Looking Back on the Feb. 28, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
The Alexandria Chapter meeting this week was for both the Harmonizers and Metro Voices at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT). There were a lot of singers on the risers at the 7 pm start time and Maggie McAlexander did a warm up session for the combined choruses. The singers had fun with the round she taught, “Whose Pigs Are These?”
Artist director, Joe Cerutti, reminded singers that Metro Voices is not meeting next Tuesday but will have a gathering on Thursday, March 9. He asked what the Harmonizers did last Thursday when they had a social evening and Turner Arndt reported on the trivia game the attendees played at the brewery in Alexandria.
Joe also announced plans for a Caberet night on April 26 – as a wrap up to our spring2ACTion day of fund raising. Anyone can audition to sing on that evening’s program – any kind of singing other that barbershop. Auditions will be March 21. Speak to Terry Reynolds, Tony Colosimo or Joe if you have questions, and if you would like to audition. Maybe get out your old guitar or ukulele or invite your partner to sing with you, or maybe your kids. The chapter will even have an accompanist for the event.
Before the musical work began, Ben Watsky welcomed guests. He announced that Sofie Clarke passed her audition for the Voices, and that Matt Ambler passed his audition for the Harmonizers. Matt was given his Harmo casual shirt with the logo. Other Harmonizer guests included Matt Gordon for his third or fourth visit in the tenor section; Sean O’Brien for his first visit and as a guest of Duncan Peacock and the other Georgetown Chimes guys; Chad Ross for his first visit after deciding he wanted to get back into singing and looking us up online; and Edgar Blancas who was a member in 2010 and also wanted to get back to singing. Terry directed the “Harmonizer Welcome Song.”
At this point, Metro Voices moved to sectionals in various rooms in the Temple and the Harmonizer worked on the risers in the auditorium. First song was “Sit Down You’re Rockin the Boat” with just those men who self-assessed at level 5. Joe offered many performance points for that song, and encouraged singers to take notes of them.
Joe invited all the Harmonizers back onto the risers to work on “I’m the Music Man.” That was followed with sectionals for “Wee Small Hours.” When the sections returned to the risers to work as a whole on this classic Harmonizer ballad from our 1998 gold medal year.
Rehearsal time ended with rehearsal of “Impossible Dream.” Joe was a happy man after a whole night of wonderful singing!
Metro Voices retuned to the auditorium for the chapter business meeting period conducted by communications director Steve Murane.
Chapter secretary David DesPortes recognized Harmonizers who had rejoined since last time. He presented a membership lapel pin, as is the chapter’s custom for milestone years, to Don Thompson for 30 years and to Will Coxfor 45 years. Membership cards went to Clyde Crusenberry for 13 years; Joe Cerutti, Jr. for 22 years; Brad Jonesfor 31 years; and Dennis Ritchey for 31 years.
Steve White presented a detailed report about the chapter’s plans for the 75th anniversary so members would have an idea of what to expect in the months ahead. Some of the plans had been shared by the music team and the chorus is hard at work on songs for the big show in Sept. The general committee for planning the anniversary include Steve as chairman and Mick Stamps as vice chair. Others include Susan Fitzpatrick, general manager for the chorus; Joe Cerutti, Jr., artistic director; Randall Eliason, executive director; Bruce Roehm, past president; and Jack Pitzer, past historian. In addition to this committee, there is considerable overlap with the chapter’s Operations Team for things like shows, history, membership, communications and development.
Steve showed the new 75th anniversary logo – inspired by the chorus photo taken at the International in Toronto – coordinated by Randall. That logo will be available for the chapter to use in many ways, including on merchandise like mugs, caps, decals, all of which can be ordered from the chapter’s store on the website. Brian Ammerman is the go-to-person on the store project.
Some anniversary activities are already underway, such as the ‘throwback Thursday’ messages prepared by Martin Banks, historian emeritus for the chapter, and distributed on Facebook. Mike Kelly continues to prepare Harmonizer features that are on the YouTube channel. Steve Murane is preparing articles for publication.
The first big anniversary event on the horizon is the Tuesday, June 20, 2023, celebration of the chartering of the chapter. This event will be held at SRT for all of the Harmonizer family to attend. Carl and Kathy Kauffmann are in charge of this party that will include a brief program, and then refreshments. The actual date of the charter is June 29, 1948.
The anniversary show will be Sept. 9, 2023, at Schlesinger Hall, with a large afterglow event following the performance. Joe Cerutti Sr. and Janet are producing this show.
There will be a huge 75th Anniversary Gala in October of 2023 that Ken Rub is managing as one of the major fundraising efforts during this anniversary year.
Throughout the year, the chorus will be making Sing-Out-Alexandria appearances starting with a major one with the singers from Alfred Street Baptist.
Steve wanted members to have these things on their calendars and to make plans to attend, plus to be willing to step up and help or volunteer. This milestone anniversary is clearly bigger than just a show of great singing. Alumni members can also be of great help in making this a wonderful year.
Don Harrington won the 50/50 this week. A crew put the risers back stage in the auditorium and in the cafeteria. A large crowd made it to the Harmo House for this week’s afterglow with pizza, snacks and tag singing.
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 Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
