Looking Back on the September 13th Chapter Meeting

(Many thanks to Jacob George and Alan Wile for taking notes for this report. YeEd)

While the risers were retrieved from under the stage and set up, a number of Harmonizers were seated behind tables for the following purposes: Show Producer Brian Ammerman – hawking fall show tickets; Bruce Lauther – returning engraved medals; Ian Poulin – scrip and fall show afterglow ticket sales; Jack Cameron distributed chorus pictures from the Kansas City contest; Bob Blair collected registration forms for the China trip [deadline is 9/15 so get ‘em in if you intend to go!]; and Dan O’Brien, filling in as VP-Membership, greeted guests. Attendance was taken by .

At 7:00 p.m., sharp, VP-Operations Mark Klostermeyer (K-12) called “Harmonizers on the Risers” and Assistant Director Will Cox warmed us up. Immediately afterwards the chorus dispersed for sectionals on page 2-3 of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Turning to the songs to be performed on our fall show, Master Director Joe Cerutti first tackled “If I Loved You.” Next, it was “New York, New York.” “What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor” followed … during which Joe invited the basses to leave the room to work out a couple of sections.

Then it was “Summertime.” Just prior to the break we rehearsed “I’ll Be Seeing You.” VP-M&P Terry Reynolds was “out front” for several songs, as was TJ Jones who coached us on the choreography.

K-12 announced the following birthdays for this week. Secretary Chris Buechler presented our newest member, Paul Douglas, with the symbols of membership. Chris also presented Joe Wagovich with his 30-year membership card and lapel pin. Other members receiving membership renewal cards were Don Thompson (19 years), Bob Wilson (34 years), and Randy Lazear (with a whopping 37 years).

VP-Shows Ken White asked all members to sign up on the paper lists for the two performances on the 24th and Brian Ammerman asked that the members do the same for the afterglow, together with the number of tickets purchased/needed.

K-12 noted that Chris Buechler had Harmonizer logo shirts for those who ordered them.
Substitute VP-Membership Dan O’Brien introduced our six guests, after which Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome song.”

In addition, it was GREAT to see some members who returned from summer vacations, etc., and the following members who are not often present were in evidence: Terry Jordan, Bob Wilson, Al Herman, and Tom Kraus, and package show producer Greg Tepe.

Following the break (yes, there were goodies in the kitchen for the taking thanks to Bob Wilson), Brian Ammerman briefed us on the status of the fall show (not all good news):
o Sign up to perform – on both performances
o Riser crew needed at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23rd, to help Harmo-Van Driver Bob Blair set up and dress the risers
o Catering Team – Sam McFarland and Keith Jones
o Uniform requirements: yellow and blue shirts; yellow, blue & black ties; black suit, white tie/tails
o Ticket Sales: We need to sell about 500 tickets to break even. Currently less than 400 have been sold. Use your Facebook accounts to “like” and “share” news about the show … and do it more than once. Call friends to remind them about the show and encourage them to get tickets if they’ve not done so already. There will be an ad in The Washington Post and 3,200 postcards will be sent out to our patrons. Less than 2 weeks to go.

Directors Joe and Tony worked on “Hello, My Baby” and TJ Jones and Chuck Powell helped with the choreo. Joe returned to work “What Do I Need With Love” (with and without the Front Row, which was dismissed to work in the lobby). He briefly revisited some sections of “Hello, My Baby” before turning to “O Holy Night” – which brought us to 10:00 p.m.

K-12 urged all to sell tickets to the show one more time before asking Lew Klinge to “take us out” by directing “Keep The Whole World Singing.”

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.)