Thursday, May 18, 2023

Looking Back on the May 16, 2023 Alexandria Sing in Old Town

 Looking Back on the May 16, 2023 Alexandria Sing in Old Town 

Both ensembles of the Alexandria Chapter met at Market Square in Old Town Alexandria at 7 pm this week.  The plan was to sing at the Square and then stroll down King Street and sing where ever there was a crowd, with a goal to sing at the Torpedo Factory steps. This week’s event is part of the chapter’s outreach efforts. The last sing was at the water’s edge at the end of King Street.


The Harmonizers sang “I’m the Music Man” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”  Metro Voices sang “It Don’t Mean a Thing.” The two groups combined to do “Why We Sing.”


Weather was a possible threat, but chapter leaders promised a 5 pm alert as to ‘go or no go’ for the sing out and so we did sing – with a few drops of rain at the start. Harmonizer associate director Tony Colosimo and Metro Voices director Tessa Walker directed the songs. Tony welcomed listeners to consider joining us in the future.


Walt Page and Jack Pitzer passed out newly created info cards to the audiences with info on one side about how singers could join the chapter, and on the other side was info on how to find out about shows for the chapter. Chapter general manager, Susan Fitzpatrick, created the cards with the 75th anniversary logo. 


Terry Reynolds welcomed Rick Taylor and Perry White from Harmony Foundation who were in town, and Ellen Dellert, a long-time fan of the chorus. 


An afterglow gathering was at Chadwick’s after the choruses had sung along King Street.


Terry also had a printed note for each singer with the following reminders of upcoming chapter events:


Sunday, May 28, singers are invited to gather at The Bike Club in Old Town for a 3-5 pm session to enjoy Beatles-a-Day with Mo and Amelia. The chapter will also welcome Veterans for this Memorial Day Weekend and an ensemble of Harmonizers will sing the “Armed Forces Medley.” 


The annual chorus retreat is June 9-11 at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. Both ensembles will attend. Housing will be in campus space and the retreat will be in the student building where the meals will be served and where the Saturday night party will be held. The registration deadline was Tuesday – although there is likely a way to attend if a singer missed a deadline. There are options to commute too.  Craig Kujawa, contest director, is coordinator. Coaches for this year’s retreat will be David McEachern from Toronto, and Rick Spencer from Nashville. Arrival is Friday evening and departure is Sunday noon.  


The interment of Royal Geis at Arlington Cemetery will be on June 12 at 1 pm.  The Harmonizers will sing “I’ll Walk With God’ and “I’ll Be Seeing You.” 


The chapter meeting on Tuesday, June 13, will begin at Alexandria City Hall with the choruses singing for the City Council at 7 pm in their chamber. The mayor will recognize the chapter’s 75th anniversary. Following that performance, the chapter will reconvene at SRT.


The chapter’s 75th anniversary celebration on Tuesday night at SRT. This special evening will include some singing by the chapter; remarks from several special guests from the BHS; displays created by the chapter’s history team; special Diamond Honor Awards presented to just a few members who have provided exceptional services to the chapter over the years; a video history to enjoy; plus refreshments and an anniversary cake cutting ceremony and entertainment from BETTER TOGETHER. Carl and Cathy Kauffmann have organized the event on behalf of the 75th anniversary committee. 


On July 1, there will be a chorus sing with the HEAVY MEDAL chorus, our Barbershop in Germany (BinG) guests. Their members will stay in the homes of our chapter members. The performance will be at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. The BinG chorus in on its way to the International BHS convention in Louisville the next week. 


Saturday, May 20 is a work day for the chapter.  Operations director Gary Cregan has found a more convenient and less expensive storage unit for the chapter’s ‘things.’  The move day is Saturday May 20.  A good-sized crew is needed for this effort. Please let Gary know if you can help – operations@harmonizers.org. Starting crews will meet at 14123 Jefferson Davis Highway in Woodbridge at 8 am. The new unit work will done at 880 South Picket St. in Alexandria, VA 22304.


The annual Put Together Quartet contest will be Tuesday night, May 30, at SRT.  Quartets are encouraged to form and prepare a traditional song, a comedy number or even a tag or two. Guest judges will choose winners that will be given trophies! Registered quartet singers can compete but have to sing a different part in this contest.  Tyler Carpenter is coordinator and he offers to “put together” a quartet for anyone who wants to sing but does not have a quartet yet. Singers from both ensembles are encouraged to enter this fun chapter contest.


In other Harmonizer family news, congratulations to Jacob Broude who was married the first weekend of May to Isabella.


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.