Looking Back on the May 31- June 2, 2024 Alexandria Chapter Retreat plus June 1 Wolf Trap Appearance 

The Alexandria A Cappella Collective (AACC) held its annual chorus retreat over the weekend.  The chapter has a retreat every year and this one was held locally so the ensembles could appear as a combined chorus at Wolf Trap.

The Harmonizers and Metro Voices sang on stage at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts special event ‘Joyfully Together – A Community-Powered Singing Celebration.’  Santino Fontana (a Tony award winner and Broadway star) was guest artist and emcee for the concert. 

Fourteen choral ensembles from the Washington, DC, Metro area were invited to attend and members of those groups, including AA CC, sang three songs as one-group to end the concert. Six ensembles were chosen to sing three songs on the stage to start the concert.  Coordinator of the singing groups was Dr. Eugene Rogers, artistic director of The Washington Chorus. 

AACC was one of the six ensembles invited to appear on the stage and our members were the final act to wrap up the performing ensembles. AACC was a huge hit and the audience reaction was exciting.  They sang “Defining Gravity” from Wicked with Samantha Tramack as soloist, with Tony Colosimo, arranged by Steve Tramack; “I’m Still Standing” a popular Elton John song, arranged by Melody Hine; and “Hey Jude” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with Matt Ambler as soloist, arranged by Jay Giallombardo. 

One other performing group was our friends from Alfred Street Baptist Church. John Greene, who serves on our chapter board, sang on stage with them.  Dr. Joyce Garrett was their director. She is a past recipient of a Harmonizer Community Service Award and helped AACC artistic director, Joe Cerutti, establish an annual sing-together of our choral groups.

Our singers arrived at Wolf Trap at 2 pm and assembled in their assigned meeting space back stage. There was some vocal warm up time. There was a line-up time to fit the Wolf Trap riser formation, then a sound check session. Our AACC group had food from Subway during the break waiting for the show to start at 7:30 pm.  (Thanks to Mark Oswald for taking notes from the backstage time. YeEd)

There were a good number of members, family and friends in the Wolf Trap audience. Many of them enjoyed the great weather and picnicked on the grounds in the Park.

The retreat aspect of the weekend started at AlexRenew in Alexandria Friday, May 31, from 7-10 pm. Riser crews were busy all weekend.   Associate director of the Harmonizers, Tony Colosimo, conducted the warm up exercise for the combined ensembles and included lots of vocal techniques.  He also included work on “From the First Hello to the Last Goodbye.”

Artistic director, Joe Cerutti, welcomed Matthew Zagorski from 17^th Street Dance group, who joins the front row, and also welcomed Josh Meyers who will be back to sing with us for the contest. 

Joe thanked our retreat coaches and introduced them to all the members of AACC – Cy Wood, Steve Tramack andRenee Tramack. Renee worked with Metro Voices all weekend providing Private Vocal Instruction sessions for each member – offering advice for their vocal skills as a way to make better contributions to their ensemble. Steve and Cyworked individually and as a team with the Harmonizers contest package – “And the World Goes Round; and “Lullaby of Broadway.” Cy also worked with the front row who worked independently on their choreography plan for the package. 

 

Membership director, Jacob Broude, announced the Class of 2024 – a chapter tradition of celebrating new members. They will elect a chairperson, plan a skit to share with their fellow chapter members and wear their bandanas at every chapter function.  This year’s bandanas are dark blue with the AACC logo and 2024 on them. Thanks to Tyler Carpenter for producing them.

 

Members of the Class of 2024 are Mert Tramack, EJ Harold, Mark Oswald, Jimmy Miotto, William Vesilind, Ker Medero, Charley Rothermel, Jared Liscinsky, Kevin Mendez, Matthew Zagorski, Mireille Kouagou,, Ashley Merryman, Dana Richardson, Leah Musico, Marsha Ansel, Catherine LaValley, Callie Cirillo, and Hannah Nesich.

 

The ensembles worked on their own risers and for break, enjoyed ice cream treats from Jack Pitzer. Friday evening’s session ended on time and members adjourned to rest for a busy Saturday. Joe encouraged members to wear comfortable shoes for Saturday morning rehearsal session and the afternoon at Wolf Trap. 

 

Saturday’s retreat session started at 9 am at Colvin Run Elementary School that was very near Wolf Trap.  Luckily the cafeteria space included some riser steps and saved hauling risers.  Cy Shuster and Gary Cregan did bring the sound equipment for coaches and directors to use. 

 

After a good vocal and physical warm up session, the chorus sang through the three songs for Wolf Trap, then the two ensembles began more work on their contest packages. Coaches rotated to the ensembles. Front row captain Bruce Roehm and the front row worked on their own to drill the choreography.  

 

For the morning break, AACC members each were given their new t-shirt for the concert – black shirts with the AACC logo on the front and the name of the chorus on the back in white. Treasurer, Dave Welter, collected payments and Terry Reynolds and Tyler Carpenter helped pass out the shirts.  Dave Ermlick went to get the shirts from the supplier on his way to the school. Terry Reynolds and Tessa Walker had worked to get shirts sizes for all members. 

 

The Saturday morning coaching sessions ended at noon and members were free to get lunch and relax on their own with a report time of 2 pm at Wolf Trap. 

 

Sunday’s retreat session started at 9 am back at AlexRenew. Tony did warm ups again.

Joe led the celebration for the great performance of AACC at Wolf Trap.  He invited members to share comments and responses from family or others.  There were many and they brought good laughs and cheers among the singers on the risers.

 

Coaches worked during the day to move the contest packages forward.  For lunch, there was a pizza feed with sodas in the kitchen area of AlexRenew. Thanks to chapter general manager, Susan Fitzpatrick, for getting the lunch delivered and set up.  

 

In the afternoon, there were sectionals. President, Noah Van Gilder, spoke to all that there were only 33 days until the contest in Cleveland.

 

Sunday afternoon’s session ended with thanks to the coaches, after their summaries of work done and work to be done by the two ensembles.  Joe also thanked Craig Kujawa for his work as contest/retreat coordinator; Terry Reynolds for his minute-by-minute coordination of the weekend as well as recording the coaching sessions; Gary Cregan and Cy Shuster and the riser crews for equipment set up; and the members for hanging in there all weekend.

 

There were a couple bandana checks for the Class of 2024 during the weekend!  

 

As a reminder, the Tuesday night rehearsal, June 4, will be at Beth El Synagogue on Seminary Road.

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 75^th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)

 

The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.