Looking Back on the September 13th Chapter Meeting

(Many thanks to Jacob George and Alan Wile for taking notes for this report. YeEd)

While the risers were retrieved from under the stage and set up, a number of Harmonizers were seated behind tables for the following purposes: Show Producer Brian Ammerman – hawking fall show tickets; Bruce Lauther – returning engraved medals; Ian Poulin – scrip and fall show afterglow ticket sales; Jack Cameron distributed chorus pictures from the Kansas City contest; Bob Blair collected registration forms for the China trip [deadline is 9/15 so get ‘em in if you intend to go!]; and Dan O’Brien, filling in as VP-Membership, greeted guests. Attendance was taken by .

At 7:00 p.m., sharp, VP-Operations Mark Klostermeyer (K-12) called “Harmonizers on the Risers” and Assistant Director Will Cox warmed us up. Immediately afterwards the chorus dispersed for sectionals on page 2-3 of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Turning to the songs to be performed on our fall show, Master Director Joe Cerutti first tackled “If I Loved You.” Next, it was “New York, New York.” “What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor” followed … during which Joe invited the basses to leave the room to work out a couple of sections.

Then it was “Summertime.” Just prior to the break we rehearsed “I’ll Be Seeing You.” VP-M&P Terry Reynolds was “out front” for several songs, as was TJ Jones who coached us on the choreography.

K-12 announced the following birthdays for this week. Secretary Chris Buechler presented our newest member, Paul Douglas, with the symbols of membership. Chris also presented Joe Wagovich with his 30-year membership card and lapel pin. Other members receiving membership renewal cards were Don Thompson (19 years), Bob Wilson (34 years), and Randy Lazear (with a whopping 37 years).

VP-Shows Ken White asked all members to sign up on the paper lists for the two performances on the 24th and Brian Ammerman asked that the members do the same for the afterglow, together with the number of tickets purchased/needed.

K-12 noted that Chris Buechler had Harmonizer logo shirts for those who ordered them.
Substitute VP-Membership Dan O’Brien introduced our six guests, after which Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome song.”

In addition, it was GREAT to see some members who returned from summer vacations, etc., and the following members who are not often present were in evidence: Terry Jordan, Bob Wilson, Al Herman, and Tom Kraus, and package show producer Greg Tepe.

Following the break (yes, there were goodies in the kitchen for the taking thanks to Bob Wilson), Brian Ammerman briefed us on the status of the fall show (not all good news):
o Sign up to perform – on both performances
o Riser crew needed at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23rd, to help Harmo-Van Driver Bob Blair set up and dress the risers
o Catering Team – Sam McFarland and Keith Jones
o Uniform requirements: yellow and blue shirts; yellow, blue & black ties; black suit, white tie/tails
o Ticket Sales: We need to sell about 500 tickets to break even. Currently less than 400 have been sold. Use your Facebook accounts to “like” and “share” news about the show … and do it more than once. Call friends to remind them about the show and encourage them to get tickets if they’ve not done so already. There will be an ad in The Washington Post and 3,200 postcards will be sent out to our patrons. Less than 2 weeks to go.

Directors Joe and Tony worked on “Hello, My Baby” and TJ Jones and Chuck Powell helped with the choreo. Joe returned to work “What Do I Need With Love” (with and without the Front Row, which was dismissed to work in the lobby). He briefly revisited some sections of “Hello, My Baby” before turning to “O Holy Night” – which brought us to 10:00 p.m.

K-12 urged all to sell tickets to the show one more time before asking Lew Klinge to “take us out” by directing “Keep The Whole World Singing.”

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the September 6th Chapter Meeting

(Many thanks to Alan Wile for taking notes for this report. YeEd)

We met tonight at the Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School (in the development that once was Cameron Station) because of scheduled work on the floor of the Durant Center. We met in a mini-auditorium … and it got a bit “humid” over the course of the evening. Although the Harmo-truck was there, the risers were unnecessary, given the fact that the room had built-in “terraced steps.”

At 7:00 p.m. VP-Operations Mark Klostermeyer (K-12) called the (30+) Harmonizers to take their places. Assistant Director Tony Colosimo conducted the warm-up as our numbers increased, before relinquishing his position “out front” to Master Director Joe Cerutti.

Keith Jones quietly took attendance, while our ever-faithful Ellen Dellert spent the evening with us, as did Mary Anne Cleaveland.

Director Joe spent nearly half an hour working us in sections on the “Hallelujah Chorus,” followed by a few minutes on “Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.” Next, he worked the chorus on “Ob La Di, Ob La Da,” “No More Sorrow,” and “Stars And Stripes Forever.” Leads and basses were “invited” to leave to get portions of “S&S” right.

The opening chords of “That’s Amore” were less than pleasing to Joe, and he asked Tony to take over on that one. And Tony did … for about 20 minutes … really working out the musical elements … with help from Chuck McKeever and TJ Jones on the choreography. Joe then rehearsed the chorus on “Great Day.”

VP-M&P Terry Reynolds stressed the need to be at our next two rehearsals on time and ready to perform as we have a lot of ground to cover (and perfect) before our show on September 24th.

Chapter Secretary Chris Buechler presented Jack Cameron with his new membership card … celebrating his 42 years in the Society.

Ian Poulin announced that members will shortly be able to pay for tickets, etc., electronically, that he’s taking over scrip sales (for which we’ll be able to use credit cards), and that he has show afterglow tickets available for $20 each.

Fall show producer Brian Ammerman noted:
• The Hylton fall calendar lists only three shows, only one of which features great singing – ours! He’s designed the show to include themes of love, romance, and heartache … but also has a happy ending.
• Tickets – Need to get those seats filled!!!! Last chance to get your ticket requirements met by Brian: get your needs to him by this Friday at 2:00 p.m. if you want him to get them for you (for delivery next Tuesday night) … or deal directly with the box office.
• See Ian for afterglow tickets.
• Nick Leisersen is taking ad requests for the show program book up to this Saturday!
• Props: Still some needs – e.g., a park bench; two small “café” type tables; two children (about 10-12 years old).
• Uniforms: blue and yellow shirts; blue, yellow, & black ties; black suit; white tie, vest, tails, etc. Be sure all are clean, bright, and ready. Possibly tear-away vests. More to come.
• Chorus call: 10:30 sharp on Saturday, 9/24 ‘cause we have a lot to do before getting dressed/made-up.

For the last time Bruce Lauther took medals for engraving and orders for DVDs of the Carnegie Hall performance. President Steve Murane reminded that the Board will meet Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Durant Center and announced that he would be taking reservation forms for the China trip tonight and that Bob Blair would be doing so next week – all checks are to be made out to “Alexandria Harmonizers.” Jack Cameron distributed international contest pictures to members of the chorus.

Terry Reynolds asked that EVERYONE bring their tear-away vests next week to practice using them … and to see if it will be feasible to use them in the show. Those without them need to see Uniform Coordinator Tom Kern.

VP-Membership Phil Ashford introduced three first-time guests (amazing that they actually found us at this rather remote and unique meeting venue): Joe (whose mother and grandmother both sing with Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline Chorus); Dave (who sings with and is the membership VP for the Arlington Good Times Chorus of Arlington, TX); and Ross (who is with the Air Force and just assigned to the area). Tony Colosimo directed the Harmonizer Welcome Song … followed by a very brief break.

Returning to the pseudo-risers, Joe directed “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “What Do I Need With Love,” and “Hello My Baby” (with emphasis on the choreography and help from Chuck McKeever and TJ Jones).

Finally, Noah Van Gilder “took us out” as he directed “Keep The Whole World Singing.”

YeEd says thanks for news about a put-together quartet that sang for a retired choir friend of Randy Lazear’s birthday. Randy got the call and since his quartet, FOUR MAN VOCAL BAND, was not available, he asked Bob Blair, Mike Swartz and Mike Kelly to join him to do the gig. Even tho the honoree has lost his voice and speaks only with a synthetic voice box, he mouthed the words to a couple songs the foursome sang. Great to have guys out representing our chapter and the barbershop society. They sang some barberpole cat songs and a couple current chorus numbers.

Fun to sing the new holiday song arranged by Jay Giallombardo. FYI he has returned as director for the New Tradition Chorus in Chicago.

Our guys in TBD sang a gig with the DC Chapter as guest for the Alexandria Singers on their show at Market Square on Sept. 10th. Bill Collosimo directs the DC Chapter and the Singers.

Don’t forget to wear your (or a) name tag at all Harmonizer functions. Maybe keep it in your barbershop briefcase. It helps the guests and newer members!

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the August 30th Chapter Meeting

Looking Back on the August 30th Chapter Meeting

A big crowd of members, their families and guests were on hand for the presentation and information session about our chapter’s trip to China in 2012.

Representatives from a Toronto travel agency made the presentation and answered a lot of questions about the trip. They provided a specific color brochure about the Harmo trip. They explained the highlights of the trip, reviewed travel details including VISA and Passport necessities and how we could adapt the trip for personal plans.

