Branding, and Fiscal Health.  Group monitors were from current boards.

After that hour, it was break with guys singing tags or some of our new songs all around the meeting space.

Steve Murane conducted the weekly chapter meeting.  He started with the info mentioned above about the March 20^th event. 

Then Rob Barnovsky reported more details about our Youth Harmony Festival on Friday, April 5^th at Scottish Rite Temple.  He is coordinator of many of the operational matters for that day including recruiting volunteers from the chapter and soliciting donations from the members too. Rob reports our education director Sheryl Berlin already has 75 youth signed up but any members who have family members or know prospective youth singers can still sign them up for the day-long event.

Stay tuned for how to sign up as a volunteer (volunteers will be invited to take the online BHS youth protection certification).  Guys will be needed for set up; registration; food operations such as breaks, lunch and dinner; and welcoming parents and friends to the evening concert when the chorus and youth choruses will sing.

Donations will be collected on Tuesday March 26^th and April 2 such as chips and snacks, cookie packets; fruit such as apples, bananas, grapes and oranges; bottled waters; and assorted sodas and juices.  Rob will also need about 6 large coolers – tell him if you can offer one. 

President Shawn Tallant invited Terry Reynolds to announce plans for singing at the Ives funeral (all the singer volunteers met after chapter and set the report time at 10:15 for the 11 am service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Price Frederick, MD. The ensemble will sing “I’ll Walk with God’ and will wear personal suit and tie.  There is a need for more tenors and baritones.  Let Terry know if you can help.)

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Clyde Crusenberry for 9 years; Chris Odell for 10 years; Ian Poulin for 19 years; and Will Cox for 41 years!

Membership director Calvin Schnure welcomed guests Turner Arndt (who auditioned after the meeting and has submitted his application for membership in the bass section); and Cody Leihgeber-Carpenter who attended the marketing break-out-session.  

Then Joe took over to work more on the music.  When the chorus did the “Blow Gabriel” with stage presence moves, Joe paid tribute to our two blind members who work extra hard to be up to par despite the challenges!  We thank Brian and Aaron!

Tim Cash was back with us after being away most of last year back in KY and directed “Keep The Whole World Singing” to close out our productive nite together.

Until next time – editorjack! 

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 70^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd