Looking Back on the March 2, 2024 Gala for the Alexandria A Cappella Collective
The first annual Gala for Alexandria A Cappella Collective was held Saturday evening, March 2, 2024, at The Garden venue on Eisenhower Ave. in Alexandria. There were 100 ticketed guests for the festive and fun event organized around the theme, “A Night at the Speakeasy.” When folks arrived at 6:30 pm, their tickets were checked outside and then they had to knock on the door and give the secret code to get in.
Many guests wore appropriate attire for the theme and the venue and tables were decorated too.
The choices for the silent auction part of the evening were in an adjoining room. Bidders could have bid prior to arriving, and even could have bought the item directly. At the venue during the evening, bidders focused on the QR codes for the many items in categories such as art, travel, food, services, and music. There was a live auction after the dinner hour that was fun too – a stay at AKA Hotel Alexandria with breakfast and gift cards from local restaurants; and a basket of booze donated by chapter leadership.
President Noah Van Gilder welcomed all the guests to the fund raising gala. Artistic director, Joe Cerutti, spoke about the chapter’s growth and movement into becoming an expanded community asset. (Joe was also the auctioneer for the evening.)
Former member, Don Dillingham, and his group entertained with easy jazz as folks arrived and until the dinner began. The bar featured several original “speakeasy” drinks and seemed to be a hit. Waiters passed tasty hors d’ oeuvres prior to the sit down dinner which was served family style. The caterer and her staff were terrific for the evening – Joan Wolford’s Savoir Fare from Loudon County (and wife of baritone Frank Shipp). The meal was superb with fresh pear salad, beef brisket, tortellini pasta, and artichoke/spinach stuffed tomatoes. For dessert, there were home-made cookies and coffee choices, and free cigars or cigarettes (candy of course)!
Special program entertainment was the recent Mid Atlantic District Barbershop Harmony quartet champion, SMOKE RING, from New York City – Becca Eckes, tenor; Stephanie Taglianetti, lead; Alexander Ronneburg, baritone; and Gabriel Spector, bass.
The theme committee included Kathy Kauffmann, Catherine LaValley and general manager, Susan Fitzpatrick. The silent auction team headed by Randall Eliason included Susan, Mary Cooper and Brad Jones. Ken Rub gets full credit as overall organizer of the very successful first-annual Gala for the chapter!
Results of the gala will help the chapter make it possible for more people, of all ages, to sing together in our community.
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.
