Looking Back on the April 7, 2026 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting
This week’s chapter meeting was an important work session for both the Harmonizers and Metro Voices who had a visiting coach, Peter Cunningham. Peter is from Texas, is a certified singing judge, sang in a quartet to win the Collegiate gold medal in 2014, and is on the music faculty of Kilgore College. He worked with Metro Voices on their contest package.
To kick off the singing this week, director of Metro Voices, Samantha Tramack, introduced Peter to the whole chapter as this week’s warm-up leader.
Again the riser crew was appreciative that the risers are now stored in the upper hall of Fairlington Presbyterian. Risers were set up in the hall at the church and that is where Metro Voices worked until 10. The Harmonizers worked in the lower hall until 9:30.
Following warm ups, artistic director, Joe Cerutti, welcomed everyone and confirmed his plan to resume his duties as director of the Harmonizes as of March 31. He did acknowledge there is still more to do in launching a revised operations system for AACC which includes hiring an executive director to manage the operations aspects of the chapter. He offered to answer any questions about that staff position explaining that a team of Craig Kujawa, Stan Quick, Chuck Miller and Terry Reynolds will help with the transition of duties to the executive director.
Finally, Joe thanked associate director of the Harmonizers, Tony Colosimo, for his extra work with the Harmonizers during the last six months, having managed the rehearsals, and leadership of music leaning for the holiday show and the upcoming contest package.
Assistant Harmonizer director, Terry Reynolds, opened the business meeting to confirm next week’s meeting will be at AlexRenew.
Becca Williams represented the Culture Triad and alerted members to be watching for details about a new pre-glow event once a month prior to the chapter meeting. Early for food and drink in time to get to chapter meeting by 7 pm.
Ken Rub recently started things off with early details about a major chapter fundraiser and fun event on Spring-to-ACTion, Wed. April 22. It will be part of the city-wide fundraising efforts for non-profits in Alexandria. Ken will organize a challenge contest between the four music sections of the chorus – to see which one can bring in the most for AACC; and he promises prizes! He also suggested the need for matching gifts to stimulate giving – any members willing to do that should contact Ken.
There will be a summer concert on Aug. 20 at a Fairfax County Park. Watch for details in Groupanizer.
Two Honors Flight dates are on the chapter calendar this spring – May 16 and May 30 – both at Reagan National Airport. May 16 has two flights (approximately 7-10 am); May 30 has three flights (approximately from 7-11 am). Both dates, call time for singers will be 7 am. Stay tuned for details about proper sign ups for security. Uniform will be the AACC t-shirt. Folders with copies of the music will be provided for the patriotic songs likely to be sung.
Joe reported on the media campaign recently launched to socialize the background story of the Harmonizer contest package and explaining the important message of the close harmony singers, Comedic Harmonizers to others in the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). The campaign is being conducted by Alex Chen, a friend of the chapter, and will also be shared with AACC supporters so they can help us tell the important story of the Harmonists. AACC members are asked to help spread the work via their social media links to expand the awareness of this important music history story. The campaign will also promote the AACC ensembles participation at the BHS contest in July in St. Louis.
Chapter secretary, Cy Shuster, presented membership renewals to the following: Mary Cooper for 4 years; Maggie McAlexander for 12 years; Tyler Carpenter for 14 years, and Brad Jones for 34 years. He also recognized Don Thompson for bringing in two new members.
Membership director, Jacob Broude, announced that a series of orientation sessions for the many recent new members will start next week . He presented a new member pin to Renee Tramack. Two returning guests this week were Sarah Lott and Dana Wooster. First time guest was Mike Zelno. Assistant director of Metro Voices, Maggie McAlexander, led the chapter “Welcome Song.”
There are a couple quartets with AACC members listed as singing at the Northern Division contest in NJ, April 17-18: FANTATIC 4 with Heidi Brown as lead and Paul Grimes as baritone; and HEART AND SOUL with Bob Mattes.
Following the business meeting, the Harmonizers and Metro Voices worked the rest of the night on their music. The Harmonizers worked a chunk of time on the visual plan for “Harmony” with Turner Arndt helping polish the finer details. Singers will be expected to submit a self-recoded video of their performance on May 9. Joe spoke more about the social media campaign regarding the contest package and the Comedic Harmonists. After work on “Harmony” the ensemble sang through “Stars in the Night” before digging into some fixits and coaching from Joe. Randall Eliasondid the narration for the contest package as part of the rehearsal. Then he working with them on “I’m Just a Bill: from “Schoolhouse Rock” that was arranged by Lance Fisher.
Annie Ermlick took notes from the Metro Voices session with their coach. His focus for the evening was vocal production and vocal technique – with particular attention to vowel production, unit vowel consistency and matching, synchronization, vocal health, ease, breathing management, and timbre. Peter incorporated movement exercises designed to marry what the ensemble was doing vocally and musically with their bodies – accessing freedom from multiple entry points simultaneously: breath, tongue, body position, and physical gesture.
Each ensemble had their own closing sing of “Keep the Whole World Singing.” There was an afterglow at HarmoHouse.
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.
