Thursday, March 30, 2023

Looking Back on the March 28, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 Looking Back on the March 28, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

The Alexandria Chapter meeting this week was for the Harmonizers and Metro Voices at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT). Assistant director of Metro Voices Maggie McAlexander did the warm up session for all singers on the risers.  She taught a round that they enjoyed singing – Pizza is Great, I Can’t Believe How Many Slices That I Ate” and finished the exercise with the “Danny My Boy” tag.


Associate director Tony Colosimo was maestro for this week since Joe Cerutti was stranded in Germany because of the transportation strikes in Europe. 


Tony reminded all singers to check the emails about the changes in schedule as to when ensembles will and will not meet in April.  


He extended congrats to the singers who participated in the contests the past weekend in York, PA.

While both ensembles were in the auditorium, membership director Jacob Broude welcomed guests for both groups. Casey, Megan and Lenna were present to sing with Metro Voices. Two new members have been welcomed to this group – Jeanne Hillinck and Allissa Fernandez.


Five recent Harmonizer guests were back on the risers – Sean O’Brien, Matt Gordon, Chad Ross, John Tabor, andEdgar Blancas. They are in various stages of preparing to audition for the chorus.

At this point, Tony welcomed some members we have missed for a long while – Ken White and Calvin Schnure; And a couple guys who were back after a few weeks – Scott Beach and Nic Petersen.  Assistant director emeritus Will Coxdirected the “Harmonizer Welcome Song.”


Tony introduced a new song that both ensembles will perform together – “Why We Sing.”  It is an original piece by prolific song writer Greg Gilpin and arranged for mixed voices by David Wright. The message of this beautiful song is perfect for our chapter. Music team admin staffer, Terry Reynolds, projected the music and played a quartet performance of it for all to experience the future number both ensembles will be working on in the weeks ahead. 


At this point, Metro Voices moved to the cafeteria to work on their risers with Maggie and interim director Tessa Walker.

  

The Harmonizers worked on “Something’s Comin” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin the Boat.” Part of that time was for ‘riser ready singers.’  


When Tony moved to work with Metro Voices, Terry took directed the Harmonizers sing through the songs for the April 22nd show in Newport News including “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Impossible Dream,” “A Little Help from My Friends,” “Never Fully Dressed,” “I’m the Music Man,” “New York, New York,” and “Wee Small Hours.”


Tony rejoined the chorus to work more on the last song.


When Metro Voices returned to the auditorium, communications director Steve Murane moderated the business meeting period.  


Chapter president Noah Van Gilder congratulated the quartets who competed at the recent Southern Division contest. There were cheers for PRAXIS, with David Breen and Lance Fisher, who earned a high enough score to qualify their participation in the International quartet contest in Louisville in July, 2023. There were also cheers for BREAKTHROUGH with Mike Fasano, Jordon Zimmerman, Jason Lee and Ken White that was second place in the division.  BETTER TOGETHER with Elizabeth Colosimo, Heather Havens, Tony Colosimo and Andrew Havens that was first place.


Noah also thanked the members who worked as volunteers at the convention and those who went to represent our chapter. (See the Looking Back report issued earlier with all the details.)


There will be another contest on April 14-15 in PA for the Northern Division contest and there are a couple quartets competing there with Harmonizer singers. Also some of our members will be volunteering to operate that contest.


Steve asked members to share on Facebook that the chapter will be singing on the Newport News show so that patrons and chapter supporters will know about the concert. BETTER TOGETHER will be appearing with the chorus. 


Be on the lookout for details about how each member needs to participate in the Spring2ACTion fundraising event on April 26.  Each member will be expected to solicit contributions from friends, co-workers, neighbors, family, other barbershoppers, and other singing friends. The last few years we earned a significant payment for having the most donors during a particular hour. Ken Rub will be alerting members of both ensembles of how it will all work.


Chapter historian Don Harrington put out extra pictures of past chorus appearances that anyone could pick up from the lobby.  


Chapter education director Sheryl Berlin gave a plug for Harmony College East, June 15-18, at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD.  This great weekend of learning about barbershop and personal music skills is operated by our Mid Atlantic District. There are also classes for quartets, for music educators, or for students. Sheryl and Bill Colosimo from our chapter manage this weekend event. Watch for messages from the district to register.


As a reminder,  the Heavy Medal chorus from Germany will be coming to the DC area en route to the 2023 International in Louisville. (They visited with us before prior to the Nashville International.) This Barbershop in Germany (BinG!) chorus will be in our area June 30-July2 and leaders have asked the Harmonizers to help host the guests in homes.  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. Chapter members that have not volunteered to host should email Terry ReynoldsASAP.


As our 75th anniversary year activities start up, take note of this new Harmo shirt you can get to wear during this special year for the chapter.  Tyler Carpenter will begin taking orders starting next Tuesday (4/4) for a light blue camp shirt with the new 75th anniversary logo embroidered on the left side above the pocket. These are the identical short-sleeved light-weight camp shirts that he has provided before in black that many of you already have. He has sizes S to 6XL. The blue shirt is not required and will not be used for performances, but it is a beautiful commemoration of our anniversary year and great advertising for the chorus when you are out-n-about.  The Steve White will be wearing one of the new shirts next Tuesday if you would like a closer look.

 

Also, if you would like to order other items (T-shirts, coffee mugs, water bottles, pens, phone cases, hats, and much more), please go to the CafĂ© Press at https://harmonizers.org/.  Hit the About tab at the top, go to Shop on the pull-down menu where you will find The Harmonizers Gift Shop.  Note: These items are silk-screened.

 

There was no formal afterglow this week, but some folks got in some tag singing before they left SRT.  Devin Gerzof won the 50/50 this week.


