Looking Back on the Oct. 15, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting
The Alexandria A Capella Collective meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15 was at Beth El Synagogue. Music team member, Maggie McAlexander, led the warm up sessions for the combined chorus of the Harmonizers and Metro Voices. She used a couple of fun exercises to get her points across and prepare the singers for their rehearsal.
Artistic director of AACC, Joe Cerutti, encouraged participation in the chapter’s MAD TAGS set for Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at 3 pm and ending when the tag singers fade! It will be at Honey’s Harvest Farm in Lothian MD. There will be a food truck. Cost is $35 per person. Organizers of this fun singing event include Bob Bates, David Wilt, David Breen, Steve White, and Tony and Elizabeth Colosimo. It is also possible to get a room at the event.
Joe also was proud to welcome Harmonizers to sing for the Honors Flight on Saturday that will honor World War II veterans. Sign up details can be gotten from Terry Reynolds. Songs for that appearance were rehearsed after this week’s meeting. Harmonizers performing at Reagan National Airport for Honor Flights on Oct. 19 will only need to provide their full name and date of birth beforehand to get through security that morning. We will sing “Armed Forces Medley” and ‘God Bless America” and sheet music will be available for those who need to use it.
Joe shared his excitement for another men’s fellowship for the Harmonizers with Alfred Street Men’s Choir from Alfred Street Baptist. The gathering will be at their church Wed, Oct. 16. They are great hosts and offer refreshments after the singing. Both groups will sing two songs the Harmonizers will sing “Calling Dreams” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin the Boat” and we will teach them “Keep the Whole World Singing.”
Next week’s meeting will be at AlexRenew.
Joe surprised longtime chapter fan and volunteer when he presented a new AACC name tag to Ellen Dellert.
Singing started after all these announcements with “duetting” on “Gloria” for a while, then all singers combined to do the song. Joe worked with the basses and baritones and Tony Colosimo worked with the leads and tenors.
Mark Klostermeyer filled in for membership director, Jacob Broude, and welcomed guests: Josh Berenhaus. Rob Santine, Nerissa Yui, Ellie McCall, and Kim Newcomb. Samantha Tramack directed the “Welcome Song” for guests. Ken Ives was back to visit too.
For the rest of the evening, both ensembles worked on the holiday show repertoire songs.
A REMINDER FOR ALL MEMBERS: The Alexandria Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society has rescheduled its annual meeting for Tuesday, October 22, as part of our Tuesday night rehearsal. Rehearsal will begin at 7pm.There will be one item on the agenda: to elect the 2025 Chapter Board of Directors. The slate, as selected by the nominating committee and accepted by the president, is as follows:
- President: Craig Kujawa
- Vice President: Ashley Merryman
- Secretary: Cy Shuster
- Treasurer: Terry Reynolds
- Member at large: Carolyn Griffin
- Member at large: Mary Cooper
- Member at large: Michael Berkson
- Member at large: Betsy Mullins
- Member at large: Cody Leihgeber-Carpenter
I encourage all members, whether currently active with the choruses or not, to attend in person to help ensure the presence of a quorum. Noah Van Gilder, President, Alexandria A Cappella Collective (Alexandria Chapter, BHS)
Alan Wile held the 50/50 drawing (Joe actually won this time). Alan also reported on the health condition of Walt Page who normally helps with the drawing but has been missing for a few weeks.
Kim Newcomb directed “Keep the Whole World Singing.”
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.
