Looking Back on the May 31st 2022 Harmonizer Hybrid Chapter Meeting
First off – Here is a report on the successful and fun Crawfish Boil on Memorial Day at the Harmo House. The event was held to thank those members who had raised $250 or more during Spring2ACTion in April.
Former Harmo House resident, Scott Kahler, came up from New Orleans to serve as chef for the event. About 80 lbs. of crawfish were shipped in. They were combined in a huge pot with pieces of sweet corn, small potatoes, lemon halves, chunks of onions, celery, lots of garlic, Andouille sausage, spices – for sure some cayenne pepper, and any other secret ingredients Scott added.
As each batch was ready, it was cooled with dry ice and drained and poured out onto long tables covered with brown paper. Everyone used their fingers and enjoyed the feast. There were plenty of cold drinks on ice in coolers too.
The event was organized by chapter development director, Ken Rub, who enlisted his boyfriend, Will Whittaker, to cook the brats and burgers up on the deck. Scott was cooking the “main dish” on a gas burner on the lower patio. Of course Harmo House host, Joe Cerutti, was on hand to welcome folks, show them around, and help where ever needed. He was a busy guy!
Harmonizers attended with their significant others and brought sides to share – the deviled eggs disappeared in minutes!!
Luckily HOT PURSUIT was in town and the quartet sang a few songs for the folks from a shady spot on the back lawn.
The party started around 3 pm and went well past the posted closing time of 7 – that is when Joe sent out a message to the whole chapter to come help eat up the goodies!
The next news to report is the review of the exciting Tuesday night, May 31st, rehearsal with chorus friend and coach, and the arranger of “Oh What A Beautiful Morning,” David Wright.
The chorus continues to wear masks when indoors at Scottish Rite Temple. Before the chorus work started, Turner Arndt was doing a choreo review session at 6:30 pm in the lodge room, the front row was meeting in the small lodge room, and a VLQ was meeting in the library. When it was determined that the air conditioning in the auditorium was not working well, the chorus was moved into the lodge room – no risers, so artistic director, Joe Cerutti, stood on a chair so the chorus could see him.
Associate director Tony Colosimo kicked things off with warm ups at 7 pm. The new riser chart was displayed to help guys confirm their standing spots.
Joe took a few minutes to report on other news items. He was happy about the fun crawfish boil and welcomed Scott Kahler for this week’s meeting. Joe also was happy to welcome back Johan Westberg who had not been with us since Covid issues began but will sing with the chorus in Charlotte.
Joe shared his enthusiasm for the successful work session last Wednesday night by our combined front rows for the tap dance section of the uptune. (He will likely show the video of it at Retreat for all to see.
He stressed a few points about the retreat – front row early meeting at 6:30 pm Friday; chorus members must self-assess at level 5 to be on the risers at retreat; members must follow instructions from COVID team regarding testing; and singers should review the choreo on their own before Friday.
Joe thanked Turner Arndt for his extra efforts to create an updated written choreo plan after Cy’s visit last week as well as for filming training videos of how to execute the moves. (Singers should NOTE and REVIEW the Reference Page and Glossary of Terms that Turner added to the written choreo – they help explain many of the lyrics of “42ndStreet.”)
The chapter then officially welcomed our friend and coach, David Wright, and Joe shared David’s background as an arranger, coach and historian in the BHS (although many guys had been chatting with David as soon as he arrived at SRT).
David was pleased with the level of the chorus performance of his arrangement of “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” – always a treat for an arranger to hear the song come alive after he has put the spots on the paper!
The thrust of his several hours working with the chorus this week was to strengthen the delivery of the lyrics and message of the song. After a couple hours, the chorus left the lodge room and went outdoors on the steps of SRT with David continuing his work with the chorus – this time without masks. (At one point, a couple taking an evening walk, stopped and listed and then offered their applause!)
There was a little break and the chorus reassembled in the lodge room for a business meeting conducted by Sam Whiteoak. Music team administrator, Terry Reynolds, spoke on behalf of uniform coordinator, Robyn Murane, to reinforce the reminder she sent to all members about the deadline for ordering uniform parts so they arrive in time for contest.
