Looking Back on the May 10th 2022 Harmonizer Hybrid Chapter Meeting
This week’s meeting was a busy work session on the contest songs and in preparation for the retreat on June 3-4-5.
Associate director Tony Colosimo started the work for the singers with a good warm-up period. Then artistic director Joe Cerutti welcomed everyone, gave a brief overview of the schedule for the night, and shared some info with the chapter. His first point was a calendar item - in two weeks we have Cy Wood with us to work more on choreography for the contest package (thus all singers were encouraged to do their homework and review the videos showing Cy’splans for “42nd Street”).
In three weeks, David Wright will be with us to work on our contest ballad, “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” which he arranged especially for us. Another great session working with the arranger of the song! AND, there is a strong possibility that Jim Henry will be in town early ahead of the chorus retreat and thus able to attend the chapter meeting. Jim and his family are coming to DC and the chapter leadership has arranged for them to have some great tourist experiences.
Speaking of the chorus retreat, stay tuned for other details from contest/retreat organizer, Craig Kujawa. Some guys still need to submit their payments. Joe announced starting times for the retreat so guys can plan ahead. Friday night June 3 will not start until 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. Housing for the retreat will be at the Best Western Hotel.
Saturday June 4th breakfast will be free at the hotel, then retreat will continue on campus at 8:30 am.
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 start organizing car pools – there will not be a bus or group transportation provided. And for those who will arrive early 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.
Joe announced that Chuck Hunter will be in town to be the final coach for the chorus on June 21st which is the week before the traditional sendoff performance on June 28th when family and friends can come see the contest package.
Next Joe invited Tony to continue work on vocal placements for all attendees (each man sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”). That lead to getting the singers onto the risers based on the vocal placements.
The first chorus work was to review choreo plans for “42nd Street” that have already been presented to the chorus with Turner Arndt as demonstrator. Joe asked the men to sing the music as well as perform the plan.
Following that, there were full-length sectionals on “Oh What a Beautiful Morning.” Before dismissal to other rooms in the building, Joe reminded singers that next week the music team will work with the chorus in small-group sessions. And the singers will have an opportunity for feedback since singers will need to be self-assessed at level 5 or higher to be on the risers when David Wright is here.
Tony had prepared the section leaders for what they needed to cover, so when the chorus regrouped on the risers there was consensus the sectionals were really beneficial. Joe thanked Tony and the section leaders (Rick Savage for tenors, Tessa Walker and Ben Watsky for leads, Jason Lee for baritones, and Ryan Mextorf for basses) for their work and professionalism.
When the chorus returned to the risers, the chapter business meeting was conducted by communications director Sam Whiteoak.
President Noah Van Gilder encouraged all members to observe our COVID policies reminding anyone exposed or testing positive should report to the chapter and follow guidelines for their return to the meetings. Masks are optional.
Secretary David DesPortes presented membership renewal cards to celebrate members David Breen for 11 years; Kellen Hertz for 14 years; and Howard Nestlerode for 47 years.
With everyone back on the risers, the chorus worked more on both the ballad and uptune.
At the afterglow this week, there was a good crowd on hand again this week and the weather was great for some to gather outside on the deck.
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 73rd year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. - YeEd)