The brochure included a form that is due Sept. 15. Members can get their form from Brad Jones or Steve Murane (or Bob Blair if those two are on travel). Brad is our chapter coordinator and will provide some very detailed email messages for all to use in making their plans. It is not too late to sign up even if you didn’t make an earlier deposit. Departure is estimated for Sept 2, 2012, depending on how many go and obtaining a flight(s) for our group.

Brad spoke briefly about our joint concert with the Toronto Northern Lights Chorus while in China.

In short, don’t delay if you are interested. See Brad and get started in making your plans.
After the hour talk, we had break time and celebrated John Pence’s 75th birthday with huge chocolate chip pizza-like cookies.

The chapter meeting was held after the break. Secretary, Chris Buechler, presented membership renewal cards to Bob Mattes for 13 years; Joe Sawyer for 16 years; Alan Wile for 24 years; Ken Fess for 27 tears; and Mike Kelly for 31 years.

Operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, invited Bob Rhome to explain details about a different meeting location on Sept. 6 while the floor in Durant is replaced.

The Harmonizers will relocate their meeting on Sept 6 to Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, 435 Ferdinand Day Dr., Alex 22304, just off Pickett and Cameron Station Blvd. The main entrance for the chorus will be the one on Ferdinand Day Dr. Park in the Armistead Booth Park and follow the path to the Harmonizer truck at the entrance for us to use.

Show guru, Brian Ammerman, made 5 points regarding the fall show, Sept. 24th at the Hylton Center in Manassas.

1. If you are on Facebook, use it to promote the show.
2. Call people you know to check on them after the Hurricane and then change the subject to promote the show.
3. Invite significant others to help sell tickets too.
4. Brain has some jobs to be filled for the show, and promises an email with details, especially for making or finding props for the show.
5. He has consignment tickets to sell members with him.

Bruce Lauther will be help you get engraving done on the medals you earned in Kansas City. He needs to get them in the next two weeks.

A get-well card was circulated for Bob Wachter. He is reportedly making some progress but still can’t accept calls. Keep him in your thoughts.

Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced a number of guests. Some had been with us before.

Then we went to work singing. Director Joe Cerutti, explained the plan to add several new holiday songs for shows and CDs. We also worked on the revival of our 1995 contest ballad.

Joe recognized Dan O’Brien and Tony Colosimo who were recently named candidate judges in the BHS Contest and Judging program

Jack Cameron was distributing the chorus photos that were taken at International. Don’t delay in getting your picture, if you ordered one.

Don’t forget to wear your (or a) name tag at all Harmonizer functions. Maybe keep it in your barbershop briefcase. It helps the guests and newer members!

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Dog Days Event on August 23rd

Wow, what a challenge for all to attend this year’s Dog Days event – the 5.8 earthquake that hit the area.

But a good audience crowd made it for the 7 pm start, and just under 50 Harmonizers were there to sing at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manassas.

The host chapter, Prince William County, Bull Run Troubadours, set the date for the 23rd to help our chapter to not have to find a meeting place since Durant was being used as a polling place. It is also a tradition to have it on a Tuesday so we could attend.

There were some wild stories about guys’ challenges to get there – one to three hours were the average. Some guys from downtown DC just gave up and texted word that they were gonna give in!

The hosts thanked our riser crew for providing the risers and for Scott Kahler’s help with the sound for the event. The warm up act was group singing led by Dick Dangel and his accordion.

Our neighbor chapter, Mount Vernon - Harmony Heritage Singers, was the first chorus to sing. Always good to see the seven or eight of our members who also sing with HHS on stage. Chris Buechler was their director. Their set included a couple songs by SLIDERS quartet – with the same old Mike Everard “corn” from the past days with the FRIENDSHIP FIRE COMPANY. Mike also reported to the audience that BobWachter is in the hospital with pneumonia in an isolation ward.

The second act was relatively new Loudon County Chorus of the Old Dominion. They then sang a few songs with Fairfax. And then Fairfax had its own set.

Special guests were KINGS CHORDERS from the Fredrick MD area.

Our host chapter sang next. They, like the other groups, invited chapter quartets to sing as part of their set.

The Harmonizers took the risers to great cheers from our brothers in harmony. Mike Kelly directed “Great Day” and Tony Colosimo directed “Hello My Baby.” For the evening, chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, lined up the guys with many guys who don’t normally stand in the front row. But the visual presentation and excitement for the whole package was great.

Our first emcee, Don Dillingham, thanked our hosts and then introduced HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Savage, Colosimo, Ives, Kelly) who sang “Blue Skies” and “It’s Almost Like Being In Love.”

Mike directed “No More Sorrow” and it was great to hear the four tenors come thru!

Tony was emcee to set up our “classical music” number. Will Cox directed “That’s Amore” and Terry Reynolds did the solo comedy bit. Again it was a hit!

Steve White was emcee to set up our finale number, “Start and Stripes Forever,” directed by Tony.

YeEd was glad to see some other familiar faces in the audience or on stage – Larry and Cathy Silva, Terry Jordan, Paul Grimes, Keith Jones, and Chuck Botts. Our show producer, Greg Tepe, was also on hand to help. John Pence brought his trusty “song board” to put up-stage so the guys on the risers would know the order of the songs.

The evening ended with Tony directing all the barbershoppers present in singing “Keep the Whole World Singing.”

The host chapter provided cookies and chips and lots of snacks and plenty of water and sodas for all.

Brian Ammerman and Steve Murane staffed a table selling tickets for our fall show.

As a wrap up to last week’s chapter meeting, note that secretary Buechler presented renewal cards to the following: Carl Kauffmann (39 years) and Mick Stamps (32 years).

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Aug 12th Market Square Show and Aug 16th Chapter Meeting

A good sized audience was at Alexandria’s Market Square to hear the Harmonizers free concert. It is another of our shows to repay the City of Alexandria for its support of our chapter.

Directors were Joe Cerutti, Tony Colosimo, Will Cox and Mike Kelly.

The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (a quartet composed of our musical section leaders) sang for us on this show.

Great to have our coach, Cindy Hansen Ellis, in the audience.

Don Dillingham and Scipio Garling did the emcee work for the gig and Scott Kahler helped make sure the sound was right for barbershop singers.

“That’s Amore” with Terry Reynolds as soloist went well again.

After the show, there was some effort to recruit singers; and a crew of guys passed out flyers for the fall show. (YeEd was in Illinois on the 12th, so thanks to those who answered phone calls for details for this reporter. Hope they “remembered” everyone!)

(On Tuesday nite, August 16th, Jacob George, took notes and prepared this report on the chapter rehearsal and meeting. Many thanks to Jacob from YeEd.)

Volunteers put up the risers and meeting equipment for yet another evening of rehearsal and chapter meeting on this Tuesday night. Tony Colosimo led the voice-brain tune up time.

Director Joe Cerutti was received with applause after summer camp and the long break after the international. Joe started with comments about our performance at the international contest including inputs he gleaned from coaches and judges at Harmony University.

Former Harmonizer, Mike Louque, and one of the presentation judges in Kansas City, was with us on the risers this week, and he was invited to make his personal remarks about the Harmonizer’s performance.

It was most exciting to see many new faces (new comers, applicants) on the risers with us.

When the singing started, Joe began a review of the choreo for “Hello My Baby” with the help from Chuck McKeever.

Operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted the chapter meeting starting with announcement of birthdays of several Harmonizers coming up next week. He also reminded all that orders for engraving the recently earned 5th place medals will be accepted for 2 more weeks – see Bruce Lauther.

Shows vp, Ken White, plugged participation at the Dog Days singout in Manassas next Tuesday, August 23rd. All are expected to attend. Please look for an email from Greg Tepe regarding the revised dress code – Harmo teal shirt with khaki pants.

Everyone was reminded of the planning meeting for the China trip with the travel agent on Tuesday nite, Aug. 3oth.

Scott Kahler announced news from the chapter IT committee that we are about to launch an improved website and membership portal. Certainly more details are to come, but Scott wanted folks to know the work is underway.

Brian Ammerman made a power-point presentation about the fall show with major emphasis on ticket sales. His major point was that each member needs to sell some tickets. And we all need to expand our contact lists of possible ticket buyers by calling or contacting friends, co-workers, neighbors, church members or Metro riders. Each Harmonizer was given a special pin “2011 campaign” as a reminder.

Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced nine guest – three are applicants. Will Cox conducted music evaluations of the new prospects during the break.

After the break, the 1995 gold medal ballad from our contest package, “I’ll Be Seeing You” was rehearsed. We will be singing it for our next contest appearance at Southern Division.

Joe gave a brief taste of the new holiday songs with a quick run-through of two new charts. Music vp, Terry Reynolds, indicated that there are several other fun, new holiday pieces in the works.

Since this was the last week for our summer guest, Josh Ehrlich from the Voices of Gotham, he was invited to direct “Keep the Whole World Singing” to wrap up the evening. After putting everything away or onto the truck for next week’s show, the gang adjourned to the Hilton for our weekly afterglow.

YeEd extends congrats (or maybe our sympathies) to Alan Wile who was recently named to the BHS search committee for a new chief executive officer. Society President Alan Lamson appointed the five-member Task Force created to assist the Board of Directors in the search.

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the August 9th “Summer Camp” Chapter Meeting

The second week of Harmo Summer Camp was fun and relaxing and educational. Camp Director Terry Reynolds had things well organized and used several of the music team to help conduct classes. One session was “Ask The Music Committee” which prompted some good questions.

Mike Kelly kicked of the singing with work “Shine On Me” for the new guys (and even some of the guys who have been members a while). Then we had a push out quartet event using the same song. It was fun to see guys singing other parts than they usually sing in the chorus.

Tony Colosimo worked on the Harmonizer song, “Place on the Risers for You” which we sing to any member who departs the chapter, relocates or perhaps even at a funeral. YeEd related the history of why the song was written by Bob Bates with music and arrangement by John Hohl, in 1987.

During the evening there were two periods when the gang had a choice of three breakout sessions. With help from Will Cox, Tony, Mike, Bob Blair, Joe and Terry, these sessions were offered: wood shedding; building a barbershop chord; tag singing; a talk about the “barbershop umbrella” or what makes it barbershop with recorded examples or excerpts; watching contest videos of past Harmonizer and Dallas gold medal performances; and singing polecat songs. The guys from the tag singing session sang one of their sweet new tags they learned for the rest of us to enjoy. (YeEd suspects it was brought back by our guys who went to Harmony University last week.)

In last week’s column, YeEd reported that we sang polecat songs too. And that prompted this response from Bob Caldwell: please refer to those old songs we sing by their complete name, the barberpole cat songs. A polecat is a skunk. Yes, I know, many people refer to them as polecats. but it's a personal pet peeve of mine. Thanks for your indulgence.”

Before break there was the usual meeting of “campers” with important announcements.

NOTE: this Friday, Aug. 12th is our annual singout at Market Square in Old Town Alexandria. It is another of our concerts for the City of Alexandria in appreciation for their support, and honestly it is a good way to recruit singers. See the 8/9/11 email from producer, Greg Tepe, for more details but a few important ones are (1) the 6:30 call, (2) wear the teal shirt with black pants and shoes, (3) if you park in the lot under Market Square bring your parking receipt to be stamped for free parking, (4) if your family comes suggest they bring lawn chairs, (5) plan to go out after the singing to enjoy Old Town, and (6) if you are a new singer you can plan to come and go from the risers in this setting.

Secretary Buechler offered to help members get Harmo shirts. See him if you need some new casual gear.

President, Steve Murane, pleaded with all members to sell tickets for the Sept. 24th show!!!!!!
There is a board meeting next Wednesday at Durant.

Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced a big crop of guests. As you might expect, some were barbershoppers from other chapters in town on vacation, tho a couple are here as part of relocation for work. There were a couple applicants too!

The refreshment crew had ice cream bars for the campers this week.

After break, Terry taught everyone the “MICKEY MOUSE” tag; and we watched the video of the 1995 gold medal performance of the Harmonizers singing “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “Sweet Georgia Brown.” Director Joe Cerutti has already announced that the chapter will be singing those songs for Southern Division when we next compete. Seeing the performance got the current front row guys talking about learning those dance steps!!

Last week’s recap column also prompted this fun email note from George Azzam; “Tell Eric Wallen congrats! One of these days I’m going to make it down there for the put together contest or tag contest and surprise everyone by winning my own award (and sing all four parts in a bunch of quartets). Hope all is well in Virginia. Thanks again for YeEd’s weekly updates…I enjoy reading them and keeping up with my Harmonizer family. All is well up here in the Seneca Land District in beautiful central New York. Chords are ringing. Cheers!” George.

Martin Banks prepared another display for camp this week helping guys see what songs the Harmonizers have sung in the contests over the years. AND accepting this challenge, he not only listed our international contest songs since 1978, but every song the Harmonizers ever sang, with the year we introduced them and the year they were written.

Late breaking chapter news from President Steve: Clyde Crusenberry has agreed to take over from Tom Berkey as Community Service vp for the chapter. Tom and his wife, Ina, are relocating to another state.

YeEd has also gotten news from Victor Hills at West Point. He has competed his first 12-week training for new cadets and is now gearing up to start classes. He is planning to audition for the glee club too. His parents are going up this weekend to see him and celebrate his accomplishment. He can now get mail at Cadet Victor Hills, PO Box 1924, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10997-1924.

As a reminder, Harmonizers should also begin planning to attend the singout on Tues. Aug. 23rd in Manassas for Dog Days. It is a late-summer event hosted by the chapter there and includes a sing by all the Virginia chapters in the area. We sing last. But plan your travel (it is at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12975 Purcell Rd., Manassas, 20112). A great kick off for our fall season.
Also a good opportunity for former Harmonizers to come and see everyone. Starts at 7 pm.

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Chapter’s Participation at the August 2011 Harmony University

As usual, the Harmonizers were on the top of the heap at Harmony University with our guys everywhere.

Chris Buechler was kind to send a list of names of the 15 guys there and what they were up to during this special week when barbershoppers can add to their musical and leadership knowledge.

Several of our guys were on the faculty. Dr. Jay Butterfield taught Directing techniques II, Sight Singing I, and How To Analyze Voices.

Our own chorus director, Joe Cerutti was the director for the Directors Chorus (guys taking choral directing training) and he also taught two classes of Choral Methods.

This was the first year for Mike Kelly to be on the faculty at HU. He taught Website Design For Your Ensemble, Webcast Production, and was also editor of the HU newsletter, the Harmissiourian.

Gary Plaag was director of the Coaching Apprentice Program and taught a class on Barbershop Butterflies Bite The Dust, and did Coaching 2 – PRS.

Other friends of the chapter were on the faculty as well: Richard Lewellen, David Wright, Steve Tramack, Kirk Young and Cindy Hansen Ellis.

One aspect of the week is to provide coaching for quartets who come as a foursome to sing and get the benefit of the top coaches in the BHS. Our guys from DA CAPO - Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer and Wayne Adams – had a busy week. YeEd hears they were a huge hit on both the Friday nite quartet show with their “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and as a featured act on the Saturday nite finale with “Help from My Friends,” “Ebb Tide” and “Stars and Stripes.”

Ryan Killeen is a member of our chapter and is also on the Barbershop Harmony Foundation staff and he was there to help and work. Former member, Larry Deters and currently Acting BHS CEO, was on campus too.

Another group of our members were at HU as students. Jorge Acevedo was there to attend Directors College which is part of the educational schedule. Jorge directs the El Paso Border Chorders.

Other guys from our chapter attending classes include Chris Buechler, Tom Gannon, Kellen Hertz, Ray Kahler and Dan O'Brien. Kellen sang in the NEXT GENERATION chorus – all of the guys were 26 or younger! It was directed by Justin Miller from the gold medal Westminster Chorus and now the director for our M-AD friends in NYC in the Big Apple Chorus. Erin Odell was a student in the Directors College. She has recently been named director for a Sweet Adeline chorus near where she will be teaching in Richmond this fall. Congrats.

Prior to the start of HU, there was a training session to help guys qualify as candidate judges in the BHS Contest and Judging program. Dan O’Brien (music category) and Tony Colosimo (singing category) are both candidates now in . Former Harmonizer, Paul Wietlisbach (presentation category), is now a candidate, too. He is a on the BHS staff and worked as HU Dean. Our own Chris Buechler was faculty for the candidates who wanted to get into the contest administration category.

The Alexandria chapter provided scholarships for Dan, Kellen and DA CAPO this year. If it sounds like fun and something you wanna do next year, be sure to let the music and performance vp know next spring. And ask some of this year’s crew more about the classes and things they learned.

YeEd figures we will get true confessions soon from our brother Harmonizers about who ate the most ice cream (a special attraction at HU), who stayed up the most hours singing tags, who had the biggest steak in Kansas City before they came back to VA, and who can’t wait to tell other guys in our chapter about the great experience they had.

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 of the great things going on with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the August 2nd “Summer Camp” Chapter Meeting

Camp Director Terry Reynolds and his counselors were ready for the Harmonizer Campers who came out for this summer break event. It was fun for all with a lot of variety.

There were no risers, nor a chorus rehearsal. Thanks to Scott Kahler for getting us sound for the evening. Warm up time was singing a “Pole Cat” directed by Bob Wachter. Music vp and camp director, Terry, did a part-by-part review of “Keep The Whole World Singing” and the “Harmonizer Welcome Song” which we sing each week to welcome visitors to our chapter. Words and music for this song were created by former director, John Hohl.


Dr. Jeremy Richardson conducted a class on the physics of sound with av, demonstrations using glasses filled with water and a thorough printed handout. There was a great student/teacher Q&A period.

