Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Harmonizers Sing at Independence Hall!


The Alexandria Harmonizers and Miss America joined forces to lead patriotic ceremonies at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4th. With a statue of Thomas Jefferson and a large replica of the Declaration of Independence as backdrop, Virginia and Pennsylvania were joined once again in a historic, full-voice Celebration of Freedom.

Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a former Miss Virginia and Miss Arlington, performed the National Anthem. A delegation from the Harmonizers, fresh from their 5th place International Chorus Contest performance, began the program with “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” following it later with “God Bless the USA.” The day’s festivities featured dignitaries, military units, and youth performers, and was followed by Philadelphia’s popular Independence Day parade that included a host of barbershoppers from the BHS International Convention.

The “incredible Alexandria Harmonizers” (as introduced by the M.C.) were clearly a hit during the event that was televised to an audience of 1.3 million viewers, helping to keep barbershop in the public’s eye as one of America’s unique forms of music. City officials were so impressed by our performance and our stage-savvy professionalism that they arranged for the Park Service to give our contingent a private tour of Independence Hall.

Under Master Director Joe Cerutti, the Alexandria Harmonizers Chorus competed this year among 27 groups from the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. With a total of 16 international contest medals including four gold medals, the Harmonizers have taken barbershop harmony and the name of Alexandria, Virginia across the United States, and indeed the world, in landmark performances in the Nation’s Capital, Carnegie Hall, Disneyland, and Canada, on the Internet, and in television broadcasts for the Kennedy Center Honors, Wolf Trap Galas, and America’s Got Talent.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Another in the long line of memorable days for the Alexandria Harmonizers. I was proud to be among the men on that stage.