Looking Back on the Nov. 12, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 Looking Back on the Nov. 12, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting 

The November 12 meeting was at Beth El Synagogue. Both ensembles of AACC met in the sanctuary for warm ups – first with Maggie McAlexander and then with Tony Colosimo. He taught a great tag for all to enjoy – “lonely, so lonely, for you am I – lonely for you am I.”

Membership director Jacob Broude met with 13 AACC members who have joined since April for a new-member orientation session.

Artistic director, Joe Cerutti, had several important messages for the chapter. One of them was to report on the Harmony Inc. convention that was held recently – several of our Metro Voices leaders competed in other choruses and earned medals. Congrats to all. 

Meeting location for next week is back at Beth El.  Then for two weeks at AlexRenew. Then on Dec. 10, the chapter will meet at Fairlington United Methodist (which is where the holiday show will be held). Dec. 17 will be the annual Caroling in Old Town – stay tuned for details as to a holiday afterglow too.

Joe and Tony took time to prompt singers for the holiday show to prepare a uniform - particularly the Harmonizers should plan a black outfit with green or red accents. Be certain it fits well and looks good.  Metro Voices have a plan to wear what they wore last year.

Joe announced three exciting performance opportunities – stay tuned for sign up details. First: New Year’s Eve at Alexandria’s Old Town First Night Event, sing from 6-7 pm; second: Giving Tuesday at Goodwin House Alexandria, Tuesday Dec. 3, before chapter meeting – from 5-6 pm; third: Sunday, Dec. 8, sing from 1-3 pm for Military Blue Star group in Falls Church. 

Finally, Joe took a few extra minutes to review the great tally of highlights for AACC for 2024 such as singing at BHS midwinter, at Wolf Trap, at Lake George for the BHS Northeast District, in competition in Cleveland for BHS chorus contest; plus quartet success from our chapter, and formation of Capital Force.  Other presenters will share other highlights at upcoming meetings. 

Catherine LaValley repeated her plea to members to sell show tickets for the two holiday performances on Sat. Dec, 14 at 6 pm or on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3:30 pm, both at Fairlington United Methodist Church, 3900 King Street in Alexandria.  Tickets are just $20. Friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family will enjoy these shows; and reminders from chorus members are likely the only way those customers will know about the shows.  

She also asked members to wear holiday sweaters next Tuesday for a photo session to use in show promotion.

Jacob Broude welcomed two guests this week – Nerissa Yiu for Metro Voices, and Alex Edwards who has moved here for work, having sung with the Vocal Majority, for the Harmonizers. Terry Reynolds directed the “Welcome Song.” 

For the rest of the evening, both ensembles worked on the holiday show songs. It is going to be a terrific show!

Joe had the combined chorus sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as a closing song this week. 

 

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

 

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

Looking Back on the Nov. 5, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting

 

Looking Back on the Nov. 5, 2024 Alexandria Hybrid Chapter Meeting 

The Alexandria A Capella Collective meeting on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, was at Heritage Presbyterian Church near Mount Vernon. Thanks to chapter general manager, Susan Fitzpatrick, for finding a meeting space was not being used as a voting place. Meetings the next two weeks will be at Beth El Synagogue. 

The singers started the meeting in the sanctuary with Tony Colosimo leading the warm up session for this week, then he passed the mic to AACC artistic director, Joe Cerutti, who thanked all those who had taken a break from the news broadcasts and had come to sing for a couple hours. 

Catherine LaValley made an important plea to members to sell show tickets for the two holiday performances on Sat. Dec, 14 at 6 pm or on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3:30 pm, both at Fairlington United Methodist Church, 3900 King Street in Alexandria.  Tickets are just $20. Friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family will enjoy these shows; and reminders from chorus members are likely the only way those customers will know about the shows. 

 

Cy Shuster will collect orders for raffle tickets for the Alfred Street campaign to raise youth scholarship monies. 

Mark Klostermeyer introduced guest Tanner Perdue who has moved to the area and formerly sang with the Heralds of Harmony in FL.  It had been great to have Johan Westburg singing with us recently while he was in town. Terry Reynolds directed the “Welcome Song.” 

For the rest of the evening, both ensembles worked on the holiday show songs. 

Alan Wile reports that Walt Page is making progress in his recovery from health issues and might be back next week.  Joe won the 50/50 for the second week in a row! The afterglow was at 815 Southside on Washington Street this week.  Samantha Tramack directed “Keep the Whole World Singing” to end the evening. 

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

 

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