The evening also included a period of Ask The Music Committee which brought out some good topics about repertoire, voice parts, etc.

YeEd inserted trivia questions between program items. One item was “Which quartet was disqualified by judges at International and then announced at that moment by the contest emcee?” The quartet was the POTOMA CHORDS with our director then, Oz Newgard. But YeEd didn’t know what they were given a zero score. So while the chapter meeting was going on, he called former director Scott Werner in FL. (Scott says hi to all!) He also recalls the incident well, as his quartet, the NOVA CHORDS were next to sing in that contest and it shook them up a lot to have heard the emcee announce the DQ. No quartet has likely had that happen since. Scott says the DQ was given by the arrangement judges for inappropriate song selection.


Another Summer Camp session was about truly woodshedding. Bob Blair sang the melody to a song and then the guys tried their hand at finding their parts to sing along.

The campers were then given a chance to attend one of three breakout sessions – building a barbershop chord; learning other “Pole Cat” songs; or watching contest videos of Harmonizer performances in the past and one of the Midwest Vocal Express from WI and their “fishes in a glass fish tank” package.

For break, there was lots of tasty watermelon.


After break, quartet promo guy, Eric Wallen, conducted a tag singing contest. There were 9 entries – mostly put together earlier in the evening. Lew Klinge was emcee (and he did not disappoint – he made a “call” to his friend at BHS headquarters, Ev Nau).

Judges were Ellen Dellert, one of our fans from the FRIENDS group; Adams Bradley, a member of the Class of 2011; and Chuck Harmer, a member of the Class of 1976, YeEd was secretary for the judging event.

Third place was won by THE MIGHTY WA-WA’s – Drew Fuller, Brian Ammerman, Eric Wallen and Steve Murane.

Second place was won by TAGS AND SWIPES FOREVER – Rick Savage, Bob Blair, Chuck Hunter and Eric Wallen.


First place was won by EVIL COMPANIONS – Scipio Garling, Noah Van Gilder, Jeremy Richardson and Terry Reynolds. They sang a tag to “Old Kentucky Home” and “Evil Companions.”

Eric Wallen was declared winner of the George-Azzam-Who-Could-Sing-in-The-Most-Quartets Award! He showed up in three.

There were a number of guests present for Camp and a some of them sang in tag quartets in the contest. Welcome to all – great to have you singing with us. Some were in the DC area for summer internships, for special work assignments or on vacation. Congrats to Josh and Amy Roots who were married this past weekend. Josh’s uncle, Chuck, was a guest. He officiated at the wedding ceremony – and was the guy who talked Josh into joining our chorus a few years ago – and thus earned the Man of Note for sponsoring Josh.

Great to have Chuck Hunter in town one more time before his trip to Bagdad.

Martin Banks brought a great display for guests to see about the chapter’s participation in International chorus contests.

There was a little business session with announcements conducted by Camp Life Guard, Mark Klostermeyer. Brian Ammerman reminded guys to work on ticket sales for the fall show and word that a new show flyer is out which includes a direct phone number for customers to use in ordering tickets.

Bruce Lauther will be gone for a couple weeks to Europe so will suspend medal engraving and Carnegie Hall CD sales til he returns.

Scipio Garling stressed the Membership 125 Drive.

After the quartet contest, we closed shop and a big crowd went to the Hilton for an afterglow. We were outside since it was cooler, and thus there was some tag singing. The guys wanted to be sure to get in one more tagging session with Chuck before he leaves us again. He was using his famous teaching method of using his fingers to create the lines and spaces of a musical staff.

Guest Cameron Bolt directed KTWWS.

YeEd has heard a little news from our Harmonizer pals at Harmony University in MO. Stay tuned for a special report.

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the 2011 Ft. Ward Show, July 28th

This year’s show at Ft. Ward Park was really a success – good sized chorus for almost 200 folks seated in the amphitheater. It was hot, but no rain!

The blue shirts with black looked good. Scott Kahler helped the city-provided sound guy. Other Harmo helpers include a riser crew that had to set things up in the heat; John Pence for the song board; Keith Jones taking attendance; and YeEd.

Tony Colosimo did vocal warm ups on the hill beyond the show venue. The show was completely directed by the chorus assistant directors – Will Cox, Tony Colosimo and Mike Kelly. Director Joe Cerutti was in MI as faculty for a youth vocal camp.

Our debut of “That’s Amore” was a hit – lots of audience interaction, great job by Terry “Terrance” Reynolds as singing waiter, and “Guido” played by Don Dillingham. Scipio Garling set up the song so the audience was willing to get in on the fun.

We did the same to set up the contest package for the audience to understand the theme of the two-song package. New emcees this show did a great job – Don Dillingham, Steve White, and Andrew Plocher!

The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES quartet did a great job entertaining – Rick Savage, Tony Colosimo, Ken Ives and Mike Kelly.

From the stage, our emcee crew invited men to come sing with us. We thanked the Alexandria Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities for their support. We also thanked the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Alexandria Arts Forum for attending the show.

Chapter shows vp, Ken White, announced the details about the fall show at the Hylton Center, Sept. 24th. Brian Ammermann set up a table at the edge of the stage after the show to sell tickets.

All the guys came off the stage to meet and greet and thanks folks for coming and to suggest guys come sing with us.

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 of the great things going on with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —Ye Ed.)

Looking Back on the July 26th Chapter Meeting

YeEd was in New Orleans Tuesday, so a big thanks to Alan Wile for taking the following notes for this week’s column.

Summer continues as the Harmonizers prepare for the usual July and August shows AND for Summer Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Visitors welcome for those fun summer meeting nites.

This week’s meeting and rehearsal was a busy one.

Will Cox conducted the warm-up. There were sectionals to work on “That’s Amore” and “No More Sorrows.” As Director Joe Cerutti will not be here for the Fort Ward show, the assistant directors will be out front. With that in mind, and when all sections returned, Mike Kelly directed “No More Sorrows.”

Will directed “That’s Amore” and Joe announced that if we sing this song at the “A” level at Fort Ward that will be the first and last time we sing it. Great cheers erupted.

Mike did “Great Day.” Tony Colosimo did “Hello My Baby,” Mike did “Ob La Di, Ob La Da” with a slight shortening of the song. Joe did a lot of coaching on this one. Will did “Summertime.”

There was a buzz in the hall about all of our Harmonizer buddies going to Harmony University, Director’s College and Candidate School for future judges. Joe was leaving Wednesday for a youth chorus festival in Michigan and then to Harmony University where he will be on the faculty again. Others on the faculty are Gary Plaag, Mike Kelly and Jay Butterfield. Dan O’Brien and Tony Colosimo will be going a bit early to attend candidate school to determine whether they may become candidates in the music and singing categories, respectively. Chris Buechler will be teaching at the candidate school. DA CAPO will attend Harmony U as a quartet for coaching. The quartet, Dan and Kellen Hertz are attending on scholarships from the chapter.

(YeEd figures there might be other Harmonizers and former Harmonizers in St. Joseph, MO, so he has asked some reporters to keep us posted. Stay tuned.)

Joe announced that he’s selected the up-tune for the 2013 contest and then taught the tag.

Mark Klostermeyer conducted the chapter meeting portion of the evening.
• Show tickets on sale – see Brian Ammerman.
• Bruce Lauther reminded about medal engraving – give him yours and pick it up the next week. Small fee.
• Bruce encouraged the members to sign a large card for Dean Rust who is taking an extended sabbatical from the active chorus.
• And Bruce noted that Mike Shirota arranged for a DVD of the entire Carnegie Hall Show to be produced – sign up with Bruce; cost is $20/each.

• Phil Ashford announced/introduced guests:
o Paul Douglas (an applicant)
o Alex Kuessa from Munich but who sports a gold medal won with the Ambassadors of Harmony in KC – visited once before (some time ago).
o Larry Goodfried – also wearing a AoH gold medal too.
o Josh Ehrlich – from the Voices of Gotham (Hell’s Kitchen Chapter) AND he brought a guest (next).
o Aaron Wiener – Josh’s guest … who lives in DC.
o Long-time member, Terry Jordan, was in house for this week’s meeting.

