Looking Back on the June 9^th, 2020 Virtual Chapter Meeting

Again the chapter has suspended in-person meetings of the chorus, boards and committees until further notice as well as for any small group, quartet, or ensemble gatherings. This is in recognition of recent mandates by officials and leaders of the BHS and in cooperation with local health authorities and government officials. 

Thus there was not a regular in-person meeting of the Alexandria Harmonizers on June 9^th  2020.  

Director Joe Cerutti hosted the gathering at 7 pm via Zoom video meeting this week to continue the work on music, learn performance plans, and learn more about our chapter and the barbershop hobby in general.

It was great to have some Harmonizers with us for this week we haven’t seen for a while including Bert Phillips, Tim Cash, Craig Kujawa, Mike Geipel, Jim McConnell, Bill Colosimo, and Mike Wallen.

Joe was excited to report that our special guest for next week will be Tim Waurick, tenor of VOCAL SPECTRUM and creator of many of our learning tracks including the new ballad.

There were 60-plus attendees again this week. Terry used the Zoom system to randomly divide all attendees on the call into a small group of five to share thoughts about the favorite recording or song a member might listen to, or the quartet most often listened to.

Tony did the warm up session for the chorus this week. After warm ups, Joe worked with the singers on sections of “Oh What a Beautiful Morning.” He asked Tony to sing and coached him as an example of what the chorus members should concentrate on.

There were break out periods next for those who were Riser Ready or Not Riser Ready on “42^nd Street.”

The chapter’s business meeting was brief with no major announcements.  Executive director Randall Eliason requested some volunteers to assist the chapter’s history committee move the storage locker the chapter uses for historical materials, past uniforms, trophies and displays.  Three guys signed up on the Chat feature of Zoom to join the committee on Tues. June 16^th at 10 am.

The reports of the small group discussions were mixed and fun. AMBIANCE was on the list and their version of “Rhapsody in Blue” as were some often mentioned gold medal BHS quartets VOCAL SPECTRUM, RINGMASTERS, OC TIMES, FOUR RENEGADES, and GAS HOUSE GANG.

To wrap up the evening, Tony hosted a great chat with Steve White and Ricky Savage about the great fun and experiences they have had in quartets.   Both have won the M-AD contest multiple times.  Both have sung at the International level in the top 20 quartet semifinals rounds. We all enjoyed their stories about crazy times their quartets have had with other quartets on the show circuit or at contests. 

On a more serious note, Ricky shared that he thought strong chapter support helped a quartet succeed.  Steve shared the significance of personal friendships and being on the same “page” in life, work, skills, desires and goals. 

Both of these longtime Harmonizer front row men have sung together in some great quartets such as COPYRIGHT 86 and THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC CHORD COMPANY. Ricky currently is tenor in a seniors quartet SILVER ALERT with three other Harmonizers. He sang with PREMIER for about 10 years including a period with the great Fred King.  Steve sang with BAY RUM RUNNERS which included a half dozen times in the top 20 and two personal performances for John and Annie Glenn. He sang with PHAT CATS four times in the top 20. Steve reports he has sung in 16 quartets since high school. 

A big crowd stayed around for the afterglow period and more behind-the-scene stories from other quartet guys like Tony and Bill Colosimo and Mike Wallen.

Next week’s meeting will be via Zoom again at 7 pm.  Watch for email details.

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 71^st year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd