Thursday, June 20, 2019



Looking Back on the June 18th Chapter Meeting

The singers were ready for more work – and even with the terrible downpour right at arrival time, they were on the risers set to go.

At 6 pm, the front row worked with coach Cy Wood to learn the plan for “Heart and Music,” and continued until about 7:45.  Also at 6 a bunch of other riser guys worked together back stage to review the visual plan for “Brotherhood of Man.”

When the call was made “Harmonizers on the Risers” the work started. Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups.  Jacob Broude did some stress reliever exercises with the chorus. And then director Joe Cerutti was welcomed and he asked the guys to get into sections on the risers, and the work began on singing “Heart and Music.”  It seemed the men were prepared and Joe was able to coach their singing and helped them take better advantage of the arrangement by Steve Tramack.  (Twice during the nite, Joe FaceTimed with Steve so he could hear the chorus doing his arrangement.)

Joe also introduced several changes for the song so that the music would work better with the visual plan Cy had developed.

When the front row and Cy joined with full chorus, Cy began teaching the visual plan for this new show opener. And they worked on that the entire nite til closing.  At 10 pm, the chorus and front row were far along on getting the plan under their belts and putting it with good singing.

The chapter meeting period was conducted by communications director Steve Murane.  He pointed out to all that there was a good article in the recent BHS Harmonizer Magazine about our show with the New Zealand singers. 

He also promoted signups for the Open Mic and Karaoke night with the Alexandria Singers on Saturday June 29, 2019, from 4:30 – 9:30PM, at the Lab at Convergence 1819 N. Quaker Ln., Alexandria, VA 22302. Indicate your attendance intentions on the Alexandria Singers Facebook Event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/2623945040966956/ and your willingness to assist with refreshments (Potluck munchies and BYOB) and logistics (party supplies/set up/clean up) at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044CAAAB2EA6FD0-summer

Reminder to order and pay for your travel shirts for the Scotland trip – orders and payment must be to Don Thompson by June 25th – that is next Tuesday!!

Steve talked a lot about uniforms for the trip too and said it would all be coming out via email.  But the main point was – if you need any parts or have questions about uniforms, you must email Robyn Murane, our uniform chairperson.  She is working out of town much of the time and won’t be at our meetings much.  So communicate your needs with her - rlmurane@aol.com.

Great to have Alan Wile back to help Walt Page sell the 50/50 tickets.  Report was made about Mike Everard having a slight heart attack last Tuesday.  He is resting at home and does not expect to have any surgery as a result. 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler gave membership renewal cards to Jacob Broude for 2 years; John Greene for 8 years, Rob Barnovsky for 9 years; Craig Kujawa for 16 years; Mike Fasano for 24 years; and Dave Welter for 43 years.

We had three guests this week including Marie Muscella who helped the chapter leaders with our strategic planning work this year, and David and Linda Vinall from Australia who are active barbershoppers in their country and were on a vacation in the USA. 

The chorus thanked Cy for helping us again, and then after a hard nite’s work, a good crowd of guys and our guests made it over to Rampart’s 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 70th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

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