Looking Back on the July 18-20, 2025 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Retreat
This year’s retreat weekend was a great success, lots of fun, a terrific chance to get to know more members, and enough time to improve the performance package for the trip to Ireland later this summer and for the fall show in September. It was labeled a ‘weekend of improvement.” There was a ceremony Saturday evening to present the 2024 Distinguished Service Awards for the Collective which will be reported separately in another Looking Back report.
The chapter returned to McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, for the retreat which had a 7 pm start on Friday, July 18. Many members, both old and new, met first for dinner at the popular Irish pub near campus. The wait staff managed to feed the large crown of us that arrived about the same time to fill up the restaurant, so we sang “Parting Glass” there as a thank you.
The chapter’s music team invited two out-of-town coaches for the weekend – Darin Drown from Denver, CO – a retired music educator and gold medal quartet singer in STORM FRONT, and Cy Wood, our frequent performance coach from Ohio. Members wore their AACC black t-shirts for the Saturday sessions and chapter marketing team members filmed lots of parts of the work sessions.
Several singers who will go with the chapter to Ireland attended the retreat including Stephan and Monica Hummes from Barbershop in Germany (BING); Terry Reynolds’ sister, Karen; David Wilt, a former BHS staff member and supporter of the chapter, who lives in NC; Jerry Caudrilli from the Richmond Chapter; and Renee and Steve Tramack – Samantha’sparents – who are coaches and judges in BHS and he often arranges songs for AACC. It was good to see Sean O’Brien andDavid Hillinck back on the risers with the chorus.
The chapter asked for a number of volunteers to help with the retreat operation such as: Patricia Chow and Davide Welterwho issued room keys; Jared Liscinsky who hauled in bottles water for the singers; and Norm Barth and Heidi Suckowwho provided a supply of fruit, chips and cookies for folks to grab as needed. President Craig also drove the truck to Westminster with the two sets of risers and sound equipment, music stands, and such that were needed. Dean Rust and Daren Gerzof went out to get coffee for those who had raised their hands earlier in the morning. Hannah Nesich was reporter for Looking Back for the Metro Voices sessions. Christine Pan provided transportation to get coach Drown to the venue. Heidi Brown developed a display celebrating the past year of AACC.
Friday night’s plan was to have each ensemble sing through a couple songs for the coaches to see and hear; to relax with a cabaret to show-case member musical talents in non-barbershop styles; and to have some fun and get to know each other better.
The first fun activity was for Samantha and Joe to name members of their ensembles without seeing them. The singers lined up behind the directors and stepped up to their chair and spoke, “We build the cords, brick by brick.” It was amazing how many names they got correct, how often guys sounded like Jeff Berkey, and even with two or three times saying the sentence, it didn’t help!
Then it was time for a bandana check for the AACC Class of 2025 which included members from Metro Voices - Hannah Drobac, Adele Jones, Annie Ermlick, Katie Raimondo, Nerissa Yiu, Christine Pan, Holly Perdue, Heid Brown, Shira Perlmutter, Leah Bernstein, and Diane Morrical; and the following members from the Harmonizers – Brendon White, Suranjan Sen, Ian Trent, Rob Santine, Josh Berenhaus, Alex Edwards, Tanner Perdue, Rob Stark, Brigham Blackhurst, AJ Gupta, Patrick Horne, Michael Snow, Jackson Byrd, Maumen Alshea, and Devin Turner.
Everyone in the class had the bright red bandana with logos for the two ensembles on the corners – fun to see the many creative ways to wear the bandana! Next, the class was asked to each share ‘two truths and one lie’ – then the other members on the risers had to vote which of the three was a lie. Fun and lots of laughs.
Next, Joe and Samantha flipped a coin to see which ensemble would sing first. The Harmonizers sang “Calling Dreams” and “But the World Goes Round.” Metro Voices sang “How Far I Go” and “ Hey World Here I Am.” Each coach made some general opening remarks regarding what they heard and saw, and what they would be working on during the rehearsal sessions over the weekend.
