Looking Back on April 21st Chapter Meeting

Looking Back on April 21st Chapter Meeting

(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. —Ye Ed.)

We all got word that “After 9 fun-filled years, BACHELOR PARTY is turning up the lights and winding down the party. Our final formal performance will be on the Harmonizer Spring Tonic in May. Our recent role in "The Music Man" seems a fitting end for our quartet - what can top being the River City School Board?” They have been a great chapter quartet!

This Tuesday nite the hard rains and hail didn’t seem to keep many folks away – they just arrived soaking wet!! Risers were up early as they were already in the hall. But new black platforms built by Bill Stewart (4 ft x 8 ft. in various heights) were unloaded off the HarmoVan tho. The chorus will stand on them vs. risers for the Tonic.

The front row was working hard in the lobby with new guys and also to review all the songs for the show. And the stage was full of guys reviewing their moves for songs with McKeever.

Tony C did the warm ups and then Director Joe jumped in with work on show songs. Ken White, who has a heavy load to carry for the show theme, was ready with his solos and exchanges with the chorus.

Producers Fess and Stamps coordinated a run thru of the first act of the show with blue tape on the floor to show the larger stage. Sound guy Kahler had to continue to “pull” guys up front on that stage area where the mics will be!

Before the break, Secretary Buechler gave out membership renewal cards to several: Patrick Kim for two years, Dan O’Brien for four, Joe Cerutti for 8, Peter Frank for 16, Bruce Minnick for 32 and Gary Mankin for 37 years.

Dan O plugged guest nite coming up on May 12th. He had calling cards and flyers and all sorts of marketing materials to help members recruit. He introduced another good crop of guests – some first timers too.

When Will Cox got up to lead us in the Harmonizer Welcome song, he first lead the guys in singing Happy Birthday to Dick Hall and Joe Cerutti. Dick still calls each Harmonizer on their birthday! Cake was served along with the usual goodies for a short break.

After break, the meeting included a ticket sales pitch from Dean Rust. Terry Reynolds prompted singers to get in their self-evaluated tapes to their section leaders by Thursday.

Joe announced that Jim Lucey had garnered an invited for us to sing with the Alexandria Symphony on July 11th. More to come if we can make it work. Joe was excited about the opportunity for the chorus to reach out into the music community.

President Brad thanked all the many helpers for the Youth Harmony Festival (and offered to sell left over t-shirts for $12). A spontaneous cheer for all Brad did came from the guys!!!

Brad presented another You Make A Difference star pin – this time to Dean Rust for his diligence in managing the chorus sign up system, both paper and electronic.

Quartet Promo guy Ken White welcomed FRiDAYS! quartet to sing for us.

The second half of the nite was used for contest preparation (and getting ready for the retreat coming up June 6th). Many guys were thanking Ryan Griffith for the terrific learning tapes for the new ballad.

The singing ended at 10 pm and then everything got put away before adjourning to the chapter afterglow. Speaking of afterglows, Mike Schwartz is selling tickets for the afterglow Sat nite May 9th. You save a couple buck s if you buy in advance.

Other Harmonizer news I have heard:

Max Kieba will spearhead work on picking Harmony College East scholarship winners (the Jack Shields Memorial Scholarships for high school quartets and their teachers). Bob Mattes has signed on to help librarian Dick Dangel in correcting the electronic versions of our repertoire sheet music so guests get accurate copies. Drew Dias has volunteered to lead youth outreach efforts in months ahead.

The Alexandria Choral Alliance will be launched Tues nite May 26th in a joint “concert” at Durant between the Harmonizers and the Alexandria Singers. We will sing a popular song written by former Society leader Joe Liles titled “Let There Be Music, Let There Be Love.” It will be introduced soon and we will use music that nite for those who don’t already know it.

Until next time – editorjack!