Looking Back on the March 11^th Chapter Meeting

The events on Tuesdat the 11^th started with big crowds at work on their stage presence for “Miller Medley” – both riser guys and floor guys. We are getting there on it!! Thanks to Chuck McKeever and Carlos Barillo for helping us.

At the 7pm bell, we listened to KEEPSAKE as we took the risers ready to go to work.  Assistant director Will Cox did the warm ups and then director Joe Cerutti got us singing right away on the new songs for 2014 and our trip to France.  We worked hard on performing the material and preparing for shows coming up soon.

Operations vp Bob Blair conducted this week’s chapter meeting, opening with a thanks to those guys who are wearing their name tags. But more of us need to get on this!

Show producer Greg Tepe announced details for the paid gig on Saturday nite, March 15^th, at the  diamond jubilee gala for the  American Society of Public Administration, Mayflower hotel in DC – chorus call for the 70 guys signed up is 5 pm. He also announced that there will be no stage presence moves for the gig, so new guys are encouraged to come (and they can come and go from the risers as needed).  

Event coordinator of the A CA Challenge Ken Rub has tickets on consignment.  More tickets need to be sold, so Ken asked guys to take some and just ask people to attend March 22^nd  event at the Lincoln Theater on U Street.

Normandy trip coordinator Ken Fess reviewed a number of points about the June trip (and stressed the importance of people responding to him when he asks for a reply)!

Ken Fess also announced the Harmony on the Harbor show November 3^rd – in conjunction with the Pride of Baltimore SAI chapter. This is just prior to the SAI convention in Baltimore.  It will be another barn-burner barbershop harmony event.

FRIENDS IN HARMONY held a meeting this week and also assisted in measuring and checking scarves and front row vests for wear-an-tear and fit.  If you forgot yours, bring em next week for sure!

Several of our chapter quartets were recognized tonite as they will be singing in the M-AD International Preliminary Quartet Contest in Reston at the Hyatt on Friday, March 14^th.  This contest is how quartets earn the right to compete in the International contest this summer in Vegas. Each quartet gets a check from our chapter in support of their representing us at the contest.

In singing order based on current M-AD website in the first round, Friday nite at 7pm:

2. OLD TOWN SOUND - Alan Kousen, Clyde Crusenberry, Bob Mattes, Dave Welter

3. DA CAPO - Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer, Wayne Adams

5. MAYHEM - Matt Fellows, Pookie Dingle, Mike Pinto, Ken White

6. THE MONORAIL FOUR - Kellen Hertz, Phil Ferguson, Bobby Seay VI, Andrew Havens

7. YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT - Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Hardman Jones, Vic Owen, Jr.

9. BSQ - Rob Seay, Kevin King, Rick Taylor, Al Mazzoni

14. ACME CHORD COMPANY - Dan O'Brien, Chris Susalka, Paul Grimes, Eric Wallen

15. LAST MEN STANDING - TJ Barranger, Drew Feyrer, Ed Bell II, Mike Kelly

16. FORECAST - Mike Fitch, Ian Galvin, Travis Murray, Dan Cook

 

On Saturday morning, there is an adjudication for college and high school quartets at 11am.  The finals contest is Saturday nite at 7pm. 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented new member materials to Peelee Clark and Nathan Ritter. Then he gave out membership renewals to Nick Leiserson for 4 years, Calvin Schnure for 19 years, Ken Ives for 29 years and Bob Wachter for 62 years!

Membership vp Jeremy Richardson had to work late this week, so Rich Hewitt assisted him and welcome all of our guests and applicants for this week. He also gave a plug for the April 9^th Open Audition.  Tell your friends and coworkers and choir members about it – any guys that like to sing.

After a good break with some coffee and goodies, we returned to the risers for more solid musical work, sectionals and a great chance to put together the quartets and soloists and chorus for “Tribute to World Peace.”

In other news:

The chapter conducted another youth harmony workshop as a community outreach event on Friday, March 7^th, at Francis Scott Key Middle School.  There were 29 Harmonizers and 27 middle school boys and their instructor, Christina Matula.  Joe conducted the sessions, taught the students about good posture, some vocal techniques, and explained barbershop harmony music as one of the acappella art forms.  The students were enthusiastic and reacted well to the coaching when they sang for us.

There was a huge crowd from the Harmonizer family at the 30^th annual Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival at The Birchmere on Saturday nite, March 8^th.  Our buddies in MAYHEM completed and represented us well.  The chapter was also covered well with advertising flyers about our A Ca Challenge event on every table as well as in the printed program.  And the hosts for the event promoted both our Challenge event and our fall 2014 show with Pride of Baltimore chorus.  At the end of the event, all former contestants were invited to join our buddies on the stage and again it was another long list of guys from the chapter – Troy Hillier, Ken Rub, Frank Fedarko, Terry Reynolds and Steve White.

Members in the news too:  Jeremy Richardson was on MSNBC again on Sunday morning; Chuck McKeever is recovering from hand surgery this past week; and Josh DesPortes left rehearsal early to depart with his University of MD Men’s Chorus for tour to New York and Philly.

HELP is needed to get more guys and girls to come to our chapter sponsored Youth Harmony Festival on Saturday, April 5^th.  The numbers are extremely low, according to chairman Brad Jones. He needs responses from teachers, choir directors, youth group leaders, Scout groups hoping to earn a badge for singing, your grandkids, or your voice lesson students.  If you have prospects or a teacher wants help to register students, contact Brad at Youthfestival2014@verizon.net.  The fee is just $15 per student which includes the festival fun, music, a t-shirt and snacks and lunch and dinner.  Registration deadline was Monday, Mar. 10^th so the t-shirts can be ordered.

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 66^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)