Looking Back on the March 14, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 Looking Back on the March 14, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

The Alexandria Chapter meeting this week was for the Harmonizers and Metro Voices at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT). Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm up session with both choruses on the risers in the auditorium. A riser crew was needed at 6:30 to get things ready, then while the warm up session was underway, several guys went with operation manager for the chapter, Gary Cregan, to set up rises in the cafeteria for MVs. 

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Artistic director Joe Cerutti was wearin' the green already with his bright green hooded sweatshirt.  He got some laughs and asked a trivia question about a movie.  Jerry Jayjohn got it right and won a bottle of the latest hot sauce Chris Huber had made.  Joe also reminded everyone about the meetings next week – only Metro Voices meet on Tues. and the Harmonizers will meet on Thursday for optional events – work with section leaders on a self-determined need basis at SRT from 6:30-7:30.  Then from 7-9 pm singers can gather at Lost Boys Cider at 317 Hoofs Run Drive. 

He also explained more about the plans for a Caberet night on April 26  as part of our participation in the City of Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion day of fundraising. The chapter will feature a Cabaret of individuals (or small groups) from the Harmonizers and Metro Voices performing for a live audience of friends and family and live cast to our supporters.   It will have a bit of a “Telethon” feeling as we remind those tuning in of our Spring2ACTion fundraising goals.

The music team will audition, select, and schedule the acts to perform in the cabaret.   A professional piano accompanist will be available for the event and for a rehearsal the week before on Thurs, April 20.

Auditions due Mar 21 - Members of Metro Voices and the Harmonizers are encouraged to consider performing a non-barbershop act for the cabaret.  Family members can sing with any member. You may audition by submitting a video or in person.   To arrange an in-person audition, or if you have any questions about the event or auditions, please contact Joe, Tony, Tessa or Terry or talk to them at rehearsal. 

Before the musical work began this week, membership director Jacob Broude welcomed back recent guests: Matt Gordon visiting in the tenor section;  Ian Kelly in the lead section; and Edgar Blancas in the tenor section. First time guest John Taber, a friend of Randall Eliason, sang in the baritone section. Elizabeth Robilla was a Metro Voices guest. Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome Song.”

Metro Voices adjourned to sectionals and the Harmonizers worked on “I’m the Music Man,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat” for singers who were ‘riser ready,” and “New York, New York.” Plus there were small group work sessions for “Wee Small Hours” with Jason Lee, Tony Colosimo, Ben Watsky and David Breen as group leaders.

During the business session with the combined choruses, Ken Rub elaborated more about Spring2ACTion for all to start making plans on who they would contact.

Joe reminded everyone that the Heavy Medal chorus from Germany will be coming to the DC area en route to the 2023 International in Louisville July 4-9. They visited with us before prior to the Nashville International. The Barbershop in Germany (BinG!) chorus will be in our area June 30-July2 and Joe asked the Harmonizers to help host the guests in homes.  Terry Reynolds will be sending out an inquiry to see how many the chapter can host.   There will likely be a few events while Heavy Medal is in the area such as singing together and maybe a social at the Harmo House.

Michael Pugh was at the afterglow at the Harmo House this week with word they he and his wife and their new baby are moving back to Atlanta to be closer to a network of family.  He will be missed!

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 74^th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)

 

The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.

 

 

ing Back on the March 7, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 ing Back on the March 7, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

The Alexandria Chapter meeting this week was only for the Harmonizers at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT). Metro Voices will have an optional meeting on Thursday March 9, at the Harmo House. Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm up session with the chorus in the auditorium seating area. 

Joe also explained more about the plans for a Caberet night on April 26  as part of our participation in the City of Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion day of fundraising. The chapter will feature a Cabaret of individuals (or small groups) from the Harmonizers and Metro Voices performing for a live audience of friends and family and live cast to our supporters.   It will have a bit of a “Telethon” feeling as we remind those tuning in of our Spring2ACTion fundraising goals.

The music team will audition, select, and schedule the acts to perform in the cabaret.   A professional piano accompanist will be available for the event and for a rehearsal the week before on Thurs, April 20.

Auditions due Mar 21 - Members of Metro Voices and the Harmonizers are encouraged to consider performing a non-barbershop act for the cabaret.  Family members can sing with any member. You may audition by submitting a video or in person.   To arrange an in-person audition, or if you have any questions about the event or auditions, please contact Joe, Tony, or Terry or talk to them at rehearsal. 

Before the musical work began this week, membership director Jacob Broude welcomed Harmonizer guests: Matt Gordon visiting in the tenor section;  Sean O’Brien in the bass section; and Edgar Blancas in the tenor section.  Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome Song.” Yuhan Roh was back from Indiana where he was working for a number of months.

The Harmonizers worked on “Wee Small Hours,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “New York, New York,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” Plus there were sectionals for “Wee Small Hours.”

During the business session, chapter secretary David DesPortes recognized Dean Rust for his 42 years of membership. 

Joe reported that the Heavy Medal chorus from Germany will be coming to the DC area en route to the 2023 International in Louisville July 4-9. They visited with us before prior to the Nashville International. The Barbershop in Germany (BinG!) chorus will be in our area June 30-July2 and Joe asked the Harmonizers to help host the guests in homes.  Terry Reynolds will be sending out an inquiry to see how many the chapter can host.   There will likely be a few events while Heavy Medal is in the area such as singing together and maybe a social at the Harmo House.

In other news, the 75^th anniversary committee met via Zoom on Monday and provide a couple dates for the Harmonizer family to post on their calendars: on June 13^th the chorus will sing at the Alexandria City Council meeting as part of a ceremony proclaiming June as Alexandria Harmonizer Month; and a big party to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of our chartering will be on Tuesday, June 20, at Scottish Rite Temple.  BHS president John Santora, and a fellow Harmonizer, will be one of the guest speakers that night. (John is the fourth Harmonizer to be elected as Society president – Wilbur Sparks, Darryl Flinn, Alan Lamson and John.) Chapter general manager Susan Fitzpatrick has added a whole section to the Harmonizer website about the 75th anniversary. 

Will Cox won the 50/50 this week.  A large crowd made it to the Harmo House for this week’s afterglow – this week featuring Italian food donated by Mark Klostermeyer who had won the meals from a restaurant where he had put his business card in the bowl at the counter. He got it from the restaurant and brought it to the Harmo House to share. 

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 74^th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)

 

The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.