Looking Back on the Oct. 17, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting and Election
A large number of chapter members were present in person at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT) or via Zoom to be present for the chapter election and to work on holiday music.
Risers were not up and so all singers formed a huge circle on the auditorium floor for the warm up session conducted by Metro Voices assistant director, Maggie McAlexander.
Chapter artistic director, Joe Cerutti, welcomed all the members and invited them to have a seat in the auditorium. He congratulated Devin Gerzof who was married over the weekend and the members cheered with good wishes.
Joe expressed his appreciation for the chapter team who help make the a cappella fellowship event with Alfred Street Baptist Gospel Men’s Choir another success. He received a call from the Alfred Street director who confirmed they were eager to meet again.
He reminded singers about the opportunity to audition for various solos and speaking parts on the holiday shows – interested members may submit recordings or audition in person on Oct. 24. These auditions will be one-on-one and not in front of the chapter.
Then other big announcement was the plan for the chapter to checkout a new meeting space on Oct. 24 at the AlexRenew building at 1800 Limerick Street. Operations team director, Gary Cregan, will be outside the building to help members find the available parking space. The location is within a 15 minute walk from the Eisenhower Metro Station. This move is needed to check the new space for acoustics and space for our needs leading to a possible new meeting space to reduce costs and gain Metro convenience.
Members should note that the chapter will meet in Old Town on Oct. 31 (Halloween night) to sing and have fun – not at the usual meeting place. This also helps members who are parents with family celebrations. Both ensembles are welcome to join in the evening which will likely end with a social time in Old Town.
Current chapter president, Noah Van Gilder, presided at the annual meeting of the chapter to elect the board of directors for 2024. A quorum was present and the following board members were elected: Noah Van Gilder, from the Harmonizers – President; Carolyn Griffin, from the community - Vice President; Terry Reynolds, from the Harmonizers – Treasurer; Cy Shuster, from the Harmonizers – Secretary; Turner Arndt, from the Harmonizers – Member-at-Large; Dave Kohls, from the community – Member-at-Large; Mary Cooper, from Metro Voices – Member-at-Large; Charlyne “Chuck” Miller from Metro Voices – Member-at-Large; and Michael Berkson from the Harmonizers – Member-at-Large. The annual meeting adjourned.
Devin Gerzof and John Greene retire as member-at-large board members. The members of the nominating committee were Brad Jones, Ken Rub, and Sheryl Berlin.
Chapter secretary, David DesPortes, presented new member packets to Patricia, Lenna and Sylvia for Metro Voices. He recognized Paul Grimes who has renewed as a 40-year Harmonizer member. Paul also was given a 40-year lapel pin as is a chapter custom.
Membership director for both ensembles, Jacob Broude, welcomed several guests who returned from the Oct. 10 guest night – Mark, Jimmy, Becca and Chris. A first time Harmonizer guest this week was Jonathon Moy. Assistant Harmonizer director emeritus, Will Cox, directed the chapter’s “Welcome Song.”
Music team administrator, Terry Reynolds, invited Metro Voices to move to sectionals for work on their music including “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Sing We Noel.” Section leaders were Maggie McAlexander for the tenors, Sophie Clarke for the leads, Sheryl Berlin for the baritones, and Samantha Tramack, Metro Voices director, for the basses.
The Harmonizers took time to record the “Friends” tag to send to the family of Henry Chow who died recently. Henry was a singer before a serious accident limited his movement and speech. His family brought him to SRT many times so he could enjoy music and smile with us. Jacob recorded a message of condolence to the family before the chorus sang the tag.
This ensemble worked on the new arrangement of “Believe,” then “J I N G L E Bells.” They had sectionals to work on the eight-part arrangement of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Section leaders were Joe Cerutti for the tenors, Lance Fisher for the leads, Jason Lee for the baritones, and David Breen for the basses.
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The rest of their work session was on “Little Saint Nick” and “Let All Mortal Flesh”
The two ensembles came together as a combined chorus for the Clay Hine arrangement of “Merry Little Christmas.”
Sheryl Berlin, directed “Keep the Whole World Singing” to end the evening before a large crowd headed over to the Harmo House for the afterglow.
An obituary was shared this week with chapter members for the late Geri Geis – parts of it are included here. Geraldine Patricia Anne Geis (Geri) of Naples, Florida passed away peacefully on September 28, 2023. She was 84 years old and is survived by her daughter Stacey Geis, who resides in Northern California; Stacey’s husband Peter; two grandchildren, Hope and Parker; her sister Lindi Dowling and husband Peter; and numerous nieces and nephews who also loved her dearly.
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada she began acting at the age of 6 in numerous local productions. At one point, she was spotted by a New York talent agent who asked her to audition with Lillian Gish and Helen Hayes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She was accepted and finished her studies there.
After graduation, Geri met Royall Willis Geis, who was also from Greenwich and a fighter pilot for the Marine Corps.
Geri continued to pursue acting as a career, working in theater, television, and radio in New York, California, Hawaii, and Virginia, always finding work wherever Royall’s military career took them. Geri’s creative talent extended outside of the theater. She was also an incredible artist and began selling her works in the 1980s.
In the early 1980s, Geri came to the Alexandria Harmonizers barbershop chorus where Royall sang, starting as their Stage Advisor and ultimately becoming the Artistic Director. For over 20 years, she choreographed their songs, helping them become international champions on four occasions. She helped them perform at Carnegie Hall, Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center, and the Supreme Court, as well as performing for such luminaries as Ray Charles, Perry Como and several U.S. Presidents. She loved every moment of teaching the men how to sing from their heart, not their mind, and incorporating movement and dance that helped convey the meaning of a song to the audience. Over the years, she took her talents to other choruses throughout the U.S. and Europe. Earlier this month, the Harmonizers celebrated its 75th Anniversary in D.C. Geri attended and the chapter did a beautiful tribute to her, calling her the “matriarch” of the Harmonizers, a title she cherished.
Royall and Geri moved to Naples, Florida in 2015 and never looked back, enjoying the warm weather, making amazing new friends, and continuing to travel abroad up until 2020 when Royall’s health made it too challenging. Last but not least, she loved Royall deeply in their 60 years together and missed him dearly since he passed away nine months ago. While her passing is too soon, there is comfort in knowing she is now with him. Like Royall, she will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.
A Memorial Service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a charitable donation to the newly founded youth chorus at Harmonizers.org.
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 75th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
