Looking Back on the Nov. 7, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
(Thanks to Brian Ammermann for taking notes for this report. He signed his report “By Not YeEd” – so we will go with that. – YeEd.)
It was a perfect night to get together to sing, as most are, and this rehearsal was one of the last few we’ll have at the Scottish Rite Temple.
Greetings happened in the foyer as normal, with guests and new members getting name tags made, and 50-50 tickets being sold by our dynamic-duo of Alan Wile and Walt Page.
Thankfully, this week we had the risers back in the auditorium, and we were called to them promptly at 7 pm by our associate director, Anthony Colosimo. We warmed with a variety of exercises for 20 minutes.
Our artistic Director, Joe Cerutti, gave the welcome and some exciting updates. We will be singing at the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) Midwinter convention in New York City on January 11. We will be singing six songs: Metro Voices will sing their sing/swing medley, as well as “On the Wayside”, the Harmonizers will sing “New York, New York” (of course), and likely “San Francisco”, and the joint ensemble will sing “Why We Sing” and “Defying Gravity”. Transportation is still under discussion, whether there will be a bus or whether it will be on our own.
Joe said we have finalized our holiday show times. On Saturday, December 16, we’re singing with the Frederick, MD, chapter, with a showtime at 3:30 pm with the call time of 1:45. Our show at the Fairlington United Methodist Church on Sunday the 17th will begin at 3:30 as well, with a call time of 2 pm. The outfits for our holiday shows will be simple - we’ve been asked to wear black with red and green accents, so begin thinking about what you are going to wear.
Then Joe gave the general flow for this week’s meeting and announced we would be rehearsing till 9:30 pm. He reminded the ensembles that singers need to be riser ready on “Merry Little Christmas” next week with recordings due this coming Friday to section leaders if you want feedback before next Tuesday.
We then began working on “Merry Little Christmas” for the next 15 minutes with Joe at the helm, including a recording run through.
Jason Lee, in his usual, witty, crafty way, took us through a 5 minute, icebreaker. Questions included what’s your favorite color, and others questions I couldn’t write fast enough to record. Laughs ensued as always during the icebreaker.
With Steve Murane out this week, executive director, Stan Quick, led us through the business points. There will be a pulse survey or two coming out to cover the topics of ‘how well you liked the new rehearsal space at AlexRenew,’ and ‘your opinions on the afterglow from the 75th anniversary show.’ Stan also let us know about the upcoming fundraisers.
Members joined chapter secretary, David DesPortes, with the hand clap routine to recognize Ryan Mextorf who received his five-year membership card.
With Jacob Broude out, an equally dynamic duo from Metro Voices welcomed guests in the foyer, and announced them during the meeting. Thank you to Mary Cooper and Chuck Miller. We had a number of guests again this week. It is very encouraging to see such growth. And we sang our chapter welcome song to our guests.
The two ensembles moved to separate rehearsal space: Metro Voices to the cafeteria to work on the several holiday songs they will sing on the shows; and the Harmonizers remaining in the auditorium to sing “J I N G L E Bells” and “Let it Snow,” followed by 20 minutes of “Deck the Halls” in sectionals, and then reconvening to give it a go as a group.
Those who were riser ready on “Believe” stayed on the risers to work that with Joe. All others were in the seats so they could also learn. We finished off the Christmas music with a run through and touch up work on the “Grinch.” Terry Reynolds gave us his always wafty and grinchiest Grinch voice-over – our hears grew three sizes!
Harmonizers then weaved their way downstairs to the cafeteria for 50/50 (congrats Dennis Ritchey) and to take it out with “Keep the Whole World Singing” with Metro Voices. It was directed by Rick Kazman, who is an active member of the Sounds of Aloha chapter in Honolulu and was here visiting.
Fingers for pizza were raised … folks departed for home or the afterglow at the Harmo House.
Until next week … work on your music!
Not YeEd
Also - here is a brief recap of the Oct. 31 chapter gathering in Old Town on Halloween night. Both ensembles had singers there and the whole group walked around Old Town and down King Street to sing at three or four stops for the good crowds out celebrating the holiday. Joe Cerutti and Samantha Tramack directed. Some of our members wore their favorite costumes too. The chapter ended that night at Chadwick’s for an afterglow. – YeEd.
(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.
