Looking Back on the April 4, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
The Alexandria Chapter meeting this week was for the Harmonizers only at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT). Both Metro Voices and the Harmonizers will meet next week. Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm up session to kick off a great evening of harmony as the chapter prepares for the 75th anniversary.
Artistic director Joe Cerutti was back from Germany and started the evening’s program with a traditional send off for Gary and Carol Mankin who are moving to NJ to be with family there. Gary pledges to sing with his former chorus up there. Joe paid tribute to their dedication to the chapter since 1989 and recognized their support of any task that needed to be done. Gary brought several Harmonizer items for guys to take such as barberpoles, LPs, and memorabilia. We sang “There Will Always Be a Place on the Risers for You” that we have used for years when a fellow Harmonizer moves and leaves the chorus. It was written by Bob Bates and arranged by John Hohl.
Joe also announced the plan to celebrate March and April birthdays at tonight’s afterglow in honor of these Harmonizers: March birthdays are TJ Arndt, Bob Eckman, Peter Frank, Drew Fuller, Chuck Hunter, Jim McConnell, Ben Roberts, Andy Smith, Rick Taylor, Bob Thames, Rick Wagner and Ken White. April birthdays are Rob Barnovsky, Casey Belzer, David Breen, Joe Cerutti, Dick Dangel, Tom Gannon, Don Harrington, Al Herman, Jim Lucey, Bruce Roehm, Yuhan Roh, Calvin Schnure, Adam Shepard and Joe Wagovich.
He also welcomed Ken White and Adam Afifi who were back singing on the risers; John Santora, Society president and fellow Harmonizer who is in the DC area for a few weeks; and Kaj Sebastin Vaisanen who has come to the USA from Germany to be an intern for the chapter. Kaj will live at the Harmo House and work on several projects like scanning materials from the Harmo History collection (such as show scripts from the early 1950s). Kaj sings bari in a Barbershop in Germany (BinG) youth chorus, and is a college student preparing to be a high school teacher. This internship is part of his college program.
Finally Joe confirmed that the Harmonizers will rehearse on Tuesdays April 11 and April 18. Then on April 25th we will not rehearse. The major fundraiser event, Spring2ACTion will be April 26 along with the cabaret. On April 27th is the next “office hours” event so singers can work with music team members on personal music issues, and then adjourn to a chapter social event.
Singing started with “Something’s Comin” followed by “Impossible Dream.” For “Sit Down You’re Rockin the Boat,” only singers who were ‘riser ready’ took the risers.
The chapter business session was moderated by communications director Steve Murane. Jack Pitzer shared that several members gather for dinner each Tuesday evening about 5:15 pm at Ramparts prior to coming over to SRT. Everyone is welcome and can find the gang in the restaurant section.
Development director for the chapter, Ken Rub, took a few minutes to explain early steps members should take in order to fully participate in the Spring2ACTion event.
Membership director Jacob Broude welcomed our newest member Chad Ross and presented him his new chapter casual shirt. Jacob suggested members update their photo on Groupanizer and wear their name tags so guests and fellow singers would know those on the risers. He offered to get new name tags for those who need one.
Chapter secretary David DesPortes presented membership cards to celebrate the renewal of Sam McFarland for 36 years and to Mike Stamps for 43 years. Last week, David lead the celebration of Harmonizer renewals for Noah Van Gilder for 15 years; Chris Huber for 31 years; and Carl Kauffmann for 50 years!!! Congrats to Carl for his milestone year. Assistant director emeritus Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome Song.”
Attendees were asked to sign up on the posted rosters to indicate intentions for the Newport News, VA, road show on April 22 regarding singing intentions, bus-riders vs driving separate or car-pooling.
After the meeting time, the chorus met in sectionals to work on a new song the Harmonizers will sing with Metro Voices – “Why We Sing.” It is an original piece by prolific song writer Greg Gilpin and arranged for mixed voices by David Wright. It comes to the chapter as a commissioned piece for our 75th anniversary. The message of this beautiful song is perfect for our chapter. Harmonizers will sing alto, tenor or bass on this arrangement.
As our 75th anniversary year activities start up, take note of the new Harmo shirt you can get to wear during this special year for the chapter. Tyler Carpenter was set up in the lobby of SRT taking orders for the 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.
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 Café 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.
Joe worked with the chorus on “Wee Small Hours” before the 50/50 drawing. Dean Rust won $65 this week. The other half of the pot goes to the district endowment fund. Thanks to Alan Wile and Walter Page for promoting the ticket sales.
The night ended with a run through of “I’m the Music Man.”
There was a great crowd at the afterglow to celebrate birthdays, enjoy some brownies and other snacks, get to know some of our newer members and our intern from Germany, and of course ring some tags!
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.