When back on the risers, Fort Ward Show Producer, Greg Tepe, brought us up-to-date on show details (riser crew at 6:00 p.m.; chorus call at 6:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather stay alert for cancellation. Uniform: short-sleeve teal travel shirt and everything else in black!
• Alan Wile urged members to take a brochure on one of the “after international” barbershop cruises to Alaska being offered next year with Jo and Ron Black.
• M&P VP Terry Reynolds hyped “summer camp” which will take place the next two Tuesdays. Next week will include a tag contest (each contesting quartet will sing two tags; prizes will be awarded).
• Shows VP, Ken White, hyped three shows: Fort Ward Park, Market Square, and our Dog Days … and our fall show. With lots on our plate, he urged the members NOT to miss. Noted again that Brian Ammerman had tickets for the fall show and encouraged all to sell, sell, sell. Tickets will also be sold at Fort Ward Park.
• President Steve Murane reported that he’d sung in a large mixed ensemble it the Hylton (venue in Manassas for our fall show) and it is an excellent performance hall.
• Steve also displayed a photo portfolio of pictures taken at the Carnegie Hall show and presented to him by a Japanese attendee at the Kansas City convention. Evidently the pictures are also on a CD. The point is that our performance at that benefit show had and continues to have great impact on the Japanese people.
• Joe highlighted the significant aspects of the upcoming fall show and suggested that IF we sell out the hall, we may be in line for a place in the facility’s concert series … which would be awfully beneficial financially. If you can’t sell a ticket, buy an ad – Nick Leisersen is our “ad guy” for this show.
• Joe insists that there be 125 guys on the international stage when next we compete (2013); said the third Tuesday is important because of the upcoming major show; and expects everyone to come up with two viable candidates for membership.

Back to singing, Tony directed “Stars and Stripes” (front row out to lobby to drill their routine) and then “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor?” (who ever heard of such a thing? Must be Army propaganda!) and the front row returned.

Will directed “NY, NY” and “If I Loved You.”

KTWWS was directed by Chuck Hunter in town before returning to his new post with the State Department. And then the night was over, save for putting away the risers, et al, and an afterglow at the Hilton.

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the July 19th Chapter Meeting

Even in the hot and humid DC weather, we had a decent crowd, but we missed some of the guys on the risers. It was a catch up night after our being gone from Durant since June. There were a lot of guys still hacking and coughing – don’t know what has hit us!

But no one was discouraged. And we were all eager to hear Music VP, Terry Reynolds, annual analysis of scores and contest results by the numbers.

After great warm ups by Will Cox, Director Joe Cerutti took the reins and welcomed guys “home” from the battle. And he went right to work on songs for the upcoming shows we have to do for the City of Alexandria. First is Thurs, July 28th at the Ft. Ward Park amphitheater, 4301 W. Braddock, Alex 22304. Second is Aug. 12 at Market Square near the fountain at the town hall market area. This is our chance to promote the chorus, recruit new singers AND to thank the city for their support of the chapter (our meeting space and financial grants).

Joe also had the assistant directors lined up to direct various numbers on those shows too. Joe promises to use the pull-guys-out-front and have them sing the songs next week again. So that is the warning. (Tho the octet he pulled out this week did a good job on “No More Sorrows.”

There was a good crowd of FRIENDS and family and singing guests. Great to see Carolyn Hall back! The meeting hall was set by the usual crew plus YeEd noted some new helpers this week – thanks to all.

Operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted the weekly chapter meeting and announced this week’s birthdays. He reported that Bruce Lauther is set up to accept the new medals we earned in Kansas City and have them engraved with the singer’s name and the Harmo logo. Only $7. Bring your medals next week. Bruce has envelopes for you to put them in.

Secretary Chris Buechler presented, on behalf of the chapter president, medals to guys who didn’t get theirs at convention. He also has a supply of name tag lanyards that were given to us by Westminster.

Membership vp, Phil Ashford, welcome a good group of guests – two barbershoppers from other countries: Jon from Australia (he sang in a chorus at International in Kansas City and was invited to attend a choral workshop in Alexandria), and Chris from Bremen, Germany (he was visited the USA and DC with his parents – he sings in the chorus that Director Joe will be coaching this fall). The other three guests were barbershop singers from other chapters – a couple having relocated to this area and looking to sing again, others in DC for summer jobs and eager to sing while they are away from their chapter. Did you know you can go on the BHS website and find info about other chapter meetings—locations, times, and contacts. Useful when you are on travel and need to hear a 7th chord.

Break time and the guys raided the kitchen and took a breather.

Then back to meeting announcements: fall show ticket sales news from Brian Ammerman; thanks from Carl Kauffmann for ALL those who did the admin and physical work to make our convention week go smoothly; reminder of chapter board meeting Wed. eve, July 20th at 7 pm at Durant – any member is welcome to attend.

Music and performance vp, Terry, suggested that new guys should learn as many of the songs for the upcoming shows as possible, but both venues allow for easy exit and return to the risers if you need to skip a song. He also announced the plans for this year’s SUMMERCAMP 2011 – Tuesday Aug. 2 and 9, usual time, at Durant. No formal rehearsal, but plenty of singing – tags, push out quartet events, likely a movie or video clip, good snacks, FAQ sessions, and a contest or two. Don’t miss this chance to relax and have fun with your singing buddies. Bring a friend that likes to sing.

While the guys were seated on the risers, Joe took some time to give his reactions and thanks for the hard work and dedication to excellence by our chorus. He shared his pride of the 5th place medal we earned this summer. He endorsed the contributions of the Special Forces troops and the nearly 20 newbies in the Class of 2011. He gave his sincere appreciation to Carl Kauffmann for solving the rehearsal room problem in the Hyatt.

Joe reflected that no chorus had done so much performance and work during their prep for International. He thanked the guys for accepting his contest-week major change of the visual and interpt – which brought applause from all.

Then Joe let Terry take the mic and share the details – charts and numbers to show where we did great, how we are doing in the big picture, how much our singing has improved, how the contest system worked.

Joe then talked about the future. First off – we are NOT TAKING A YEAR OFF. We will be working hard on our music and singing and performance. The hugely important fall show with CROSSROADS is coming up fast. We need to sing well and match the level of our guest quartet. Plus we need to sell tickets and spread the word for the Sept. 24th how at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

The holiday show is on track too with a plan to introduce five new tunes for our audiences who love this show and help us sell it out each year.

We are gonna do something especially fun and bring back our 1995 gold medal package of “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” for our package in the Southern Division contest.

Big news also that we are headed to China, AND that Toronto Northern Lights Chorus will go with us. Amazing that two medalist choruses are traveling together to another nation! Joe and their director have been talking and discussing possible joint songs we will work on for our shows there. It is not too late to sign up – a speaker will be at the Harmo meeting on Aug. 30th with specifics. If money is a challenge, Joe figures a guy could put away $5 a week to cover the major cost.

Then finally, we will be working to build up and continue our climb in better singing and performing, for the International contest in Toronto in 2013.

Joe is looking for each man’s dedication and commitment for the growth period ahead.

He also invited comments from all and there were some good ones about audience reaction, about the dead stage. A ground-swell of appreciation and applause went out to Joe for his willingness to help us improve.

There was a reminder to plan ahead to make personal arrangement to attend the fall M-AD contest Sept. 31-Oct. 1 in Lancaster. We will help the host chapter escort choruses, if needed. And we will have a number of chapter reps in quartets in the contest Fri nite. So save the weekend. Make plans to order tickets and get a room via the district website – www.harmonize.com/MAD/.

And similarly, make plans to go to the International in Portland. YeEd figures we will also have some quartets in the battle that week. And we will be able to have some fun during the week. Won’t hurt to be seen as a chapter supporting others and reminding folks we will be back. (The last time we sat out of International competition in Detroit, we took a huge 50-ft. banner that said “The Harmonizers will be back” and held it up outside the contest venue for folks to see after they came out of the chorus contest. We did what we promised too!)

Back to singing, Joe and his team worked on a few more of the songs for the shows.

We finished a little early and the crew put all of the equipment away.

Our guest from Australia took us out with “Keep The Whole World Singing” and it had a special meaning to have our fellow barbershopper from “down under” to lead us in our singing.

A big crowd found its way to the Hilton for afterglow. The usual Metro riders headed out just in time to catch the last train – thanks to cell phones that give exact times of trains.

YeEd has other news about members.

Did you know Bill Colosimo was in Rome a week before we went to Kansas City. The church choir he directs sang for the Pope and attended the usual events at the Vatican.

Craig Kujawa sent word that he would be gone a couple weeks to be with his family after his step father died on Sunday.

Jim Lucey sent word that his wife, Ruthanne, is still in Kansas City after breaking her hip at International. She will be there for therapy for a week or so more before they return to CO. Cards could go to her at North KS City Hospital, 2800 Clay Edwards Dr. Rm. 1028, N. Kansas City, MO 64116.

Thanks to Catherine Colosimo for her help with flyers for the fall show.

And YeEd also needs to add here a couple items regarding the report of International week – forgot to recognize our own Harmo dog – Tango, who was with us all week to cheer and support the chorus. He was with his family, the Brian Millers. (And not to be out done by FRANK THE DOG!) Also we hear he provided a good bit of doggy therapy to weary Harmonizers in the hideaway!

Plus YeEd wanted to thank contributors/reporters for last week’s column – Dixie Kennett, Chris Buechler, Steve Lingo, Clark Chesser, and Alan Wile. Appreciate the input.

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the 2011 International Contest and Convention, Kansas City

The Alexandria Harmonizers came to the 73rd annual BHS International contest battleground and earned another 5th place medal. The months of work paid off! Our score was 2,663 out of 3,000. Our 99 guys filled the risers and performed “If I Loved You” and “What Do I Need With Love?”

