Looking Back on the Nov.
28th Chapter Meeting
The meeting was back at Durant this week so we could use risers to
practice for the holiday shows. It helped us get used to a new chorus line up
and to perform the great staging plan created by choreographer Carlos Barillo.
We worked hard after warm ups by associate director Tony Colosimo. Director Joe
Cerutti pushed us hard to be at our best, or even better, and to capture
the holiday excitement in our performance.
We went thru every song just in the order they will be on the
show. That included a quartet appearance
for one song, a small ensemble for a verse of one song, and a soloist in
another song. You gotta come to the show
to see who they are – Sat. nite Dec. 2 at 8 pm at TC Williams on King Street and
Sun afternoon at 2 pm Dec. 3 at TC Williams.
There were a number of show related items of business during the
nite – holiday sweat shirts and white scarves issued to new singers; White
House Ornament sales wrap up (Thanks Sandy
Stamps!); silent auction collection of packing materials and new donations.
Call time for the tech rehearsal on Fri. Dec. 1 at TC Williams is 6 pm; 5 pm
for the Sat nite show; and 11 am for the Sun afternoon show. Bring your own
dinner items for Sat nite – no break for leaving campus; and same for lunch on
Sunday. Also, bring two white shirts for
the show – one long sleeve to wear under the sweat shirt and one to wear with
the uniform.
Ticket sales are going good – but of course there are lots of
seats available. So don’t let up on your push to attend.
After the show we are gonna get a break – no meeting or rehearsal
on Dec. 5th.
Over the weekend of Dec. 8 and 9, we will form up into two mini
choruses and entertain at several senior centers in the area. All details will
be provided soon via email.
And on Dec. 12th we will assemble at Durant at 7 pm in
room 3 and 4 and then adjourn to Market Square in Old Town for our annual Pub
Caroling event. We will sing from BHS
published “Yuletide Favorites” books – some will be provided but you could
bring your own. Sixth Row singers are invited to join in this fun nite.
On Dec. 19, we will have a Heat Glow (an afterglow in the winter)
at the home of Jack and Pat Pitzer, 7801 Suffolk Ct.,
Alexandria VA 223155, for singers and their significant others. Near Hayfield Hi School on Telegraph Rd. Arrival at 7:30 pm. Bring finger foods to
share and your favorite drink too. A
holiday grog will be served too that is from the original recipe from
Harmonizer Heat Glow events begun in the 1960s when the chorus sang for the
annual burning of the greens (discarded Christmas trees) in the City of
Alexandria. Car pools would be a good idea since the parking will be a little
tight or you could walk from one of the nearby schools. Jack’s cell is 703-627-9424.
Secretary Chris Buecher
presented new member materials to Ben,
Jon and Nick. And a seven year
membership renewal card to Gary Fuller.
Guests this week included Chef,
a friend of Duncan Woodbury; and Carter, a friend of Jeff Burkey. Steve White reported news that the widow
of former member Alan Durick, Lois, passed away recently. Alan
was gold medal senior quartet champ in REMINISCE and district champ with
ALEXANDRIA’S RAGTIME BAND.
Before we adjourned, Joe
formed a chorus huddle and shared some exciting plans for 2018-2019 including a
plan to prepare for our 70th anniversary show in 2018 with a plan to
sing the Top Ten songs from our past as voted on my patrons and members.
In other chorus news, thirteen guys sang with the Congressional
Chorus on Nov. 19th at Church of the Epiphany in DC. They sang “You
Are Here” from the “I AM Harvey Milk” oratorio and Tony Colosimo sang the solo.
The concert was a multisensory experience to celebrate the human spirit
and power of people to rise above oppression.
The accompanist for our group was with the Congressional Chorus. Others on the concert included a dance group,
an orchestra and the another chorus DC area chorus.
The afterglow was back at LaPorta for a fun crowd.
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