The combined Collective sang “I’m Still Standing” and “Defying Gravity” with Samantha and Tony singing solos.
This year’s cabaret was great too. The participants had auditioned earlier this year but the venue for the event fell through, so we had it this weekend. Maggie McAlexander was the organizer and Tony Colosimo helped manage the audio visuals for the event. Devin Gerzof was emcee and set the stage with a funny skit in ‘old man” attire to go with the new ‘the old Devin’ in the chorus since Devin Turner has joined. Performers were Charlie Rothermel, Elizabeth Cosh, David Welter, Sheryl Berlin, Terry Reynolds, and Heidi Suckow.
Saturday morning, the dining hall filled with a great mix of members at the tables before the music work sessions began. Joe spoke about this retreat preparing for the next 75 years of the chapter – facing the long game of growth and improvement and development. He charged the singers to add excitement and joy to their performances – not just obedience. The Harmonizers worked on “Africa” and “Come Follow the Band” with Cy. Metro Voices worked with Darin on “Happy Together” and “How Far I’ll Go” and “World Here I Am.”
A couple members checked in on the retreat via Facebook – Steve Szyszka, and Johan Westberg from Sweden.
The two ensembles met together after a coffee break Saturday morning to work on “I’m Still Standing” with Darin. Cyworked with the Harmonizer front row on “Come Follow the Band.”
Saturday afternoon, the two ensembles switched meeting space and coaches to work on their music. Metro Voices worked on “Maggie’s Medley” and “Somewhere.” The Harmonizers worked on “What a Wonderful World” and “World Goes Round,” “Impossible Dreams,” and “Calling Dreams,” and “Follow the Band.”
To wrap up the Saturday afternoon, all the singers going to Ireland met in The Forum space to discuss the trip, to do a quick run through of songs each ensemble will sing, and to offer help with any questions. There was a big thank you and cheers to Brad Jones for all his work and great detail provided to the group. AACC singers will do seven shows in Ireland with a major afterglow in Dublin.
After dinner, the evening started with Tony teaching the “Friends” tag which will be the traditional finale for the weekend. It was arranged by David Wright. Music rehearsal was for the Collective to work on “Parting Glass” with arranger Steve Tramack sharing his thoughts about the song. The coaches helped the chorus add an Irish flare to the song.
Rehearsal ended about 8 pm. President Craig Kujawa was emcee for a ceremony to present Distinguished Service Awards to AACC members. A separate Looking Back report will be issued with those announcements. Immediate past president, Noah Van Gilder, was recognized for having served three consecutive terms as chapter president.
The long anticipated Class of 25 skit was fun and brought on lots of laughter. They had a news broadcast with the latest about the chapter and its members and quartets. They had a weather person, a sports reporter, and social reporter and a guest quartet. Heidi Brown gets credit for organizing and creating the script for their class skit.
After the skit, the whole chapter was divided into groups of five or so and they had to answer trivia questions from Tony – actually identify the quartet he played singing a bit of a song, and also the name of the person who made the song famous. One team captured first prize which was a book bag and a package of barbershop-themed napkins.
The evening wrapped with refreshments and lots of camaraderie in the hall and continued back in the dorm space.
Sunday morning, folks managed to pack luggage back in their cars, turn in their keys, get breakfast and be at rehearsal by 9 am. Each ensemble worked on more music with a coach before returning to the main hall. There was a great cheer of thanks to president Craig who served as event manager too this weekend.
As the session was winding down, Joe and Samantha relinquished their comment time so members could offer their comments. There were many – some from new members, guests, old timers, and finally from the coaches.
“A lifetime’s not too long, not too long, to live as friends!” was the final tag for the weekend.
Members all pitched in to load the truck for its return to Northern Virginia.
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 77th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement: Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
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