This week’s chapter meeting was another virtual session for the Harmonizers and director Joe Cerutti joked that it seemed like this must have been our 76th virtual meeting!!
He thanked all singers who have worked to record both singing and performing in the correct costume for the virtual holiday show. He encouraged more guys to submit – late is OK. And if anyone needs any kind of help making the recordings, contact him or associate director Tony Colosimo.
He did announce that there will not be a meeting on election night, Nov. 3rd but that on Nov. 10th the chorus would being working on our chorus repertoire for after the holiday show. The goal is to return to working on new music to build up the repertoire for a possible live show, and to be back in shape for participation at the Cleveland International contest in 2021.
On Nov. 10th the music team will launch work on a Beatles’ song, “I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends” – it is not the arrangement we sang previously. He also announced that new music will begin to appear on the Harmonizer’s Groupanizer page.
Joe reminded everyone to consider volunteering to do an elective in a future virtual meeting – the offer still stands for anyone that has a passion about any topic – including family or friends. Volunteers should contact him or assistant director Terry Reynolds.
A new event on the chapter calendar is the Veterans’ Day celebration, Nov. 11th, with the Friends of Rocky Versace who hosted a similar event last year. This year they want a quartet (wearing masks) at 1 pm that day at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (which is across the street from the Scottish Rite Temple). Volunteers to do the quartet gig should contact Terry ASAP. They requested “Armed Forces Medley.”
Tony conducted another good warm up session starting with a reminder that guys should do some physical warm ups before 7 pm – stretching especially. He stressed body alignment too and he included our familiar exercise “You Could Go All Night – Morning,” and “We Sing Late at Times – Canned Goods.”
The plan to use Zoom differently for getting attendees into their sectionals didn’t work as planned (last week we were told to make sure we had updated Zoom), so Terry sent each of us to the correct sectional breakout.
Section leaders worked again on spots in “Gloria” and “Carol of the Bells.” Individuals were invited to unmute and sing it, then the section leader offered comments.
Following the sectionals, there was chorus work on the songs for the Dec 20th virtual holiday show with Northwest Sound and 18 other guest performers from the world-wide barbershop community.
Some guests on the call this week included Michael Gilmore, Gene Swartz and Cy Wood.
This week’s small group discussion topic was “What is the best live concert you’ve attended?” There were tons of great concerts including some country including Brad Paisley, a couple guys reported a Weird Al Yankovic concert, military holiday concerts at DAR Constitution Hall and the Army Band concert with the finale of the “1812 Overture” featuring live cannons, some barbershop concerts made the list including a show with the SUNTONES, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Chanticleer, Chicago, and Springsteen. Joe listed attending a Saturday Night Live show.
Next week the topic will be “How Did You Find Barbershop?”
During the brief business meeting, Randall reported the Alexandria Arts Alliance virtual fund raiser show on Oct. 24th was a good one, but he had not received a report of how successful the fundraising effort had been.
As mentioned last week, it's time to start gathering donations for the Silent Auction, which this year will be held online in the days leading up to our virtual holiday show. If there is a merchant you have received a donation from in the past, please be sure to reach out to them again this year. In addition, if you have provided a gift certificate for a personal service in the past, or have an item you believe would be appropriate that you would like to donate, please reach out to Kristin Kelly at nitsirk.c@gmail.com to discuss it with her
There were two electives to wrap up this week’s meeting. The first was “Phonation and Frequency” taught by Tony.
The second elective was a report of the BHS webinar on “Inclusion in Barbershop,” aired on Oct. 11th. It was titled “Gender Identity LGBTQ+ and Barbershop,” and was moderated by Terry Reynolds with other panelists Mo Field, Steve Scott and Mia Baz. Terry shared highlights from that webinar which prompted a good bit of discussion among our members.
Next week’s Tuesday meeting will be via Zoom again at 7 pm. Watch for email details. Chapter leaders are eager to hear from any members who could present an elective in future virtual meetings – something you are passionate about.
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 for the great things going on each week during the 72nd year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. - YeEd)
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