Looking Back on the Oct. 28, 2025 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting and Launch of Capital Force Youth Ensemble
Congratulations and celebrations for the launch on Sunday, Oct. 26, of the 2025-2026 Capital Force youth ensemble as part of AACC! Male and female singers in 7th to 12th grades were invite to join. The 17 singers made great progress and worked on their first song for this season – “I Will Go Sailing No More.” Director Tessa Walker welcomed the new class and shared that there are other singers who will join but couldn’t make it this week. There were several singers from last season’s ensemble back again.
Assistant director Julian LeFlore helped teach tags during the 2-4 pm gathering at Fairlington Presbyterian Church in Alexandria. There were a number of parents on hand to observe after providing transportation. A number of AACC members were there to help – section leader duties were staffed by Maggie McAlexander, tenors; Samantha Tramack, leads; Tony Colosimo, baritones; and David Breen, basses. Maggie, Samantha, Julian and David also sang a quartet song for the students. All of the AACC members helped the new singers determine which part they should sing after some voice placement exercises.
The ensemble will meet on subsequent Sundays with a goal to sing on the Dec. 13 AACC holiday show; sing with AACC members in Old Town on Tuesday, Dec. 16; participate in Youth Harmony Day on Sun., Nov. 1; and perform a final end-of-season show on March 22.
Tuesday, Oct. 28, the Harmonizers and Metro Voices continued their hard work in preparation for the chapter’s holiday show weekend, Friday and Saturday evenings, December 12 and 13 at Fairlington Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was at AlexRenew and Maggie led the warm up session for AACC and taught a fun exercise with Halloween-appropriate words – ‘break me off a piece of that KitKat bar.” After warm up sessions, both ensembles combined to work on AACC chorus songs “Welcome Christmas” and “Gloria” led by artistic director, Joe Cerutti. Then the ensembles separated to worked on their holiday repertoire for the show.
The chapter business meeting included an important NOTE that the meetings on Nov. 4 and Nov. 11 will start at 7:30 pm and end at 10 pm, at Fairlington Presbyterian Church, 3846 King Street in Alexandria. Chapter leaders ask all members NOT to enter the church until right at 7:30 pm those nights so that a church event will not be interrupted. Early arrivals should wait in their cars.
Looking ahead: November 1 is another Honor Flight sing – organized by E.J. Herold. Singers available for the 8 am call time at North Security Checkpoint in DCA, had to sign up by the end of this week’s rehearsal. Honor Flight singers will wear AACC t-shirts and sing an assortment of military-tribute and patriotic songs.
Tuesday meetings on Nov. 4 and 11 will be at Fairlington Presbyterian from 7:30 – 10 pm. On Nov. 11, the Harmonizers will work with Steve Armstrong, coach and arranger, to learn about their dynamic new contest package. Joe asked members to reach out and invite any previous or new singers to attend that night to consider participation in this major musical experience for the Harmonizers.
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, AACC will sing in Old Town to promote attendance at the holiday show which will be Fri. Dec. 12 and Sat. Dec. 13 at Fairlington Presbyterian. On Nov. 25 the meeting will be back at AlexRenew. AACC will have their traditional holiday carol sing again in Old Town on Tues. Dec. 16. There will be no rehearsals on Dec. 23 and 30. The Jan. 6 meeting will be the traditional kickoff session for the 2026 year and also the next chapter Put Together Quartet Contest – as the name implies,
members are encouraged to “put together” a quartet and enter the fun. Usually some BHS friends are the judges. Rules and details to come soon.
The chapter sang “Happy Birthday” to Craig Kujawa, Mireille Kouagou. and Robert Santine.
Chapter leaders ask AACC singers to be alert for another possible holiday sing on Dec. 7 - caroling for Blue Star Families.
President Craig Kujawa reported on the success of the campaign to get member donations from buying Scrip cards during the just-ended fiscal year. The chapter came close to making the goal of $5000 – actual was $4555.49. The top 12 donors from the chapter were Charley Rothermel, Bruce Roehm, Ashley Merryman, Craig Kujawa, Cy Shuster, Heidi Suckow, Ken Ives, Antony Takahashi, Dean Rust, Steve White, Dave Welter and Randall Eliason. All brought in over $100 or more. A total of 38 members made donations.
Chapter secretary, Cy Shuster, presented membership renewal cards for four AACC members: for 2 years, Brenden White; for 3 years, Adele Jones; for 3 years, Lenna Jawdat; and for 4 years, David Hillinck.
Membership director, Jacob Broude, welcomed four returning guests: Billy Ermlick, Cooper Schwartz, Devante Lucas, and Catalina Buitrago Torres. There was a 10-minute break and then it was back to rehearsal with Joedirecting the Harmonizers and Samantha directing Metro Voices.
In other news, local station WETA chose a Harmonizer recording of “O Come O Come Emanuel” for their Sound of the Season series in December.
Adele Jones was recognized for earning a fourth place chorus medal at the recent Sweet Adeline International convention. She sang with Harbor City Music Company.
The two ensembles worked the rest of the meeting on their music, then gathered for the close of the evening’s activities to sing “Keep the Whole World Singing” directed by Samantha Tramack.
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.
