Looking Back on the April 14, 2026 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting
(Dave Ermlick prepared this week’s report because Jack Pitzer was celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary with his family. Congratulations.)
Joe Cerutti led the warm-ups for the AACC singers at AlexRenew in Old Towne Alexandria. He moved on to focus on A Place on the Risers for You, the song used when a person is leaving the AACC. Great news - we made it all the way through! We will use this song for warm-ups the next few weeks and then put it aside.
Joe announced two Honors Flights on May 16th and May 30th. Please sign up on Groupanizer.
Next week’s rehearsal is at Fairlington Presbyterian, then back at Alex Renew.
Joe and Ken Rub talked about Spring-2-ACTion, our Spring Giving Awareness Event. Our goal as an organization is $20,000 in donations, and members are encouraged to set their own goals. As we have done in the past, there is a competition between the voice parts for “a new car, a trip to Hawaii, or bragging rights- actual prize to be determined later.” Ken talked about how to set up your Giving Page, and he actually role-played how to ask friends and relatives to donate.
Jacob Broude introduced two returning guests, Sarah Lott and Brie Hebron.
Cy Schuster gave out membership renewal cards to Rob Santini (3 yrs.), Calvin Schnure (31 yrs.), and Dean Rust (46 yrs.). There was also word via email that Scott Werner, former chorus director and retired now in FL, received his 63-year card recently at his new chapter.
On Memorial Day Saturday, the main coaches for the Harmonizer contest set, Steve Armstrong and Cy Wood, will be here to coach the “Harmonists” and other characters for the Harmonizer’s contest package. The morning session is closed to just those players. Then, later - although it is not a mandatory event - chorus members are encouraged to attend mid-afternoon to observe, give feedback and understand the vision. More details to come.
Regarding the work on choreography for the package, Harmonizers should work to get up to snuff in that area. They are required to video themselves by May 9th and upload it to Harmonizer recordings. Since videos are such large files, chapter leaders will work out a system, maybe Dropbox, to share the video. Also all members may “like and share” videos about the contest set on social media. The full mix and script for the contest set is posted on Slack under Harmo Performing Chorus.
After announcements, the Harmonizers and Metro Voices moved into separate rehearsal rooms. Starting in the non-riser room, the Harmonizers focused on the music for Stars in the Night, We Will Be One, and I’m Just a Bill. After switching to the riser room, they focused on the choreography for Harmony. Turner Arndt coached some rough areas. Next week, they will run the entire song with choreography.
Annie Ermlick reported that Metro Voices worked on their songs with Samantha Tramack and Maggie McAlexander coaching and helping with corrections and choreography. They also helped the ensemble be sure to incorporate the changes offered during their recent coaching session with Peter Cunningham. Part of their evening included sectional work on their songs.
To wrap up the evening, the usual 50/50 drawing was held. Patrick Horne won this week and led the AACC singers in Keep the Whole World Singing.
There were a couple AACC members singing at the Mid-Atlantic District (M-AD) Northern Division contest in NJ, April 17-18. FANTATIC 4 with Heidi Brown as lead and Paul Grimes as baritone sang in the finals round and placed seventh. Other AACC members and chapter friends were also working at the convention – Maggie McAlexander was a music judge, coach Peter Cunningham was a singing judge and former member Sean Devine was a performance judge. Ken Rub and the stage crew worked all weekend to keep the contest sessions running smoothly along with help from Mike Fasano, who is M-AD executive vice president. Julian LeFlore directed a Dream Chorus for the weekend.
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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