Looking Back on the May 8th Chapter Meeting

The Harmonizer meeting and rehearsal started with a brief listening session (our av team plays something chosen by the music team) which also serves as a welcome to the risers and a reminder for members to put paperwork away and to join the guys on the risers.

This week we heard the 2001 performance by our own chapter at the International contest in Nashville, singing “Alexandria’s Ragtime Band.”

Associate director Tony Colosimo did a terrific warm up session and there was some teasing by director Joe Cerutti that Tony and assistant director Will Cox are in competition for the best warm up routines in the nation!

Joe announced that new member Doug White and his wife were likely at the hospital for birth of a new baby. 

Joe also shared that he was invited to judge this year’s World Choir Games in Cincinnati, OH.  It is a major event in the music world.  The barbershop contestants compete the week after Portland convention.  Congrats Joe!

Before we got to serious work on our music, all the new members since last July’s contest went with chapter admin and music leaders for new-guy-boot-camp.

First song we worked on was “I’m The Music Man” and Joe was very pleased with the progress on this new show opener.

The rest of the first half of the evening was used on the contest package.  In the end, stage left sang for stage right. Two weeks left before we compete in Roanoke.

Mark Klostermeyer filled in for ops vp Scott Kahler who is out of town.  First up was secretary Chris Buechler, who reminded several guys that they need to have paid their dues before the contest. He presented a 25-year renewal card and lapel pin to Paul Grimes. Renewal membership cards were presented to the following: Chris Buechler for 27 years; Bob Eckman for 28 years; Al Herman for 29 years; and Dick Hall for 48 years.

Show producer Nick Leiserson reminded guys to use the pending coffee break time to speak with Tom Kern for uniform needs for contest as Tom will on travel for two weeks. And Nick suggested guys stop and speak with him or shows vp Brian Ammerman about getting consignment tickets for the June 9 show.

Membership vp Phil Ashford welcome our guests – all are applicants.

There was a 10 minute break.

Then back to our meeting session. Brad Jones, our China trip coordinator, alerted guys about departure plans and to watch for an important email about passports.

Nick spoke more about plans for this important spring show on June 9^th.  Sell tickets, and sell ads or sponsorships.  Director Joe held up a stack of 350 tickets.  He suggested that we must sell all of them to at least break even.  He offered again that if a member buys some tickets and gives them to Joe, Joe will give them to youth who have not heard barbershop.  Nick also reminded guys to mark their calendar for a show on Sun, June 10^th too!

Chapter president Steve Murane reminded the board of their next meeting on May16th at 7 pm.  He also announced that the draw for appearance of quartets in Portland was this afternoon. Four of the seven M-AD quartets have Harmonizers in them!  TOP SHELF with Andrew Havens sings 8^th; DA CAPO with Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer, and Wayne Adams sings 15^th;  MAYHEM with Mike Pinto and Ken White sings 46^th; and  MAD HATTERS with Rick Taylor and Steve White sings 52^nd

Next on the agenda was the weekly barbershop craft session conducted by Tony. He repeated an axiom “breath the vowel” again, but this time he developed several new points.

After Tony’s strong session, Craig Kujawa began instruction of the visual plan for “I’m The Music Man” which the guys were excited about.

Pretty much then, the rest of the nite was working on “Jersey Boy” with emphasis on the stage presence including Chuck McKeever teaching us the rest of the moves we had not learned before.

The risers were full all nite and everyone at the afterglow agreed it was hardworking but successful nite.  And warm!  The hall was also full with all the FRIENDS of HARMONY who were having their regular meeting.

 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.)