Looking Back on the March 19^th Chapter Meeting 

The chorus arrived at the meeting place ready to work on the music for Wednesday nite’s Together in Harmony show.  Associate director Tony Colosimo conducted the warm up session in conjunction with Reed Livergood.  Then Tony worked with the singers on the two songs we will sing in the show finale with the Alexandria Singers and the Vocal Collective.

Director Joe Cerutti then announced some major changes for the show because of the awful news that came in from New Zealand a few days ago. Our goal is to help our singer friends from Christchurch in Vocal Collective to know that we support them in light of the disaster that happened in their home town just before they had to depart for the USA.

Song selection changes meant we would not sing “Empty Chairs” and replace it with “America.” 

There will be some special guests on hand for the nite including the New Zealand Ambassador. There is already word that there will be media on hand from local NBC and Fox Channels.

With that news, it was on to work on the songs for the show.  The chorus has worked hard on their own to prepare the music and visual presentation for the package.  The front row has worked extra hard too, as have all the brand new chorus members who had it all to learn!

During the evening, the chorus also worked on some of the brand new songs we are adding for 2019. 

Three guests were on hand from NZ early in the evening.  Joe welcomed barbershopper Ed Dempsey, Loretta Dempsey, and David Merriman.

Communications director Steve Murane conducted this week’s meeting which included some details about arrivals and duty assignments for the show. Mostly note that the chorus arrives warmed up and dressed at 5:15 pm.  Earlier groups will be there to set up risers and ticket counters and such. 

There will be tickets for sale at the door. Just $10 ea. There will be an afterglow at Chadwicks in Old Town after the show.

Our next big chpater event is the Youth Harmony Festival on Fri. April 5^th.  Harmonizer education director Sheryl Berlin has increased the number of student attendees to 130!!

Then comes Spring2ACTion – one of our major fund raiser activities – April 10^th.

President Shawn Tallant reported that Mark Klostermeyer ruptured his achilles tendon over the weekend.  Stay tuned for more details.  Joe reports that Scott Kahler’s dad, Ray, has been placed in hospice.  Both Scott and his dad were Harmonizers.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Connor Goss for 2 years; Turner Arndt for 5 years; Dave Branstetter for 14 years; Kevin McKenzie for 20 years; and Chris Huber for 27 years.

In addition to the guests from New Zealand, Jimmy Miotto was present for his second visit.  He is a tenor singer and friend of Jacob Broude.

In other chapter news, the Harmonizer history team was happy to receive four boxes of former show scripts from Ken Fess who is preparing to sell his home and is downsizing.  Thanks to committee member Bob Rhome for getting the donation from Ken.

Thanks to Dean Sherrick for offering to take on the project of scanning our 50^th anniversary book “Breathless Moments.”  And thanks to Gary Cregan for spotting a coffee pot for a good price on sale at a thrift store to replace the one we lost this winter. 

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