Looking Back on the August 19th Chapter Meeting and Market Square show

The weather was awesome for this year’s Market Square show on Friday, Aug. 15^th at 7:30 pm in Old Town.  A huge crowd – some of us think it was the biggest in years – was there to hear us sing our hearts out in competition with the airplanes headed for the airport.

 

When we finished, Joe challenged the guys to go and meet all those guys in the audience and round up some guest singers for next Tuesday!  When the chorus arrived at 6:30, the riser and truck crew had done their work already and sound checks for emcees and soloists were underway. The front row worked on some last minute details inside the City Hall and the chorus did their warm ups in the lobby.  Thanks to John Pence again for bringing the song board for the stage. Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer helped us all get our parking lot tickets approved for free parking! Quite a few guys who are working on getting enough songs learned were in the audience too, as well as many family members.

 

Also the chapter had its first All Sectionals rehearsal on Saturday, Aug. 9^th at First Baptist Church. Other All Sectionals are scheduled for the rest of the year, so check the Harmo calendar.

 

This Tuesday nite rehearsal was pretty regular with lots of work on new music, and continued quick reviews of songs we will sing for the Dog Days of August show in Manassas.  It is the annual event hosted by the Bull Run Troubadours at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12975 Purcell Rd., Manassas 20112.  The program starts at 7 pm with other choruses from NoVa singing a few songs each.  The Harmonizers sing last, so even if you can’t get there at 7, come on out.  Plan ahead for traffic as well as getting rides since no Metro out there. Plenty of parking tho. And great refreshments.  We will wear black travel shirt, jeans, and black everything else.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo warmed up the chorus for director Joe Cerutti.  Chuck McKeever conducted stage presence reviews before the meeting began.  Operations vp Bob Blair conducted the chapter meeting. 

 

Show vp Nick Leiserson announced that the tickets for the holiday dinner show will resume sales online on Monday, Aug. 25^th at 7pm. The show is Dec. 5 and 6 at First Baptist. There is some urgency for members to be sure to get their orders in before the show is sold out.

 

Kris Zinkievich, who sings with us and also directs the Germantown, MD, chapter, announced that their chapter is having their fall show on Sept. 13.  Kris has tickets.

 

Assistant director Terry Reynolds confirmed that the new songs are online including revised editions of “Welcome Christmas.”  Terry also announced that since we will be singing “Undecided” with the Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline chorus (that Joe also directs), there will be some combined rehearsal – Mon. Oct. 6 in Baltimore and Tues Oct. 28^th here in Alexandria.  The show is on Monday, Nov. 3^rd.

 

Clyde Crusenberry announced for Shawn Tallant that members need to make their reservations for  the hotel for Wildwood, NJ, for the fall contest

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented a membership renewal card to Rusty Orvik for 10 years.

 

Rich Hewitt welcomed and introduced guests for the evening.

 

After a good break, we worked hard on the new contest ballad and transitioned into doing the contest set.

 

Before we left, Joe lead us in singing “A Place on the Risers for You” to Ben Roberts who is headed off to college in Philadelphia.  His family was on hand for the farewell too!

 

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.)