Looking Back on the August 22, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
As you can imagine, this week’s meeting was a busy one since the anniversary show is coming up on Sept. 9.
Assistant director of Metro Voices, Maggie McAlexander, conducted warm ups for the chorus of the Harmonizers and Metro Voices that filled the risers. This week she included the tag “Back in My Hometown.” Cy Shuster and Gary Cregan set up the sound equipment for the meeting.
Artistic director Joe Cerutti had a number of items to report to the combined ensembles. First, the emcee for the show will be Will Lagos, who is well known in barbershop circles as the emcee and performance coach for the Westminster, CA, chorus.
Plans have been set in motion to launch our newest ensemble, Capital Force, as seasonal youth chorus for rising 8th-11th grade students. The event is Sunday, Sept. 10from 1-4 pm at Clarendon Presbyterian Church, 1308 North Irving Street, Arlington, VA 22201 (that is the address for the church’s parking lot. Both ensembles will sing for the students and their parents and friends. A flyer was released recently and every member is urged to distribute it far-and-wide to get a good number of students on the risers from the start. Contact Tessa Walker, director of that ensemble, for any questions.
Joe has gotten word that the chapter’s choruses will be invited to sing at Wolf Trap again in the summer of 2024 as part of a major concert featuring DC Metro area singing ensembles. It was really fun in 2022.
To clarify show week plans, there will NOT be an extra rehearsal that week, as has been the case in years past. The call for singers will likely be about noon on Sat., Sept. 9. The venue requires the space be empty for two hours so that will be the time for members to get their dinner.
After the September 9 show and the Capital Force kickoff, there will be no rehearsal on September 12. However, an extra rehearsal will be held on September 21 as the ensembles prepare for appearances at the Mid Atlantic District (M-AD) convention in York, PA, Sept. 29-30.
The first singing this week was on “Defying Gravity” with Joe directing the combined ensembles and working on energy, meaning and flow of the song. He had them sing in sections first, then mixed riser positions and then memorized. It went really well!!
The combined ensembles then did a run-through of “Why We Sing” which allowed members to self-record as they work to be risers ready.
At this point, there was another mixer/game for the chapter members to enjoy and get to know each other more. Jason Lee asked four members a question before the meeting. The folks on the risers had to vote as to whether that member would get the answers right or wrong. David Hillinck was asked to name all of the professional sports franchises in DC; Lenna Jawdat was asked who arranged “Defying Gravity;” and Jonah Phillipp and Steven Gudauskas were asked what is Joe Cerutti’s age. Both Lenna and Jonah answered correctly.
Chapter communications director, Steve Murane, coordinated the chapter business meeting.
Chapter executive director Randall Eliason asked for volunteers from the communities of both ensembles to help at the show. Those volunteers would receive free admission by helping as ushers, ticket sellers, and a variety of other tasks. He also prompted members to push ticket sales and offered that Randy Lazear has paper tickets for those who preferred selling them.
All singers were reminded that no outside food or drink is allowed in the auditorium at Scottish Rite Temple (SRT).
Chapter secretary David DesPortes presented an 18-year membership renewal card to Joel Golden.
Membership director, Jacob Broude, welcomed several returning guests –Norm Barth, Jonah Phillipp, Thomas Keeping and Leah Musico. Emeritus assistant director, Will Cox, directed the chapter welcome song.
After a short break for the members to get off the risers, Metro Voices worked on their songs and the Harmonizers worked on their songs after confirming new riser positions. This week was the first time for many to hear the piano accompaniment for “San Francisco.” Zak Sandler was at the keyboard. Joe thanked Cy Shuster for tuning the SRT piano. Also the Harmonizers worked hard to smooth-out the choreo for the several songs on the show that include it.
The two ensembles regrouped and did the 50/50 which Patricia Chow won. Joe invited members and guests to the Harmo House for the afterglow after “Keep the Whole World Singing.”
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 75th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
