Looking Back on the Nov 15th Chapter Meeting

The chapter returned to the music suite at First Baptist on Nov. 15^th to work hard on the holiday show music – especially on the new songs.  Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and director Joe Cerutti pushed the chorus to sing their best. We took time for sectionals too.

 

A big push was made by show producer Mick Stamps telling us more details about the show plan.  Rick Wagner is issuing tickets on consignment to the members.  He was busy all evening.

There are discounts for seniors, half-price for students, and a group rate for those who call. Mick announced that the dress rehearsal for the holiday show will be at Durant and then there will be a tech rehearsal at Harris Theater on GMU campus.  There was a good supply of the colorful show flyers in poster size and postcard size.

 

Sandy Stamps was also busy issuing White House Ornaments to Harmonizers to sell to their customers.

 

Executive director Terry Reynolds reported that board member Steve Sutton has an appendix removed recently.  Terry presented the new chapter logo on the screen for all to see.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Gary Mankin for 44 years; Clark Chesser for 7 years; and Don Harrington for 37 years.

 

The Dec. 20^th chapter nite will start with us singing at Casey Blezer’s school before we do the carol sing on the streets in Old Town.

 

Director of Membership Rich Hewitt welcomed more applicants and guest singers.

 

Next week we are back to Durant.

 

Before we ended the chapter meeting, Joe reported on the behind-the-scenes work some of educator team is working on this week.  Our quartet friends from FL, SIGNATURE, who medaled in Nashville, are back in our area singing at schools to invite students and music educators to your youth festival next spring.  AND to encourage them to discover a cappella singing. They expect to meet and sing for thousands of  students. This is a continuation of the grant the chapter received from the Harmony Foundation.

 

Joe also was excited to share the great successes by BHS at the recent meeting of the National Association for Music Education.  It was in Dallas and the Vocal Majority sang and did some of our top quartet.  Jim Henry, director of the Ambassadors of Harmony, spoke to the group too and was a hit with his youthful approach.

 

In other news, here is a special invite from Dave Kohls for another set of Holiday concerts: The Washington Men's Camerata will be presenting its holiday show on Saturday December 3, Sunday December 4, and Sunday December 11. The performance on December 3rd will be held at the Fairlington United Methodist Church, 3900 King St., Alexandria VA, at 8:00 p.m.; the December 4th show will be at the Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, 6601 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD, at 4:00 p.m.; and the December 11th show at St. Columba’s Church, 4201 Albemarle St., NW, WDC (Tenleytown) at 4:00 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for students, and $60 for a family of four ("family" is very loosely defined, basically any group of 4 people who show up together), and are available at http://camerata.com/concerts/ or from Dave Kohls.

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 68^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the Nov 8th Chapter Meeting, Wounded Warrior Event and Veteran's Day Sing, Red Cross Fund Raiser

The chapter returned to First Baptist on Nov. 8^th since Durant was used as a polling place for the election.

 

On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 6^th, about 25 of us sang at the Old Dominion Boat Club at the end of King Street.  The event was to help a local non-profit group raise monies for Wounded Warriors.  Joe Cerutti was out director.  We did mostly patriotic tunes plus a couple of the Beatles songs.  We sang twice and both times had great audience response including some sing-along time.

 

Thanks to Alan Wile for the notes from the following events while YeEd was in NYC.

On Friday, Nov. 11^th we sang again at Oakton Elementary School for the all-school assembly to honor Veterans Day: 24 Harmonizers participated; Terry Reynolds directed. Riser crew at 8:00 a.m. Set up three risers. Rehearsed in the Library before joining the 830 students, guest veterans, teachers, et al in the gym. Ms. Kathleen Marshall originated the program following her experience in 9/11/01 - 16 years ago – she highlighted this and ran the show this year as she has in the past. Veteran guests included reps from all three services, with several flag and general officers. One student’s father, a BG, visited on Skype. We sang three songs: “Armed Forces Medley,” “Stars and Stripes,” and “God Bless America.” The last of these we sang through twice, asking all to join in … which they did. And did they sing!!! A great experience. Gerry Fuller drove the truck and supervised the unloading and reloading of the risers. After the show a few of the veteran participants enjoyed free lunches at Applebees.

That same day was a memorial service at the Mount Vernon Unitarian church for former member Jim Stockton. A total of 17 active and inactive members of the Alexandria Chapter participated with the Harmony Heritage Singers/Mount Vernon Chapter chorus, together with a number of former Harmonizers. Drew Fuller is the director and directed four of the songs; Bob Wachter directed one song; Mike Everard introduced one of the songs.. Following the service, there was a reception for all at the church.

On Sunday, Nov. 13^th. 41 Harmonizers performed at the seventh annual (first for us) First Presbyterian Church of Arlington musical benefit program – this year to benefit the American Red Cross flood relief effort, primarily in the southeastern United States. The program consisted of 15 vocal and instrumental selections by quite a renowned list of musicians. We sand two songs (during which director Joe Cerutti  encouraged the audience to sing out). We received a boisterous response at the conclusion of our set. Most of us remained for the balance of the program and several enjoyed punch and snacks in the social hall afterwards.

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 68^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd