The music leadership jumped right
into the music for 2019 this week. After
associate director Tony Colosimo did
the warm up exercises, director Joe
Cerutti launched work on “Anything Goes” with a major review of the song we
sang for our contest package a few years ago.
Guys were prepared with pencils and sheet music to mark Joe’s notes.
Meanwhile, the large class of new
guys who have joined in the last year or less met with some chapter leaders to
discuss their integration into the chapter, its music program and expectations.
Joe extended his training efforts on “We Kiss” and “Blow
Gabriel” and the front row guys
adjourned to review their work on “Gabriel” too. Bruce Roehm
announced that anyone interested in auditioning for the front row should speak
to him ASAP.
Joe took a break for announcements from Steve Murane. First was from
Terry Reynolds asking any guys
interested in being in a quartet(s) for Valentine’s Day appearances to sign up
on the clip board he posted up front. Singers are needed for morning, afternoon
and evening time slots, as the chapter will
dispatch quartets for marketing and publicity purposes in our community.
Steve reminded all those going on the chapter trip to Europe that
payments are due to Brad Jones.
There might still be openings for late sign ups if anyone has changed their
mind – contact Brad.
There were some reminders about our
show with The Whiffenpoofs on Feb;.9th including a nudge to sell or buy the $30
tickets for family and friends. Dean Sherrick has them available on
consignment too. Uniform will be the
black camp shirt. New guys should
contact Robyn Murane immediately if
they don’t have one of those shirts yet because she will be ordering.
President Shawn Tallant invited all members to plan on attending the annual
Presidents’ Banquet and bring their significant other. It will be Sat. nite
Feb. 16th at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria. There
is plenty of free parking there. Dave Branstetter has the tickets. (Shawn
pledges that anyone being hit hard by the government shutdown should plan on
attending – just speak with Dave or Shawn to make arrangements.)
This event is a good one for all
members to get caught up on the Harmonizer traditions and culture, meet each
other on a social basis, and this year – add a little Valentine touch!
Shawn also announced the news that Martin Banks’ sister died recently. .
Membership chairman Calvin Schnure welcomed Jordan Zimmerman, a new member back on
the risers, as well as this week’s singing guests Ryan and Dennis.
After a break in the action, it was
back to work on our music by performing the package of songs we will do for The
Whiffenpoofs show.
Then our tech team helped the music
team show us videos of some of our new songs – “Empty Tables” and “Brotherhood
of Man.” The first one will be a solo
and the chorus will be only tenor, bari and bass. We did some singing on that
one. And for the second song, Joe announced that our coach Cy Wood is planning a production number
visual plan for it.
At the end of the nite everyone got
a kick out of singing one of our gospel songs in honor of our friends THE
FAIRFIELD FOUR who will be performing at the BHS midwinter convention in
Nashville this week. (We have reporters on the scene there to
fill us in on all the news from that event – stay tuned. YeEd.).
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
