Looking Back on the Sept. 5^th Chapter Meeting

This week’s meeting was back at Plymouth Haven Baptist Church on Ft. Hunt Road where we had met years ago when the Durant Rec Center was under reconstruction.  According to executive director Terry Reynolds, the Rec Center was not available for our use. 

NOTE that we will be at Plymouth Haven for the extra rehearsal Sept. 7^th, for Tuesday Sept. 12^th and for the extra rehearsal Wed. Sept. 13^th. We are back at Durant for at least one week on Tuesday Sept. 19^th.

Lots of extra group meeting were at the church at 6 pm – basses with director Joe Cerutti, front row dancers outside on patio drilling their routines, and then tag singing with associate director Tony Colosimo.

Tony did the vocal warm ups and also conducted a silent drill with visuals of uptune.

Then with trumpet fanfares from the loudspeaker, he introduced director Joe to take over!

With the fall contest so much earlier this year (Sept. 15-16 in Reading PA) Joe worked hard to help the singers prepare for that performance. He also was preparing the chorus for the coaching session with Kevin Keller on Sept. 12^th.  Joe also thanked all the men who came to the Dog Days event in Manassas and those who came to the extra rehearsal last week with Joe and choreographer Carlos Barillo.

Terry conducted the chapter meeting. 

To confirm, the uniform for contest is black suit, thin tie, black shiny shoes.

President Randall Eliason reported on a number of members health situations:  Kevin McKenzie is recovering from some serious back issues but happy to report a no-cancer test result; Brad Jones had a bad shoulder issue; Bob Mattes has back issues; Don Thompson is recovering from knee surgery; and Bob Wachter and Jean are both in the hospital – he at Mount Vernon and she at Alexandria. Word is that Bob was due to go home on Wed. 6^th.

Randall also spoke about our busy weekend with hosting the district contest, competing early Saturday morning, and then the appearance at Carnegie Hall in NYC.  And then home again for our fall show weekend!

Carnegie Hall tickets are available from Walt Page.

Secretary Chris Buechler reported that all members have paid their dues and eligible for competition.

Membership chairman Dave Kohls remarked about his request for helpers in various membership duties – he is working hard to create a team instead on one many doing it all. Then he welcomed Nick Murane, plus guests Nick, Will and Ben.  During the break, a learning quartet worked with the guests preparing for their auditions.

After a break, Joe worked with the chorus to revive “New York, New York” for Carnegie Hall.  The front row guys who had done the chorus line routine stepped up and performed it too!

Then after confirming riser positions, and the correct spacing on the risers, Joe had the chorus perform the contest set several times.

Ken Rub directed “Keep the Whole World Singing” and we adjourned.  A group of guys went to Southside 815 on South Washington Street for an afterglow. 

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