Looking Back on the September 20th 2022 Harmonizer Hybrid Chapter Meeting
Chapter members were really excited about the experience at Wolf Trap this past Sunday. The audience reaction to both “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Circle of Life” was terrific.
Artistic director Joe Cerutti was proud of and pleased with the performance and was especially glad to have sung for such a diverse audience. He invited members to share stories or reactions and several did.
He conducted the warm up this week and as the first few minutes unfolded, he welcomed former members who arrived to sing or to visit and see old friends.
He also invited bass singer David Breen to teach the chorus a tag – “My Michelle.” The guys loved ringing the chords!
Joe asked the guys to respond and submit their Pulse Survey that was sent to everyone recently from musical leadership.
He also reported on an ensemble sing-out for Marie Muscella’s wedding over the weekend. She served on our chapter board as a community member and was a major contributor in the strategic planning efforts in recent years. The singers were Carl Kauffmann, Dean Rust, David Welter, Bob Blair, Frank Fedarko, Bruce Roehm, Lance Fisher, Joe Cerutti and Michael Schwartz.
There was confirmation about the plans for the first meeting of METRO VOICES treble chorus that will be next Tuesday, September 27th at 7 pm at Scottish Rite Temple. Those singers will meet in another room at the facility. This project based chorus will work on two songs – one likely to be sung on the Harmonizer holiday show in December, and one that will become the audition song for METRO VOICES in January.
Singing got underway with sectionals to dust off “Carol of the Bells,” “Let It Snow,” and “White Christmas.” The chorus returned to the risers to sing those songs. Singers were also encouraged to bring their music the next couple weeks to “mark up and add notations.”
The business portion of the meeting started with chapter secretary David DesPortes presenting a five year membership renewal to Jacob Broude.
Then as membership director, Jacob welcomed guests – former members Kevin Kaiser and Jim Gammon, who were in town for a bit; Jonathan Rogas, son-in-law of Ike Evans; and Norbert Hammes, director of the Heavy Medal Chorus from BinG (Barbershopping in Germany) who is in the USA as a candidate contest judge for BHS. Ben Roberts was on the risers too – first time in a long time since we have sung with him. Assistant director emeritus Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome Song.”
Dean Rust announced that ALIVE Inc, a charity comprised of 50 faith communities that serves the poor in Alexandria, has asked if the Harmonizers could provide a quartet to assist in a walkathon fundraiser on Sunday October 16. The event starts at 2 pm, but they are asking if Harmonizers could stop by during the registration period from 1:15 – 1:45 and add some musical flavor to the occasion (e.g., “Help From My Friends,” “Sing a Song,” “Never Fully Dressed”). It would be very informal and a good opportunity to expand our reach and for a worthy cause. Location is the parking lot of First Christian Church, 2723 King St. Let Dean (drust1@cox.net) know by next Tuesday, September 27 if you are interested. We will try to put together a quartet or octet.
Chapter leaders did speak some about our participation/duties at the M-AD fall contest in Lancaster, PA. We will sing on the Saturday night show, October 8th – “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Never Fully Dressed,” and “Circle of Life.” The chorus will be needed to demonstrate during a Master Class with “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” and “Somethings Comin.” And we will be singing as a demonstration chorus for a workshop for training directors with “Never Fully Dressed” or “Bridge Over Troubled Water” or “Heart of My Heart” or “Sweet and Lovely.”
Convention details will come from chapter leaders – but everyone that attends should be managing their travel, housing, uniform, and ticketing as needed. For most chorus members, this will be a up and back day on Saturday. However, there will be three or four quartets with Harmonizers singing in the Friday night quartet contest – and likely some in the finals on Saturday night.
Next there was more sectional work on “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night” followed by the whole chorus singing and working on those same numbers.
The meeting ended after the 50/50 was won by Steve White and Norbert directed “Heart of My Heart” to sing out the night.
Joe welcomed all to the afterglow at the Hamro House which was well attended. Besides the good eats and drinks, it was fun to learn more from Norbert about barbershop activities in Europe.
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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