Looking Back on the May 14, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
This week’s rehearsal for the Alexandria A Cappella Collective (AACC) was an exciting one with lots of progress on songs for the Wolf Trap performance on June 1 and for the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) convention in Cleveland in early July.
The Harmonizer front row met early to block out their choreography for the contest package. Operations director, Gary Cregan, and a riser crew of volunteers from both ensembles got eight sections of risers up in the board room on the sixth floor of AlexRenew.
Assistant director of Metro Voices, Maggie McAlexander, directed a warm up session for the two choruses and included “Down Our Way” as part of her time up front.
Artistic director, Joe Cerutti, thanked all those who sang at Arlington National Cemetery at the service for Bill Sowers. Joe was just back from Germany and brought greetings from the Barbershop in Germany (BinG) Heavy Medal chorus who sang with us last summer and stayed in the homes of Alexandria members.
Joe spoke briefly about the chapter retreat weekend May 31-June 2 – asking members to mark their calendars to plan to work on Friday night and on Sunday until about 3 pm since much of Saturday will be needed for the appearance at Wolf Trap. He also reports there will be a fun afterglow someplace on Saturday night after that performance. The location for the retreat session is still TBD.
Here are some other calendar items for all members to take note: the previously scheduled “extra” rehearsals are still on for Thursday, June 20 and 27. Watch for exact time and location.
Next week’s chapter meeting will be at Beth El Synagogue, 3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304. (This change is necessary because the chapter does not meet at AlexRenew on the third Tuesday of the month as the space is used for their company board meeting.) Also – the chapter needs to meet someplace else all of the weeks in June. If a member has a contact of a space that can hosts the two groups and is reasonable in cost, contact Terry Reynolds or Gary Cregan.
The combined ensembles sang “I’m Still Standing” and used small ensembles to hone the skills on the relatively new song. Seven or eight members volunteered to join the basses for their melody part in the song. It will be ready in grand style for Wolf Trap.
Speaking of that show – singers do not need tickets. Other chapter members and family and friends can get free tickets using the code and link on Slack. Joe reports that one of the other groups on that show will our friends from Alfred Street Baptist.
The singers and chapter member will have a new t-shirt to wear for that day. Terry Reynolds and Tessa Walker have collected t-shirt sizes. Any member who didn’t turn in their size, should contact one of those two ASAP. Jeans will be complete the casual uniform for Wolf Trap.
Ben Watsky welcomed two returning guests to this week’s meeting – Brenden White and Carl Parkin. Will Coxdirected the chapter “Welcome Song.”
At this point in the meeting, the two ensembles moved to separate rooms. Metro Voices used their rehearsal time for sectional, and some small group work. They also worked on “It’s the Music That Brings Us Together” that will be their new audition song.
In the session with the Harmonizers (who were using the risers again this week), Joe was pleased to welcome back coach and arranger and chapter friend, Kevin Keller, from the St. Charles area in MO and a member of Ambassadors of Harmony. Joe introduced Kevin to the chorus since so many singers are new and have not worked with him as a coach. Kevin was named to the BHS Hall of Fame and is currently executive vice president of the organization. He is a judge and has chaired the Society’s contest and judging program.
The coaching session with Kevin concentrated on his arrangement, “The World Goes ‘Round.” It was terrific and gave the singers great insight into the song, its parts and the ways the arrangement is made to help the singers present the song to the listeners. He taught many basic principles of performance – especially regarding the three parts with one part predominate. (YeEd can report many Harmonizers were taking notes on their music during the effective coaching session.)
Joe invited the guests and members to come to the Harmo House for the afterglow before Kevin directed “Keep the Whole World Singing.”
Last week, the Harmonizers sang farewell to Lt Col William H. “Bill” Sowers, USAF Retired at a grave side service at Arlington National Cemetery. Bill and his wife, Charli, were long time supporters of the chapter even after he took himself off the risers. He was 87. He sang in the gold medal chorus for the 1989, 1995 and 1998 championships. For the service, there were about 40 singers present directed by associate director, Tony Colosimo, They sang “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “I’ll Walk with God.”
In other news, our general manager, Susan Fitzpatrick, has posted the 75th anniversary booklet on the 75th Anniversary page of the website - Celebrating 75 Years - Alexandria Harmonizers.
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.