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.

 

 

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Looking Back on the March 24-25, 2023 Alexandria Chapter Members’ Involvement at Southern Division

 Looking Back on the March 24-25, 2023 Alexandria Chapter Members’ Involvement at Southern Division

There were many Alexandria Chapter members and former members at the combined Southern and Central Division contest this past weekend in York, PA. There was also an International quartet preliminary contest held concurrently in which quartets could earn a score to compete in Louisville this summer in the International quartet contest. A total of 31 quartets sang and 13 choruses.


A number of quartets had singers who are current or former Harmonizers on stage. PRAXIS with Lance Fisher andDavid Breen placed 5th and will go to Louisville in July.  Five other quartets from this contests weekend will go to the International.  Possibly some other quartets from the second prelims in M-AD which is in PA April 14-15 at the time of the Northern Division contest will also qualify. 


BREAKTHROUGH with Mike Fasano, Jordan Zimmerman, Jason Lee and Ken White was eighth overall. The quartet was also second place in the Southern Division contest.


BETTER TOGETHER with Elizabeth and Tony Colosimo and Heather and Andrew Havens was listed in 11th place and was Southern Division champs. The quartet did not compete in the prelims scoring this weekend because Tony andAndrew will compete at a prelims in the NED and hope to  go to Louisville in FIRST TAKE. Thus BETTER TOGETHER did not sing in the top ten and was listed as 11th. (A great moment happened when the quartet was given their medals - their kids came up on stage with their parents! Some in arm and some following dad up the steps to the stage.)


BREAKAST BLEND with our Harmonizer guys from Richmond, Mike Geipel, Scott Beach and Vinny Capaccio, was 18th. SILVER ALERT with Kris Zinkievich, Kevin McKenzie, Mike Edison, and Steve Murane was 19thoverall and competed for recognition as a Seniors quartet from M-AD.


BAYSIDE HARMONY with Tim Buell as lead was 21st. ODD MAN OUT with Krissi Folsom, Casey Belzer andSamantha Whiteoak was 25th and was named Southern Division Novice Champs. THE ELDERLY BROTHERS with Mike Wallen was 26th


Other former members on stage:  Will Daniel Simmons sang bass with SECRET BEST FRIENDS that placed 4th and Ed Schubel sang lead with PRATT STREET POWER that placed 3rd


The Harmonizer chorus did not compete at this event, but a number of former or current members were on stage during the chorus contest on Saturday. Mike Wallen directed Richmond with Clark Chesser, Mike Greipel, Scott Beach, Vinny Capaccio, and Jim McConnell on the risers. Their chorus was named Southern Division Champs.


Kris Zinkievich directed Heart of Maryland, Patapsco Valley, Chorus with John Santora and Tim Buell on the risers. This chorus was third in the Southern Division contest.


Frank Shipp and Bob Arbetter sang with the Old Dominion Chorus that placed second in the Southern Division contest. 


Al Hanenbaum sang with the DC Chorus. Bob Mattes, Bob Hirsh, and Rick Taylor sang with the Dundalk Chorus. 


Rick Taylor sang in the mic testing quartet for the contest with TAYLOR MADE. Sean Devine and Chris Yates sang with Hershey on the Saturday night show. 


Alan Lamson was administrative judge for the contest with a couple familiar names  including Kevin Keller, Steve Delehanty, and Tim Waurick. 


Several of our members helped back stage too including Dennis Ritchie, Brian Ammerman, Mike Kelly,  and Ken Rub. And some members were there to cheer on our quartets including Bob Eckman, Alan Wile, Jack Pitzer, Bill Colosimo, and Steve White. Former members Joe Eckert and Fred Womer were there too.


District leaders did a good job in moving the contest to a middle school to keep the costs down. The contest venue was pretty good. The hotels were all located near each other and the headquarters hotel was convenient. President Steve Kirsch was emcee for the Saturday night events.

 

For those interested, the five quartets going to Louisville from this contest include GQ, GIMME FOUR, PRATT STREET POWER, SECRET BEST FRIENDS, PRAXIS and RULE #1.


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.

 

 

Monday, March 27, 2023

Looking Back on the March 21 and March 23, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 Looking Back on the March 21 and March 23, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

The Alexandria Chapter meeting this week was for Metro Voices at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT) on March 21. The Harmonizers will meet for office hours and a social time on Thursday March 23,


Assistant director of Metro Voices Maggie McAlexander did the warm up session on Tuesday. Interim director Tessa Walker worked with the chorus on “It Don’t Mean a Thing” and “I Can See the Light.”


Dennis Ritchey set up the sound and Terry Reynolds was on hand to coordinate their meeting.


On Thursday, the Harmonizers were invited to use the “office hours” time if they personally wanted to work on their music.  Music team leaders were at SRT to assist as needed – from 6:30-7:30 pm – in the small lodge room. Here again, Terry Reynolds was on hand to coordinate the evening.


Meanwhile, Harmonizers were also invited to a social event at Lost Boy Cider from 7-9 pm.  It is at 317 Hoofs Run Dr. in Alexandria.  Membership director Jacob Broude was coordinator of this extra event for the members.  About a dozen attended.

Music team leaders announced the last call for entries in the  Cabaret night on April 26  as part of our participation in the City of Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion day of fundraising. Anyone interested in auditioning should submit a recording or let Joe, Tony, Terry or Tessa know that they are interested – this weekend.


Music team leaders are also eager to hear from any members who could host singers from the barbershop chorus, Heavy Medal from Germany, that will be visiting us just the week before the Louisville International convention. If you can host some of their singers for a couple nights, contact Terry right away.


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.