This was the 17th medal earned by the Alexandria Harmonizers, including the four golds. We have competed at 23 International chorus contests since our first one in 1978.

Director Joe Cerutti used the many rehearsals in Kansas City to hone the performance. We actually relocated our rehearsal site after Tuesday nite since the hotel ballroom was like an echo chamber. Thanks to our convention chairman, Carl Kauffmann, for working the phone with Society convention planners and other chorus contacts to find a place we could work. We moved to the convention center on Wednesday morning – about a mile from our Hyatt hotel where most of the chorus and their family was staying. It was close to the Marriott headquarters hotel and the Sprint contest stage. So that was good. It did mean we had to move the props early in the week to this new location.

The contest package uniform was bright blue shirts with black slacks and such, including shiny black patent leather shoes, suspenders for the riser singers, and sunglasses for the front row. Props for the show included huge wooden blocks that were used to create height and energy for the uptune. Two of the boxes actually included trampolines which guys jumped onto in the tag and bounced high into the air with bright colored streamers in their hands. Thanks to Dennis Ritchey for construction, Bob Blair and other guys for hauling them on Tuesday nites, and he and his painting crew for frequent touch-up. Thanks to Joel Golden and Bert Phillips who “pulled the tabs” on the streamer gizmos our trampoline jumpers tossed.

This year we were fortunate to have our major coaches with us all week – Geri Geis, Kirk Young (who arranged the uptune), Cindy Hansen, and Steve Tramack (who arranged the ballad). They helped Joe keep the chorus on target and offered advice and ideas.

Before going into details about the chorus work sessions all week, YeEd needs to recognize our quartet guys who did us proud in the contest too. DA CAPO made the cut for the top 20 semi-finals round. They ended up 14th for their first time at the International level! Each time they sang, the Harmonizer crowd led the cheering and clapping routine to get the audience ready and to send a signal backstage that we were proud of Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer and Wayne Adams. Fun to see their family members with the da capo musical symbol on their tee shirts. Our guys also were named winners of the International Dealer’s Choice Award for the highest placing first-time quartet in the contest.

OLD SCHOOL, also from the Mid-Atlantic District, won the quartet contest gold with 8,090 points – 121 points over MUSICAL ISLAND BOYS. MASTERPIECE, who sang on our show last summer, was third. Our retreat coach, Tony De Rosa, sang in a new quartet called MAIN STREET and they took 5th. All three of their performances featured an old-time quartet look with huge “skimmers” and tap dancing. The popular and funny quartet, LUNCH BREAK, was the mic tester quartet on Saturday nite and pulled off some great bits. Last years’ quartet champs, STORM FRONT, also used their comedic skills to entertain while the finals scores were calculated that nite.

Our M-AD friends, ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT, came in 12th and FRANK THE DOG came in 26th.. Several former Harmonizers sang in quartets that competed: Dennis Malone in IGNITION!, 15th; Mike Louque in SKYLINE, 20th; Harold Nantz in FLASHBACK, 32nd; Ron Rogers in RACKETEERS, 44th. Our M-AD collegiate quartet, THE FRAT PACK, was 21st.

Now back to coverage of the chorus contest. As was expected, the Masters of Harmony from CA won with 2,829 points at 94.3%. Great Northern Union earned second after taking a year out of contest with 2,824 points at 94.1%. There was a tie for third – The Northern Lights from Toronto and Sound of the Rockies from Denver earned 2,733 points at 91.1%. Alexandria then was fifth. We earned 88.8%.

The other M-AD chorus, Brothers in Harmony from Hamilton Square, NJ, was 27th at 76%. They were directed by Jack Pinto, the bari of OLD SCHOOL. The chorus contest mic testers were also from our district – Voices in Gotham, Hell’s Kitchen, NY, directed by Larry Bombeck.

This was the second 5th place medal for the Harmonizers. The 2011 medals were distributed right after the contest results were announced, back at the Hyatt. President Steve Murane presented each Harmonizer his medal and shook his hand.

The chorus had arrived early in the week for the first rehearsal on Tuesday eve, July 5th (a couple guys had to stay at their jobs until Wed. and Thurs.). Our chorus was at the Hyatt and most of our guys had used the chapter fundraising plan and bought scrip to use in paying for their hotel room. Great way to help the chapter raise some much needed funds.

There was a huge buzz in the air when we started gathering at the Hyatt Tuesday eve with news that Joe Cerutti and Gary Plaag had been elected to three-year terms on the BHS board of directors earlier in the day. Another former president of our chapter, Dwain Chambers from the Dixie District now, was also a candidate.

Joe and Gary were introduced with the other board members during an evening convention session. The Society Board of Directors met early in the week. Chris Buechler serves the board as assistant parliamentarian.

Another former Harmonizer, Larry Deters, has been named Acting Executive Director for the BHS. He will serve during the search for a new executive director. Ed Watson retired July 15th.

The kick off rehearsal for the chorus was exciting. As usual we had sound equipment thanks to Scott Kahler and Dennis Ritchey. It came with our risers and props on a rental truck which Howard Nestlerode and Drew Fuller drove to Kansas City – a 2,200-mile round trip. The chapter board also invited chorus members to send luggage on the truck, space available, for a modest fee. It saved guys from paying luggage fees to the airlines and helped the chapter pay for the rental. Thanks to all the guys who came to help unload. (YeEd learned that we didn’t drive our own Harmo van as it is getting some “age” on it and the air conditioning doesn’t work these days.)

YeEd also heard about several fun pre-convention trips by chorus families such as Yellowstone, family reunions in KS and MO.

Every one of our rehearsals drew a crowd of Society VIPs and always a good number of our own FRIENDS IN HARMONY. Bob Cearnal, who was our emcee for the East Coast Harmony Show, stopped in on Tues, as did FRANK THE DOG quartet. Great to have Chuck Hunter and John Hohl on site with us. Our coaches were there from the start.

Tony Colosimo and Will Cox did the vocal warm ups. Chorus manager, Mark Klostermeyer, did a blue bandana check for the Class of 2011. This is one of our largest classes: Adam Bradley, Jay Butterfield, Clark Chesser, Chris Clark, Bill Colosimo, Clyde Crusenberry, Thom Faircloth, Jacob George, Michael Gilmore, Kevin Kaiser, Dave Kohls and Nick Leiserson. (These are current singers who have not previously sung with the Alexandria Harmonizers on an International stage.) We also added guys who now live out of town who came to sing with us: Mike Wallen, Bob Wilson and Pete Frank. They all had sung with the Harmonizers before.

The first rehearsal included time for the chapter visual team to review and drill moves and focals with Chuck McKeever, Scipio Garling and Craig Kujawa in charge.

Before we adjourned Tuesday nite, Joe recognized DA CAPO and we all wished them the best for their performance in the quartet contest.

There were morning and afternoon/evening rehearsals both Wed. and Thurs. All of them included hard work, solid input from our coaches Geri, Cindy, Kirk and Steve. Our coach from Harmony College East, Rik Johnson, stopped by to give a cheer. The schedule varied with front row extra rehearsals, or with work sessions with props or with the riser chorus coming early.

Many times the rehearsal room audience included former members who came to see their Harmonizer friends. And often guests from around the BHS came to check us out. M-AD president, Dick Powell and his wife Roxanne, came to wish us the best on behalf of all of the members of our district. He also reported that our own Chuck Harner has been elected to the Harmony Foundation International Board of Trustees. (Later, YeEd learned that Chuck Hunter’s Dad, Chuck Sr., was also elected to that body.) Congrats to both.

Our friends from Westminster, CA, chapter – last year’s chorus champs and our guests in July 2010 – sent a messenger to wish us well and bring each guy a nametag lanyard.

We held our traditional Togetherness Breakfast early Friday. President Murane was emcee. He thanked the FRIENDS group for the nifty decorations (ducks in a row and Tootsie rolls – all a play on the words to our song.) Andrew Plocher gave the invocation. Keith Jones was coordinator having organized ticket for all well in advance and coordinating with the hotel and Friends group. He reports we had 175 attendees – 99 competing members; 15 non competing members; 51 guests such as significant others, family members and friends; and 10 VIPs which included our coaches and M-AD officials – Cindy Hansen and David Ellis, Geri and Royall Geis, Dick and Roxanne Powell, Bill and Linda Colosimo, Steve Tramack and Kirk Young.)

The program included remarks by Class of 2011 President, Thom Faircloth; remarks from Bob Wachter who spoke about the lifetime of relationships in our hobby; remarks from one of our youngest member, Kellen Hertz; and a poetic response by Ina Berkey on behalf of the FRIENDS group, who presented inspirational gifts for all the contest chorus to take on stage with them.

