Looking Back on the Nov. 21, 2023 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
Well, this week it was a nasty weather night plus nasty traffic jams as people left the DC area for the holiday weekend. But still there was a good number of singers at the Scottish Rite Temple (SRT).
It was a work-on-the-holiday-show-music for both ensembles this week again, and associate director of the Harmonizers, Tony Colosimo, conducted the warm up session.
When artistic director, Joe Cerutti, started the evening, he thanked members for making the effort to attend despite the weather. And he asked what folks were doing for Thanksgiving. Many are joining family – there were some large crowds planned for the big meal such as 22 and 20 and even 45! A few singers will be traveling to other countries over the holiday too
Joe invited members of both ensembles who are interested in singing in a small ensemble (quartet or double quartet or the like) to sign up on the provided form. The chapter gets a number of requests for smaller groups and this effort will help the chapter shows director, Doug White, fill those requests.
Attire for the holiday shows was addressed and several questions were cleared up – basically, all black with something red or green to accent. Dressy – no black jeans or tennis shoes or any kind of sweat shirt. Accents could be a tie, a pin, a bracelet, a pocket stuffer, a belt – for a few ideas.
The ensembles will need to learn a couple finales for upcoming events. Take note of the weekly email.
Just to confirm, here is a list of upcoming meetings/rehearsals/events: next week, Dec. 28 – at Scottish Rite Temple; Tues. Dec. 5 at AlexRenew, 1800 Limerick Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; Tues. Dec. 12 at Fairlington United Methodist Church, 3900 King Street; Sat. Dec. 16, show for Frederick, MD, Chapter, call time is 1:45 pm; Sun. Dec.17, our own show at Fairlington, UMC. call time is 2 pm; Tues. Dec. 19, Carol Crawl in Old Town; Sat. Dec. 30, extra prep session for the Midwinter convention performance - Metro Voices from 9-1 and Harmonizers from 11-3.
At this point in the meeting, the two ensembles moved to their own practice area in SRT to work on their holiday show music. For a few minutes, the guys singing the “Dreidel Song” met with associate director, Tony, in the lobby.
All singers reconvened in the auditorium for the business session coordinated by communications director, Steve Murane. He started it off with confirmation that there would be no bus to NYC for Midwinter. Joe suggested any singers not familiar with travel in NYC to speak to some who travel there often.
President, Noah Van Gilder, alerted members about an email coming to all, asking input on nominees for the annual awards the chapter presents each year. All member can offer nominees.
Terry Reynolds reported that the large stash of sheet music of every song that chapter has ever sung is being digitized and so copies of that music were available for the taking in the lobby. This is preparation for moving out of SRT.
Chuck Miller from Metro Voices welcomed guests this week. Mark Oswald passed his audition as a baritone for the Harmonizers. Chuck Hunter, member and chorus coach, was in town for this week from Chicago. There were several other guests this week. Terry directed the chapter welcome song.
After the business session, the two ensembles worked on holiday songs they are singing together.
The busy evening ended with the 50/50 drawing organized by Alan Wile and Walter Page. Carey Fagerstrom from Metro Voices directed “Keep the Whole World Singing.” Orders for pizza were taken and a nice crowd attended the afterglow at the Harmo House. This week there was a Smores set up in the dining room!
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.
