Looking Back on the August 8, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
The singers came prepared to work on their music and choreography this week with an outdoor show on Wednesday night this week and the 75th anniversary show coming soon on Sept. 9th. Front row Harmonizers met early to work on their kick line for “New York, New York.”
There was a revised riser chart for the Harmonizer ensemble.
Associate director Tony Colosimo did a warm up exercise for the combined singers from the Metro Voices and the Harmonizers with some emphasis on body alignments.
Artistic director Joe Cerutti reminded singers of the 6:30 pm call time for Wednesday night’s performance at Franconia District Park (formerly Lee District Park) at 6601 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria. When you turn off Telegraph, you will take the first right turn and park in that area of the large lot. The stage is outside in an amphitheater. There are picnic tables for those who might come early with family and friends. There are benches facing the stage, but your own camp chairs would be a good idea. Maybe some bug control if you wish. This concert is part of the weekly summer concert series in the Franconia District of Fairfax County hosted by County Supervisor Rodney Lusk. The concert starts at 7:30 pm. A riser crew is needed at 6 pm.
Attire is black camp shirt and jeans for the Harmonizers, and black tops and jeans for Metro Voices.
Joe invited singers to audition for the solo in “Defying Gravity.” Anyone interested should communicate with Joe orTony before this weekend.
At this point in the evening, Metro Voices moved into sectionals and the Harmonizers stayed on the risers and worked with Joe on “San Francisco.” He also outlined steps Harmonizers needed to take to be riser ready for several new songs.
The Harmonizers then formed three smaller groups that would rotate to different locations to work with different teachers: Tony worked on a major section of “Calling Dreams;” Dean Rust and Jason Lee worked on choreo for “Sit Down You’re Rockin the Boat;” and Joe worked on performance for “Somethin’s Comin.” The three rotating groups were leads and tenors; baritones; and basses plus front row.
After those work sessions, Joe worked with the whole ensemble on “Calling Dreams.”
Music team administrator Terry Reynolds conducted the chapter business meeting when Metro Voices returned to the auditorium with the Harmonizers. President Noah Van Gilder reported the new that former member Bob Caldwelldied Aug. 2. Bob sang with the Richmond Chorus and with the Harmonizers as well. He was always a quartet man and three quartets of note were TREASURER CHEST, CITY SLICKERS and ENCORE. CITY SLICKERS was fourth place bronze medalist International Seniors quartet in 2003. A celebration of life will be held in the near future.
Noah also reported that former Harmonizer Joe Eckert died recently as well. He was a Harmonizer from 2003-05 and sang bass in NEW RELEASE quartet when it won the Mid Atlantic District quartet contest in 2008.
Joe reminded members that the celebration of life event for Brian Miller will be Sunday, Aug. 13, at the Dubliner in DC at 2 pm. No formal plans for a chorus appearance will be announced, but if there are enough singers present, they might sing a song.
Chapter development coordinator, Ken Rub, prompted all members of both ensembles to sell show tickets for Sept. 9. He also announced the plans for the afterglow for that show to be held at The Garden near Van Dorn Metro Station. There are 200 seats and the chapter members will have first-take on those tickets – so members should take Ken’sadvice and get their afterglow tickets as soon as possible. At some point, tickets will be made available to anyone. The afterglow tickets are $25 and include a buffet and of course the guest quartets from the show (and any other quartets that might want to appear). There will be a bar as well.
Joe announced a couple changes for the chapter as we grow with multi-ensembles. The “Chapter Welcome Song” will now end with the words “in the barbershopper way – barbershopper way” instead of “Harmonizer way.” Also the cheer after “Keep the Whole World Singing” will become “ It’s Great to Be a Barbershopper.”
Operations director, Gary Cregan, is eager to hear from any Harmonizer who will not be singing on the anniversary show in order to possibly borrow their uniform for new singers.
Membership director Jacob Broude welcomed several returning guests (Marsha Ansel, Dana Richardson, Ashley Merryman, Mireille Kouagan, EJ Herold, James McCament, Mert Tramack) and a first-time guest, Jonah Phillipp, who is in the DC area for graduate school. Terry Reynolds, directed the “Chapter Welcome Song.”
There was a brief break and then there was a group game/mixer called Four Corners managed by Jason Lee, Tessa Walker and Samantha Tramack. The chorus members went to one of the four corners of the room to answer the questions such as “What is your favorite vacation – the beach, the mountains, a city or stay home;” or “what is your favorite season of the year – spring, summer, winter or fall.” The members got a chance to learn somethings about each other as we grow and add ensembles.
Then everyone was back on the risers to work on “Defying Gravity.”
Metro Voices adjourned at 9:30 and got a head start to the afterglow. The Harmonizers worked until 10 pm on show songs with choreo. Reed Livergood directed “Keep the Whole World Singing.”
There was pizza and lots of visiting with the good crowd who made it to the Harmo House for the afterglow.
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.
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