Each of the coaches spoke and brought important messages about the work ethic, chapter brand, tradition and reputation and talent pool of the Alexandria Chapter. Joe Cerutti was the final speaker and he inspired us with a story of how our singing influences and changes lives of others.
Following the breakfast, fans and family headed to the contest site. The Harmonizers were in the queue to prepare for their performance. They rested, they got uniform and make up ready, they practiced more and they lined up to take command from our chorus manager. Our contest guide this year happened to be Brad Cox, Will’s brother.

At the contest venue, the Harmonizer fans were ready and started a huge cheering and clapping routine to send a signal to our guys back stage. Greg Tepe was drafted to call the camera cues backstage for our chapter. Someone reminded us that this is the 25th anniversary of our first gold medal in 1986 and that we got our second medal in Kansas City in 1989.

There were a number of guys from the Harmonizer family in other choruses in the contest: Ryan Killeen, Larry Deters and Paul Wietlisback in Nashville, TN; John Adams, Research Triangle Park, NC; Jack Stevens, San Marcos, TX; Terry Traylor and Ray Kahler, Phoenix, AZ; Bob Thames and Lynn Hineman, Tampa, FL; Bill Power and Ray Johnson, Santa Fe Springs, CA; and Dennis Malone, Denver, CO.

There were some familiar names among the list of judges for the contests at the convention: David Wright, Mike Louque, Richard Lewellen and Dwain Chambers. Steve Tramack judged the collegiate contest. Bob Cearnal was emcee for one quartet contest session.

And three of our chapter friends made major presentations of awards during the convention: John Hohl, who is vice chair of the BHS chorus development committee; Bill Colosimo, who is chair of the BHS music and performance committee; and Steve Tramack, who is chair of the same committee as John. John presented Master Director recognition to the director of the New Zealand chorus. Bill recognized Ev Nau as recipient of the Dave LaBar Award for emcees. Steve gave the Joe Liles Lifetime achievement Award to Ray Danley, first gold medal director of a Canadian chorus.

When the chorus results were about to be announced, most Harmonizers gathered in the section where we were assigned to sit so we could support each other as the results were announced. We waited patiently for Westminster, last year’s champs to sing. Then the contest officials started the countdown. Fifth place and we erupted with cheers.

YeEd was proud to see our guys stand and cheer and face the area where the Masters of Harmony, 2011 chorus champs, were seated.

Our gang rushed back for the medal ceremony (our chapter was given the supply of medals immediately after the results were released). Everyone tried to get some dinner and found the Harmo Hideaway, which Steve and Lise Lingo managed. The hospitality room had been open often and long all during the week. Steve thanked Drew Fuller and Thom Faircloth for helping with shopping, Clark Chesser and Clyde Crusenberry for volunteering to cover one nite. Lise was the housemother, though, and the guys all say thanks.

Friday nite, the hideaway was moved to a ballroom so everyone could celebrate. Many guys helped with that move. The highlight of the nite was the “balloon tags” which Steve organized. He salvaged the helium-filled balloons from the Togetherness breakfast. Tag singers inhaled the helium and sang some high pitched tags. It was really funny and guys were literally rolling on the floor, they laughed so much.

One of our members, Ron Rich, was recognized as a new 50th year member of the BHS. He joined our chapter in 1962. He was in our front row once upon a time and was a dedicated tag singer. Another member, Darryl Flinn, was named judge emeritus by the BHS contest and judging community.

Saturday before the finals quartet round, there was a chorus of fathers/sons/grandsons. We had several of our folks on the riser for that: Ray and Scott Kahler; Alan Wile and his grandson Thomas who sings in CAPITOL FORCE; Chuck Hunter and his dad, Chuck; and Jay Butterfield and his dad, Gene.

Two of our guys, Edris Qarghah and Bert Phillips, even were captured by the media and found themselves in a video clip, which has found its way to Facebook fame!

It is amazing how many Harmonizers come to convention. Here is YeEd’s attempt to list all the others not mentioned above in this article. (Thanks to Dixie Kennett, our attendance taker all week, for keeping a list). YeEd lists current and/or former Harmonizers in this list: Ross Johnson, Martin Banks, Bob Hirsh, Tom Gannon, Joe Wagovich, Lew Klinge, Jack Pitzer, John Rettenmayer, Joe Kane, Jim Lucey, Jim Shoenhard, Bill Sowers, Norm Richards, Bill Ward, Larry Shelton, Ron Dionne, JT Price, Rich Garodnick, Will Winder and Ed Allen. If we missed anyone, it would be fun to hear about it.

As is Harmonizer tradition, there was a major administrative team that worked for months behind the scenes to organize our chapter appearance in the contest. Carl Kauffmann was committee chair and he started a year ago with his trip to Kansas City along with other chorus reps. Carl put together a coordinated rehearsal schedule for the eight choruses staying at the Hyatt, including the foreign affiliate representatives from New Zealand and Great Britain. Mike Schwartz was housing chair. Bob Rhome coordinated registrations. Keith Jones managed the myriad details of the contest day Togetherness Breakfast. Bob Blair managed a lot of logistics including taking care of the props as we moved to and from the different rehearsal rooms and the Sprint Center. Jack Cameron is handling the ordering and distribution of chorus photographs. A very useful handbook was prepared by Dixie to help every guy know what to expect, when to be places, what to bring, where to eat, when our quartet friends would sing, and more. And when it comes to food, the Harmonizer gang didn’t miss the chance for some great BBQ and a big Kansas City steak.

YeEd will report that several members of the Harmo family were injured or got sick in Kansas City. Jim Lucey’s wife, Ruthanne, broke her hip (she is on the mend and they will stay in Kansas City for a week or so for therapy after a successful operation). Thom Faircloth fell and badly scraped his knees. Vince Cazenas fell and cut his arm and needed stitches. Craig Kujawa fell in the auditorium and smashed a finger. Carol Dangel stumbled getting down the ramp of the airplane. John Hohl had a mild ankle sprain. And who can count all the colds and coughs and congestion attacks.

On Monday night, July 11th, Howard and Drew returned with the rental truck to the Lee Center back in Alexandria for transfer of equipment back to the Harmo truck. Again there was a contingent of dedicated Harmonizers on hand to do the transfer and off-load luggage for transport to the Harmo house.

Even with all the success and accomplishment by Harmonizers, there is no time to rest and celebrate. We are already at work on our next show, our future plans to go to China and our new music for future audiences.

There is no doubt, “It’s Great To Be A Harmonizer!”

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 of the great things going on with the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the July 12th Chapter Meeting

The Harmonizers continued a long-standing tradition of singing at Alexandria INOVA Hospital on the Tuesday after International.

It began when chapter leaders realized many guys were not back from the convention and/or had to tend to other person matters – or maybe just rest up.

About 25 guys made it this year to the Seminary Road facility and warmed up with Will Cox in the hospital lobby. There were adequate singers for all four parts and Director Joe and his assistant directors took the chorus from ward to ward with the aid of a hospital host. Joe chose several songs from the repertoire to sing to patients and staff. The hospital also provided free parking for the Harmonizers.

It was really hot – over 100 degrees – so the show producers allowed shorts. Most guys had some kinda Harmo shirt. The gig lasted about 1 hour.

YeEd is working on his report from International, so stay tuned.

Also YeEd reports that our friends in the Harmony Heritage Singers Chorus of the Mount Vernon, VA, Chapter celebrated their 15th anniversary recently. They met at the Sherwood Hall Regional Library. The chorus sang, as did several of their quartets.

Chapter leader, Mike Everard, inducted the new members who have joined the chapter this year.

Associate director, Chris Buechler, was at the helm for the meeting. Director Bob Wachter was there for the cake cutting ceremony.

Congrats to our brothers in HHS.

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the June 30th Extra Rehearsal

We had our only special pre-International rehearsal at the school next door to Durant on Thursday eve. Almost all of the 99 contest chorus members were there – as is tradition, we probably won’t have all 99 until mid-contest-week. (The price we pay for having so many government and military guys who travel all over the world for their jobs.)

Director Joe Cerutti was ready to take over after Tony Colosimo got the singers voices warmed up and ready. The set-up crew had to bring in the risers and props from Cameron Street (with the Harmo van out in the street while it was unloaded) since those were the only doors things could come thru.

But we started on time and Joe worked hard. He revisited the ballad and then launched a push on the uptune. He used the same techniques from Tuesday nite to help the guys go beyond just good or great: sometimes he had them just stand and sing, and then he had them go back to total performance. He had his section leaders for basses and leads to take their guys out for some touch up – and it made a huge change.

The hall was full of guests who wanted to see our package and won’t get to the convention. A big crowd of the guys from Mount Vernon Harmony Heritage Singers were with us. Bill Clark and his two young sons came down from NJ (and for the boys to see Chris on the front row). Jay Butterfield’s sister and her family came in to see us too.

Geri Geis was on hand to help with the polish and of course, her partner Royall, was on hand to lead the cheering section.

At break we had lemonade and some snacks left from the recent show. Ellen Dellert brought chocolate donuts for all to enjoy.

