Looking Back on the June 6, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
The Alexandria Chapter meeting this week for the Harmonizers and Metro Voices was a busy one leading up to their first combined retreat June 9-11. Assistant director of Metro Voices, Maggie McAlexander, conducted the warm up session for the combined ensembles in the Scottish Rite Temple (SRT) auditorium on the risers. She taught them a fun round about an alligator in a water spout.
Artistic director Joe Cerutti took over the program and congratulated the contestants and organizers of last week’s Put Together Quartet Contest.
He was excited to kick off plans for this weekend’s retreat at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. See the recent message and agenda from chapter contest coordinator, Craig Kujawa, about check in, outline for the housing and meals, and the schedule. Take his advice and bring your own towel, soap and a pillow, and at least a sheet for the bed.
Friday evening arrivals can check in between 4 and 8 pm. Riser helpers are needed at 4 pm too. Tradition has been for many of us to go to O’Lordans Irish Pub for dinner. (YeEd checked and confirmed it is not graduation on campus this weekend. Yeah.!)
Rehearsal Friday night is from 8-10. Coaches this year are Rick Spencer and David McEachern. Joe is excited to work on some of our new songs for this year.
Saturday rehearsals start at 8:30 am (breakfast at 7:30 and coffee service will also be in the rehearsal room at The Forum at 8 am. Lunch at Noon, then more rehearsal, some breaks, and after dinner more rehearsal ending with a social time in the meeting space.
Sunday breakfast at 7:30 am with a mid-morning break and wrap up at noon. Everyone helps take things out to the Harmo Truck.
Joe also outlined details for next Tuesday night’s appearance at the Alexandria City Council meeting when the Mayor will proclaim June as Harmonizer month. Singers from both ensembles should arrive at City Hall in Market Square at 6:45 (already warmed up) to sing “Why We Sing.” Then after the brief time in City Hall, they will sing on the Square. And then adjourn back to SRT.
Communications director Steve Murane hosted the chapter’s business session.
Steve White, chairman of the 75th anniversary committee, promoted the anniversary celebration party and ceremony on June 20 at SRT. He hinted at some of the surprise guests, explained the general plan for the night including the singing and goodies to share. There will be great history displays and videos. Current members of both ensembles should attend, as well as any alumni. Anyone that still needs to RSVP can contact organizer Carl Kauffmann directly at carlkauff@comcast.net.
Sheryl Berlin, chapter education director and dean of the M-AD Harmony College East, encouraged singers to attend the event the weekend after our retreat back up at McDaniel College. The deadline is Friday, June 9.
Michael Berkson invited anyone who needs help with signing onto SLACK to meet him tonight.
Gary Cregan thanked the work crew that helped move chapter storage to a new location on South Picket Street in Alexandria - Randall Eliason, Terry Reynolds, Kaj Vaisanen, Stan Quick, Dean Rust and Jack Pitzer. This is a major cost savings effort.
Ben Watsky welcomed guests. Dana Richardson and Ashley Merryman from the Mount Vernon area in Alexandria came to sing with Metro Voices. Doug White brought his daughter Aria White (a recent high school graduate) and her friend James Rasser from Nebraska. David Breen’s mother, Maddy, was with us from Ohio and sang too. Ellen Dellert, a long-time fan and booster was in the hall this week. Mick Stamps and Steve Beach were back too. Jamie Patricia was with us for the last week of his temporary assignment in the DC area. Sam Brothers and Dave Ermlick, both active in the chorus in the past, have rejoined and were singing on the risers for the new songs. Kevin Mendez and intern Kaj Vaisanen were back to sing in the bari section.
Will Cox directed the chapter’s “Welcome Song.”
Both ensembles worked on “Why We Sing” to start the night. Riser ready singers stayed on the risers and all others sang from their seats in the auditorium. Everyone was encouraged to take notes on their music during this work session. Singers returned to the risers with a chance to self-record in order to seek comments from music team leaders.
At this point the Metro Voices adjourned to the cafeteria to work on their songs – “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “If I Were a Bell,” and “I Can See the Light.”
The Harmonizers remained in the auditorium to work on “San Francisco” from “I Am Harvey Milk” Joe asked the Harmonizers to bring this music to the retreat for more work time. Then they also worked on “Wee Small Hours” which will also be worked on at the retreat.
Finally, Joe and section leaders worked with the four sections on “Calling Dreams” and then those groups regrouped on the risers.
The singing part of the evening ended with “New York New York.”
There were announcements about the internment for Royal Geis at Arlington on Monday, June 12. Watch for an email with final details. Dress will be coat and tie. Be sure to have the necessary pass to get onto the Post for the service that will proceed the graveside service. The chorus will sing “I’ll Walk With God” and “I’ll Be Seeing You.” The call time will be 12:30 pm at the chapel.
The two ensembles combined for final announcements such as getting a crew to put risers into the truck to take to the retreat.
Joe took a count for afterglow pizza before “Keep the Whole World Singing” after the 50/50 drawing! There was a lively session of story-telling outside on the patio at the Harmo House.
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.
