Looking Back on the September 8, 2026 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting
This week’s meeting was at AlexRenew and both ensembles worked on their music after a couple of weeks extra meeting time and less singing. Both groups moved into holiday music. To get things started, a warm up session was led by assistant director of the Harmonizers, Jason Lee. Prior to the start of the music, early arrivals helped the chapter admin team collate and assemble holiday music for a good supply of guest books.
After the warm ups, artistic director, Joe Cerutti, welcomed all singers and asked for the top three take-aways from last week’s meeting to launch the operations teams for the chapter. Three points surfaced including (1) a shout out to new executive director, Dita Rao; (2) there was a clear point that there are many opportunities to volunteer; and (3) thanks to the leadership triads for their work and efforts to step up to the tasks needed.
Calendar notes: the chapter meetings will be at Fairlington Presbyterian Church on Sept. 15, Sept. 22. Then on Sept. 29, Metro Voices will meet at the church with the Harmonizers singing in Old Towne that night. And then on Oct. 13, the Harmonizers will rehearse at the church and Metro Voices will sing in Old Towne. (The church has a conflict those weeks so that meant a change in location for the ensemble rehearsals.)
There will not be a sing-out on Oct. 14.
The early word on a date for the chapter holiday show is that there will be two shows (matinee and night) on Dec. 12 at the Fairlington United Methodist Church.
The fellowship event with the Harmonizers and the Alfred Street Baptist Men’s Gospel Choir will likely be held at their church and fellowship hall on Oct. 20. Stay tuned for details. Harmonizers should plan ahead for getting their on time and finding a parking place. Car-pooling is a good idea. The Alfred Street folks are great hosts including a terrific spread of eats.
Kellen Hertz, from the Culture Team, reminded members to sett
le up on payments for the retreat, and for t-shirts ordered. He also shared some details about a social event at Cox Farm on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 10 am to 5 pm. Members interested in attending should contact Culture Team members and make a reservation/payment of $30.
Chapter secretary Cy Shuster, presented membership renewal cards to six members with the now traditional one-clap-for-each-year. There were some long ones this time! For four years, Marsha Ansel; for four years, Adele Jones; for five years, David Hillinck; for 14 years, Rob Korsan; for 43 years, Terry Reynolds; and for 61 years, Jack Pitzer.
Devin Turner welcomed seven retuning guests from the chapter’s guest-night-event back on Aug. 25. Chapter members stepped up to help the guests and get them situated with music books and meet other singers in the section the guest was likely going to sing in. Jason Lee was busy all evening auditioning guests to help them determine the best voice part for them. There were also three first-time guests this week: Mason Meiners, Steven Minson, and John Fern. It was great to see Josh Frakes back on the risers after taking some time off for the new baby arrival in their home. Terry Reynolds directed the chapter welcome song.
When the ensembles met for their rehearsal time, Joe announced some temporary changes in Harmonizer section leaders duties with Ben Hawker filling in for Matt Ambler, and Michael Berkson filling in for Jared Liscinsky.
The Harmonizers continued to work on “Barber of Seville,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” and then started work on a fun holiday song, “Hanukkah in Santa Monica.” Michael Berkson helped clarify pronunciation for the Hanukkah terms for the song. (Old timers will note that it was arranged years ago by former Harmonizer director, John Hohl. Steve Whitereports that it was commissioned to be arranged many years ago, but music leaders never added it to the repertoire until now.) The rehearsal for the song was in sectionals led by Lance Fisher, Matt Ambler, Michael Berkson and Calvin Schnure.
Likewise, Metro Voices worked on “Auld Lang Syne,” “Christmas Time,” and “Happy Holidays.” Director Samantha Tramack and her team were busy helping the five guests they had feel comfortable and enjoy the singing.
The two ensembles met together for a wrap up of the rehearsal. After the 50/50 drawing, led a robust sing of “Keep the Whole World Singing.” There was a moderate crowd at the HarmoHouse for afterglow including several of the guests.
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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