Admin work continued: uniform part swaps and make up kits – thanks to Tom Kern; Scott Kahler and Steve Lingo gave details on how guys could get luggage onto the truck we are driving out to KC; Steve also gathered up coolers guys brought in so he could put them on the truck – they will be used to keep drinks and snacks cold in the Harmo Hideaway at the Hyatt all week; Brian Ammerman launched brief details about the Sept. 24th fall show.

Reminders for all: review the convention handbook for details about uniform parts, especially casual uniform, as well as to have a handle on the Harmonizer schedule as it fits around the convention schedule. Also a suggestion to go to the convention headquarters hotel, the Marriott, on Tuesday to pick up a name tag and holder to wear, plus to get a printed program which you will want all week. That is a good time to check out the Harmony Marketplace for CDs, clothes and often some good sales! Plus that is where you would get tickets for other events during the week. Might be a good time to try out the shuttle bus service from our hotel to the headquarters hotel and to the contest site.

Don’t forget to bring a pen to jot notes – and see how close you can come to picking the quartet winner.

Be sure to bring some other Harmo clothing to wear during the week. About 30 guys got in on the huge order of shirts that Chris Buechler made after our retreat and distributed one Tuesday nite recently.

YeEd got a great note from Victor Hills after his first day of hard training at West Point. He is hanging in there and looks forward to hearing good news about the convention. As soon as things calm down for him at school, he plans to audition for the glee club.

Congrats to former director, Scott Werner, for his 49-year membership renewal recently.

YeEd has more follow up from the East Coast Harmony Show. Thanks to Mike Kelly for his work on a video shot at the show. Mike Everard is another name we left out of our coverage of that event.

Great to have DA CAPO sing for us last Tuesday as a preview of their shot in KCMO. We will all be there to cheer and applaud. Good luck to Ryan, Tony, Joe C and Wayne!!

Thanks to new Echo editor Clark Chesser for taking on the task. He just published his second edition online. He has invited a crew of folks to help him with reviewing the copy since he is a brand new Harmonizer.

Well – it feels like the Harmonizers are ready for a week of fun and further expansion of their performance during the chorus contest on Friday, July 8th.

See you there. And if you are a former member and plan to attend the convention, be sure to come by the Hyatt and see us. If you won’t be in MO, check into watching the contest on the Internet. Go to the Society website.

Keep an eye on your email box, as we continue to organize luggage details and sharing rides from the airport to the hotel.

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the June 28th Chapter Meeting

This week’s rehearsal was one of the best sessions ever! After a fantastic warm up conducted by Will Cox, which got the guys ready to work and excited, Director Joe took over and he was prepared (as he is every week!). His lessons plan was clear to the chorus and it ran smoothly.

Joe teased the chorus with potential great news or really great news – which to share first? Potential news – the AC was due to remain on all evening! Hurray. It did actually go off about 10:15.

Good news – the Harmonizers will appear on the “America Sings” show – likely July 13th at 9 pm on the Gospel Music Channel. Stay tuned for details. Many other barbershop groups will appear as well.

Joe expressed appreciation to Brad Jones for his leadership for the East Coast Harmony show. And Joe thanked Tony Colosimo for helping with the director duties while Joe was working with his Sweet Adeline chorus. (YeEd will add some details about the ECH further in this week’s Looking Back column.)

Joe conducted a huge “SIGH” for the chorus to put aside the months of hard work on the major performances we have had already this year. Now we can concentrate on contest preparation.

And Joe and his music team, including Geri Geis, worked hard until break.

Chapter vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted this week’s chapter meeting session. He led a moment of silence – so you could hear the AC unit!!

Chapter secretary, Chris Buechler, presented membership renewal cards to the following: Jay Butterfield for 38 years; Don Dillingham for 2 years; Will Mudd Simmons for 5 years; Tony Colosimo for 18 years; Ken Rub for 20 years. Bill Colosimo was given his 35 year renewal card and a 35-year pin.

K12 did a bandana check for the Class of 2011!

Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced guests including Ian Poulin’s parents and their family friends. It was great to see some other Harmonizer friends in the hall this week – Martin Banks, Geoff Bermen, and Al Hanenbaum. Dick Hall reports that Carolyn is home now and doing her therapy each day to mend the broken leg.

Guys got a break and enjoyed the goodies which included orange slices and grapes which Dean Rust had brought from this past weekend (goodies for the performers). He even bagged them so guys could grab a supply and move along.

After break, the meeting continued. As is normal the week before International convention, there were a bunch of announcements.

There is a mandatory rehearsal on Thursday evening at the school next to Durant. We need a riser crew to unload props and risers for that location.

Also there is a need for a work crew to transfer things we need in Kansas City from the Harmo van to a larger rental truck (that has working AC!!). Watch for detail emails. Bob Blair is heading up this project. “And you ain’t seen nothin, til you see how he can squeeze a full load of our props and stuff into a truck!”

Related to this is an offer from chapter leaders to allow members to put a bag on the truck, subject to left over space. $10 a bag. Details also to come out via email. Fees will help cover rental cost of the truck for the chapter, and save the member from paying airline baggage fees. (Thanks for the idea, Scott Kahler.)

Music vp, Terry Reynolds, suggested everyone review the convention week schedule now, so they know when we are having our extra rehearsals out there in MO. He reminded all of the singers of Joe’s plea for guys to work on their own so when they get on the risers, it is “Joe’s time.”

Terry also stressed the uniform code of patent leather shoes for the stage.

President Steven Murane presented cash support to Kellen Hertz, Dan O’Brien and DA CAPO guys, Ryan, Tony, Joe S and Wayne, so they can all attend Harmony University in MO later in the summer. Kellen and Dan will attend classes as individuals and the others will be a quartet enrolled in classes. The chapter has budgeted scholarships like this over the years and we have benefitted from the many men who have attended this intense, week-long, barbershop school. YeEd hopes those guys will write up a little something when they get back to share with us.

Quartet promotion chair, Eric Wallen, recognized DA CAPO also as one of the four representatives in the quartet contest at International from our Mid Atlantic District. And of course we are darn proud that all of them are from our chapter. The other quartets are OLD SCHOOL, FRANK THE DOG and ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT.

Then back to singing. As it turned out, we worked the whole nite on the ballad. And what progress – wonderful softs, word emphasis, theater performances by every man, hi energy entertainment.

Joe had a meeting with the basses about some spots and Tony worked with the guys on the risers. When the basses returned, Tony directed so Joe could coach. Joe also asked the section leaders to stand out front to check on some points he was working on. Team work at its best!

At the end of the nite, Joe thanked the guys for the tons of hours and hard work and willingness to “stand there and take it” week after week. He was grateful for each guy – we are the third largest chorus in the contest this summer at 99. Masters of Harmony from CA have like 120 and Denver has just over 100.

Just like clockwork, the AC went off and our guys jumped in and took things down and put things away.

After KTWWS directed by Jay Butterfield, many guys headed over to the Hilton for a relaxing afterglow. As is often the case, a few of the guys had to jump up and run from the afterglow to catch the Metro into the city.

Reminder – if you offered the use of a cooler for the Harmo Hideway (hospitality room at International where our “family” hangs out), bring it on Thurs. nite to the rehearsal so it can go on the truck.

And here is more follow up for the East Coast Harmony show. Brad thanked several folks which YeEd did not include in his report on Monday: Joe Cerutti and Scott Kahler for sponsoring and hosting the emcee for the show; Ken White as afterglow emcee; Catherine Colosimo for developing the show flyer; Steve Lingo for Facebook promotion; the riser crews and script writing crews, and Sam McFarland for hosting CAPRI. Brad also reported that Ken Fess has purchased the huge American flag for our chapter to use on shows like was used during “Stars and Stripes” on Sunday. A huge audience pleaser. Thanks Ken.

YeEd learned last nite that Bruce and Connie Lauther hosted 14 friends from the Carnegie Hall event who came to see our show this past weekend. Mike Shirota and folks from the New York City Japan Choral Harmony group rented a bus to come down to see us all again. They wrote glowing reports about the show to Bruce.

YeEd also missed a few names of folks who were in the audience for the show – Bob Caldwell and John and Sara Thompson.

Our chorus fans were sending news from all around the world – we got the traditional “break a leg “message from Rick Wagner, now deployed as a contractor in Afghanistan.; and a note from Chuck Hunter in Syria wishing he could be here in person to hear the great singing.

Just a sneak preview—here are the Harmonizer quartets who have qualified to sing in the MAD fall contest in Lancaster:

DOWTOWN (Frank Fedarko, Arthur Louis, Drew Fuller)
MAD HATTERS (Steve White, Rick Taylor)
MAYHEM (Kenny White, Mike Pinto)
ROLL O’ THE DICE (Bill Colosimo)
YOUTH RECLAMATION PROEJCT (Mike Wallen)

TOUCHSTONE (Steve White) are the outgoing 2011 District Champs

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 of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)