Looking Back on the August
22nd Chapter Meeting
This week’s meeting was
held at Durant as usual. The proposed
plan to meet at an Arlington Church was cancelled.
There was a good crowd
at Durant on Thursday nite, Aug. 17th for the extra work session
with choreographer Carlos Barillo to
review and drill the plan for “Gabriel.”
Earlier this year, director
Joe Cerutti announced that we would
be working harder to find more singing opportunities for inactive and
non-performing Harmonizers. He has identified another opportunity and would
like to invite ALL Harmonizers (performing and non-performing/active and
inactive) to join us at Dog Days.
That event is on
Tuesday, August 29th, at the Dog Days gathering hosted by the Manssas chapter
at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (12975 Purcell Rd, Manassas, VA 20112),
starting at 7pm. We will be ending our performance with a performance of “I'll
Be Seeing You” and “Armed Forces Medley.” ALL Harmonizers are invited to join
us on the risers to close this show.
Several former singers
were at the meeting this week.
All singers should note
that we will not be warming up at Dog Days, nor will we be rehearsing the songs
before we perform them, so everyone should come to Manassas prepared and warmed
up. Uniform will be the black camp shirt, jeans and black shoes. Members who
are coming from the city should come on to Manassas even if they can’t get
there at 7 pm because our chapter sings last on the program. Be sure to work out car pools or rides from a
Metro if needed.
Beginning August 17 and
every Thursday thereafter until June 14th 2018, the Alexandria. Virginia
Chapter will be posting a "Throwback Thursday" photo of the
Harmonizers on Facebook/Alexandria Harmonizers in honor of and in preparation
for our 70th anniversary as an organization. I know you will enjoy these
looking back moments and sharing with others!
Thanks to Martin Banks for taking on this idea
and making it happen in cooperation with the chapter communications team headed
by Steve Murane and the rest of the
chapter history committee Bob Blair,
Howard Nestlerode, Jack Pitzer and Bob Rhome.
As you would expect, it
was a musical work out on Tuesday nite.
Director Joe Cerutti was back
from his vacation and the chorus had done their home work on their music, and
on the visual plan for the uptune! It
was a productive nite in preparation for the Sept. 15-16 fall district contest
in Reading, PA.
The chapter meeting
session was conducted by executive director Terry Reynolds. Details about the Dog Days (a summer gathering of
barbershoppers during August each year when most chapters are in a less-busy
mode) are listed above.
Chief softball organizer
“Slugger” Steve White reminded
everyone about the big game on Sat. Aug. 26th near Baltimore with
the Hershey Parkside Chapter! Game is 11
am – 2 pm. The pavilion area is reserved
from 10 am til dusk. Come make a day of
it at Centennial Park West, 4651 Centennial Lane West, Ellicott City, MD 21042.
Look for signs – we are at the west entrance of the huge park. Team shirts were
issued Tues nite! But a name tag and
Harmo gear is also a good idea. It is a bring-your-own-food-and-drinks event but
word is that Chuck McKeever is
bringing a hundred hotdogs and will have the grill going to cook them for you. Steve says bring yourself a chair too!
Some details about the
fall contest: our stage time is 9:30 am
on Sat. Sept. 16th, so stay tuned as musical leaders decide when we
will gather first – perhaps Friday nite. For those riding the bus to Reading,
it is mandatory that you have a parking pass in your car window in order to
leave the car at the designated parking area.
The uniform for the
appearance at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, Sept 17th is the casual
outfit with the black camp shirt.
Terry reminded those
volunteer singers who know the audition song were reminded to meet and assist
the many guest in preparing for their audition.
Co-bass section leader Tom Jackson invited basses to come
early to the Sept 5th meeting for some work.
Everyone is encouraged
to note the meeting locations on the Tuesday nites in September – many will be
at Plymouth Haven Baptist Church on Ft. Hunt Road at 8600 Plymouth Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308.
Secretary Chris
Buechler reminded everyone to get their dues paid before contest!
On behalf of the chapter,
Terry Reynolds presented Joe a
framed picture of the chorus from Harmony U appropriately framed by Mark Klostermeyer. If you want a print and/or a framed picture,
see Mark.
Ken Rub introduced a
number of guests present for the evening – welcome to Nick, Will, Thompson, Paul Ritchey, Joseph Ritchey, Nicola and the Payton family.
Thanks to all who brought in goodies to share at
break – they are always welcome!
After break it was back on the risers to continue
the preparations for district.
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 70th year of the
Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd
