Looking Back on the Aug. 27, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
It was guest night for the Alexandria A Capella Collective on Tuesday, August 27, at Beth El synagogue. There were 12 guests with all levels of barbershop and singing experience.
Membership director, Jacob Broude, had promoted the event, and the music team prepared the Metro Voices and Harmonizers to sing for the guests. Many members brought guests – friends, co-workers, neighbors, relatives, former members, partners, and new acquaintances. Chapter members wore their new AACC t-shirts. The program was well organized and there was a lot of fun. The first half-hour of the night was just open for mixing and meeting the guests.
Associate director of the Harmonizers, Tony Colosimo, did a warm up session for the AACC members and the guests on the risers. He explained, in general terms, the four parts we sing and asked members of each section to raise their hands so the guests could come stand near them if needed. And he taught the guests the lip-trill exercise.
Assistant director of Metro Voices, Maggie McAlexander, taught a round (“Whose Pigs Are These”) and then taught the tag, “In a gingham gown you stole my heart away.” Then she invited an octet of singers to do it and then she added a guest on each part. It was great!
A riser crew had started at 5 pm to get the risers from storage and set up at Beth El. There was a display table of chapter history materials, and Alan Wile and Walt Page were set up to sell 50/50 tickets. Tyler Carpenter was prepared to engrave the medals Harmonizers earned in Cleveland. Starting next week, members who want their medal engraved should bring it to him at the meeting and he will bring it back the next week. Cost is $5.
Terry Reynolds welcomed everyone and extended greetings from artistic director, Joe Cerutti, who was in NYC. Terry confirmed that tickets for the fall show, Sept. 21, at Bishop Ireton High School, (201 Cambridge Rd, Alexandria) featuring five local area quartets and the two AACC choruses, are now on sale. Theme for the show is Homecoming – an evening with family and friends. The show will run 6-8:15 pm followed by an afterglow. Chorus call will be 1:30 pm at the school.
The AACC holiday show is set for Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 with afternoon show times, at Fairlington United Methodist Church. Work on the music for that show will begin soon. The music is on Groupanizer and Joe encourages singers to get started on “Here Comes Santa Claus.” New members will obviously want to start on other holiday songs.
Meetings September 6 and 13 will be at AlexRenew, 1800 Limerick Street, Alexandria. Members are asked to wear their AACC t-shirt again next week for promotional photos.
Following the announcements, the two ensembles rehearsed their music in separate rooms until time for the evening program. Guests were given music to use in each ensemble’s rehearsal.
When everyone reassembled in the big hall, guests were invited to take seats and Metro Voices sang “On The Wayside” for them.
While the Harmonizers took their places on the risers, Tessa Walker explained the formation event for Capital Force, our youth ensemble, on Sun. Oct. 6. She encouraged all members to take flyers far and wide to get students (grades 8-12) to register for the kick-off event.
The Harmonizers then sang “Calling Dreams” followed by the combined ensembles singing “I’m Still Standing.”
Chapter secretary, Heidi Krukowski, presented membership renewal cards to the following: 2 years to Marsha Ansel; 3 years to David Hillinck; 7 years for Jacob Broude; 33 for Ken Rub; 44 for Dave Ermlick; 45 for Mick Stamps; 50 for Randy Lazear; and 59 for Jack Pitzer. (Hurray – thanks for all the handshakes!).
There are two recent new members that come us as family members of a current singer. Adele Jones, wife of Brad Jones, is a new bass singer for Metro Voices. Brenden White is a new lead singer for the Harmonizers. His dad, Steve, gave him his new membership card and his own AACC t-shirt, and invited Brenden’s Godfather, Rick Savage, to be up front for the presentation.
The AACC chorus sang the chapter “Welcome Song” to guests directed by Terry.
As a fun wrap-up to the evening, Devin Gerzof invited everyone to form in groups of about 10. Then there was a contest to see how many songs each group could sing that has the word, “Heart.” Devin went from group to group and after about 5 rounds, only groups 1 and 2 were still in the contest. Group 2 finally captured the title. Many guests were the ones who offered or even sang the “heart” song for their group.
After the fun ice breaker activity, it was time for a 50/50 drawing and to sing “Keep the Whole World Singing, directed by Tony. There was big crowd at the Harmo House for the pizza and visiting and story-telling and tag singing. It was fun to have many guests there too.
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 76th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
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