Chapter contest director, Craig Kujawa, had major announcements about the convention in Charlotte. He stressed the importance of everyone reading the Queen City Countdown newsletters he sends to all members – they include important deadlines and details such as info about housing in Charlotte. He is counting on members to respond when asked. He explained how members could purchase scrip to use in paying for their rooms in our assigned hotel (and the chapter earns money from those purchases). He pointed out that singers could buy a convention t-shirt from the BHS. He reminded all singers of the importance of having renewed their dues early – all contestants must be paid.
He pointed out that the chapter needs drivers to take our risers on the Harmo truck to Charlotte – contact Gary Creganin you would like to offer.
Craig is also coordinator for the annual Harmonizer pre-International contest retreat this weekend - June 3-4-5 at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. Coaches for the weekend will be Jim Henry and David McEachern. Friday night June 3 will start at 8 pm so guys have time to get to Westminster, get some dinner, check into their hotel room, and be ready to work on campus at McDaniel College. A riser crew is needed at 5:30 on campus and then the front row will practice at 6:30. Housing for the retreat will be at the Best Western Hotel.
All attendees are expected to follow instructions about a COVID test on Friday with results submitted to the chapter.
On Saturday June 4th breakfast will be free at the hotel, then the retreat will continue on campus at 8:30 am. Both lunch and dinner will be on campus followed by an afterglow and “party” time. The Sunday June 5th session starts after guys check out of the hotel and eat breakfast there and get back to campus from 9-11:30 am.
For sure, guys should organize car pools – there will not be a bus or group transportation provided. And for those who will arrive on Friday evening, we have often found a lot of our fellow Harmonizers having dinner at O’Lordans, a restaurant offering Irish dishes, at 14 Liberty Street in Westminster.
Another Harmonizer tradition for contest is the naming of the Class of 2022 – anyone going to the pre-Charlotte retreat who has never sung with the Harmonizers at an International contest. Each of the 20 members of the Class of 22 was presented with a bandana to be worn at every Harmo event until we go on stage in Charlotte. There will be bandana checks frequently!!! Joe invited the class member to step forward as Mark Klostermeyer (the traditional “wrangler” for the contest class) handed them their red bandana with the logo and class year!!
The class includes: Turner Arndt, Scott Beach, Michael Berkson, Jacob Broude, Tyler Carpenter, Gary Cregan, Lance Fisher, Devin Gerzof, Ryan Mextorf, Josh Myers, Duncan Peacock, Tessa Walker, David Breen, Michael Pugh, Cy Shuster, Frank Shipp, John Sifuentes, Dylan Smith, Tony Amante Schepers, and Ben Watsky.
When the class was told that one of their major tasks was to prepare a skit for the Saturday night party at the Retreat – even a bad skit, Michael Pugh spoke up and said they’d have “a prize winning skit.” And that was the way he was chosen as chairman or president or leader of the Class of 2022!
Chapter secretary David DesPortes presented a 35-year membership renewal to celebrate Ike Evans.
President Noah Van Gilder thanked the members for their generosity in donating to an “angel fund” to help any Harmonizer who needs some financial support for going to the contest. Donations of any amount should go to the chapter. Men who might need help should speak with Noah in person and express a need.
Noah also announced the need for an ensemble to sing for a lady’s 101st birthday on June 25th
Then it was back to work on the ballad with David.
As a reminder, here is a quick look at the calendar for the chorus: Cy Wood is back on June 14; Chuck Hunter is coach for June 21. Our traditional sendoff is on June 28th at SRT – a chance for family and friends to hear and see the Harmonizer package and give a cheer as the chorus heads to Charlotte for the International contest. There will be extra rehearsals on June 23 and 30.
There were several family member guests at the meeting this week too
At the afterglow this week, there was a good crowd that appreciated the left over goodies from the Crawfish Boil including slices of cold watermelon. The members enjoyed talking to David, the eager tag singers held forth in the basement, and Joe was “holding court” around the dining room table this week!
Alan Wile and Walt Page continue their weekly efforts to get guys to participate in the 50/50 drawing – half of the proceeds goes to create our chapter’s donation to the M-AD Endowment Fund, and the other half goes to the member with the winning ticket.
In other news, the link on the Harmo website to the Blog is now active thanks to webmaster Donell Torres. In that regard, there will not be a Looking Back report after the June 7th meeting – those notes will be combined with the June 14th edition.
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 74th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. - YeEd)
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