Looking Back on the September 1, 2026 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting
To get things started this week, associate director of the Harmonizers, Tony Colosimo, led a vocal warm up session for the night. Then Terry Reynolds led a simplified business meeting which included the announcement that the chapter has named Maggie McAlexander as associate director for Metro Voices. Also the chapter leaders have renewed the following contracts for the chapter: Joe Cerutti as AACC artistic director and Harmonizer music director, Samantha Tramack as Metro Voices music director; Tony Colosimo as associate director for the Harmonizers; Maggie McAlexander as associate director for Metro Voices; and Tessa Walker as Capital Force music director.
An ensemble of ten Harmonizers sang recently at a celebration of life for a member of Kellen Hertz’s family who was a long time-fan of the chorus. They sang “What a Wonderful World,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “Impossible Dream.” Singers who joined Kellen were Matt Ambler, Carl Kauffmann, Randall Eliason, Craig Kujawa, Ben Raja, Jeff Burkey, Terry Reynolds, Brigham Blackhurst, and David Welter.
Calendar notes: next week’s meeting will include lots of work on holiday songs and will be back at AlexRenew. Then for the next few weeks, the meetings will be at Fairlington Presbyterian Church. Stay tuned. Also the possible sing on Oct. 14 will not happen.
President Craig Kujawa shared the sad news that Tyler Carpenter’s father died unexpectedly recently. Tyler andCody are taking some time away from the chapter to manage the family affairs to include the recent death of a grandmother. Our thoughts go out to them.
Craig also announced a change to the community leadership triad – Frank Fedarko asked to step away from that team at this time, and Mary Cooper will take his place.
At this end of the fiscal year, Craig was proud to share the success of the chapter’s fundraising efforts when members bought $140,000 worth of gift cards and that earned the chapter just under $9,000! The top five members who raised $800 or more were Randall Eliason, Antony Takahashi, Steve White, David Welter and Dean Rust.
For the record, the chapter board recently approved a balanced budget for the year ahead at $227,000.
After the business session, President Craig launched the information session designed to inform all singers about the progress so far on changing the operations process for the chapter.
This change involves (simplified here) a switch from about a dozen individuals called directors who managed all aspects of the chapter such as membership, development, or shows, to seven teams (six leadership triads and a logistics team), Work began on this transition months ago and is now functioning in its earliest stages with the help and guidance of the chapter’s recently hired executive director, Nandita (Dita) Rao. She has been part of the earliest stages of the changes and is coaching the leadership teams as they explore what is needed for their aspect of the chapter operation. Dita will help those teams and especially help with communication between teams when tasks overlap.
Dita took some time to tell us more about herself which included her degree in biology with lots of music experiences along the way in both high school and college. She has a particular interest in jazz and she is excited about how that interest fits with barbershop. Her previous work career included leadership for a non-profit. She is enthusiastic about working with AACC and its changing operations process.
At this point the chorus attendees not on a triad team counted off so there were four groups who went from station-to-station to hear from a triad team about what they see as their job ahead and how members would help them accomplish success. The teams were well prepared and eager to share what they have done and will be doing. Many members were heard offering to step into tasks or jobs. Each team had about ten minutes with each of the four groups. Terry used the big school bell to ring and signal time to move. (Old timer Harmonizers will recognize the bell as the one Dick Hallused to ring every Tuesday night to signal that break time was over and it was time to get back on the risers. We rescued the bell recently from boxes to be discarded!)
The leadership triads are FINANCE with David Welter, Antony Takahashi and Marsha Ansel; CULTURE with Becca Williams, Kellen Hertz and Matt Darouse, MEMBERSHIP with Jacob Broude, Katie Raimondo and Devin Turner; COMMUNITY with Matt Ambler, Mary Cooper and Ian Trent; IMPROVEMENT with Leah Bernstein, Tanner Perdue and Rob Stark; COMMUNICATIONS with Randall Eliason, Maggie McAlexander and Frank Shipp; plus LOGISTICS with Brian Ammerman, Joe Cerutti, Patricia Chow, Catherine LaValley, Terry Reynolds and Chad Ross.
President Craig summarized the meeting and thanked all those who participated. To wrap things up, chapter secretary Cy Shuster presented a membership renewal card to Mireille Kouagou for her third year. Samantha Tramackthanked Mireille for her energy and enthusiasm and pride for Metro Voices. Then as a surprise, Tony stepped up and directed the chapter to sing “There Will Always Be a Place On The Risers for You” for her as she is headed off to college! This was the first time in many months that the chapter has continued this long-time tradition to “send off” a member when then move or have to leave the area.
Alan Wile managed the 50/50 and Don Harrington took home the member half of the cash. And Mireille directed “Keep the Whole World Singing.”
Since artistic director, Joe Cerutti, was at the BHS headquarters in Nashville, an afterglow was at the nearby Astro Beer Hall.
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 78th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
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