Looking Back on the Oct. 20, 2026 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Chapter Meeting
This week the ensembles of AACC met separately again.
Metro Voices met at Fairlington Presbyterian Church. Patricia Chow reports: Maggie McAlexander led warmups, including teaching/singing the tag "Back in My Hometown." The group then had sectionals on "Queen Anointed." The music team with Samantha Tramack led the review of "Auld Lang Syne," "Christmas Time," and "Happy Holidays." The first two verses of "Christmas Time" will be solo features, and singers of all voice parts are encouraged to audition if they are interested - more than one soloist may be chosen to sing. The chorus then started work on a new holiday song - "Ocho Kandelikas" arranged by Maggie. The song celebrates Hanukkah and is written in Ladino by Bosnian-American musician Flory Jagoda.
Amanda Ridlington is a new member of Metro Voices. Returning guests for their rehearsal were Holly Faust, Serena Davis and Naomi Takagi. Several Metro Voices members did join the Harmonizers for the extended afterglow at the HarmoHouse.
Meanwhile, the Harmonizers hosted this year’s celebration of harmony with the Alfred Street Baptist Men’s Gospel Choir – a traditional chorus event since 2017. The gathering was at the Fairlington Methodist Church. Call time was 6:30 pm which gave some time for the singers to warm up (and get to the meeting place on a busy evening during rush hour). The chorus wore their AACC black t-shirts.
After the warm up session, the Gospel Men’s Choir sang two songs for the evening – “Give Me Jesus” and “Walking Up the King’s Highway.” Melvin Bryant is their director and piano accompanist. He and the choir taught a four-part prayer song, “Give Thanks.” The Harmonizers cheered and applauded loudly for their singing friends.
After Alfred Street, the Harmonizers assembled at the front of the sanctuary, while artistic director, Joe Cerutti, shared the story behind the Harmonizer’s songs “Harmony” and “Stars in the Night” sharing the story about the Comedian Harmonists, and how it came to be the chapter’s contest package.
All six of the Harmonists were present for this performance (Matthew Ambler, Matthew Darouse, Chad Ross, Robert Santine, Robert Stark, and Ben Watsky) and wore long-sleeve white shirts. Randall Eliason, Michael Berkson and Terry Reynolds performed their speaking parts.
After the Harmonizers sang, the chapter team taught two tags to all the others singers in the hall – “Life Is Interwoven with the Friends We Used to Know” and “We’ll Build a Rainbow in the Sky.” Tony Colosimo lead the team of tag instructors of Lance Fisher, Ben Hawker, Danny Ameduite and Devante Lucas.
There were a number of Harmonizer friends and non-performing guests who joined in the fellowship for the evening including several singers from the Men’s Camerata. Carl Pankin and Matt Balfour were returning guests, Michael Rogin, who sings barbershop in Miami, was also a guest.
Both Joe and Melvin thanked everyone for attending this important harmony fellowship event, and announced the need for a team of singers – a couple people from each ensemble – to help coordinate next year’s gathering. Harmonizer volunteers should chat with Joe about their interest or availability.
After both groups sang, everyone adjourned to the fellowship hall for refreshments. Many members brought goodies, or drinks, or supplies. Frank Shipp’s wife, Joan, prepared several large platters of veggies and cheeses, and there were plenty of desserts including a big homemade chocolate cake Terry Reynolds won at a fundraising auction at the Presbyterian Church where we often meet.
It is also important to report on the first rehearsal and meeting of the AACC Youth Chorus, Capital Force, who met at Fairlington Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, Oct. 18. This was the kick off of their new season. Tessa Walker is music director for the 20 or so youth from grades 7-12 in the DC area. There were about ten singers who had sung in previous Capital Force seasons. David Strasser and Serena Davis were there to help with administrative details as was Sheryl Berlin. The chapter provided simple refreshments for the singers and Tessa helped them discover what barbershop can be like, and helped them determine which part they would sing.
Here are other calendar notes: Stay tuned for details from the Culture Team about a Halloween celebration at a chapter meeting in October
The AACC Culture Team has also organized a social event at Cox Farm on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 11 am to 4 pm. Members interested in attending should contact Culture Team members and make a reservation/payment of $30 by Sept. 30!. Don’t pay or register with Cox Farm but with a Culture Team member – Becca Williams, Kellen Hertz or Matt Darouse. The chapter will have the pavilion there as part of the fall festival for friends and family of AACC - at 15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, VA 20120, at the corner of Braddock Rd., and Pleasant Valley Rd.
Remember the next Honor Flight sing is on Nov. 7 – call time at 8 am; and then the next performance will be on Nov. 11 – that’s a Wednesday afternoon event assuming most singers will have that day off from work. The songs will be chosen from the songs often used for the Honor Flights.
Looking way ahead: there will be caroling for Blue Star Families on Dec. 6 from 12 -2.
The Dec. 12 holiday shows are scheduled for 3:30 pm and 7 pm at Fairlington United Methodist Church (across the street from our weekly meeting place). Good news – GQ will be featured quartet for that show!! ALERT: Singers will need to make plans to stay at the church between the two shows – the chapter will order in some dinner foods. Then everyone will need to be out of the church by 9:30 pm.
Tickets for the holiday show are on sale now with a 20% early discount until Nov. 1 – Code: EARLY.
The chapter will sing carols in Old Town on Tues. Dec. 15.
Even after all the refreshment at the Methodist Church, there was an afterglow at the HarmoHouse so Metro Voices could join in the fun (and help eat up the left over goodies that members brought from the church after clean up there).
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.
