Looking Back on the April 16^th Chapter Meeting

This week’s meeting and rehearsal was at First Baptist Church on King Street.  We intended to do another recording session, but there was a mix up and so we used the nite for continued work on the ballad and uptune for contest.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups.  Director Joe Cerutti with help from his music team worked a lot of points for both songs – making some reminders, pleading for guys to do “homework” from Wed – Mon, strengthening efforts for unit sound and getting the chorus all onboard for the latest interp of the ballad.  Of course there was much effort also in adopting the “craft maxims” as we did our vocal work.

 

Part of the nite was used to finish the stage presence for the tag on “Anything Goes” as well as work with our choreographer Carlos Barillo on the package.  The front row worked in another part of the church on their exciting plan for the song.

 

We did make a recording using Joe’s phone of both songs for the arrangers – so they could hear how we have progressed using their material.  And we did a shout-out to each of them – Kevin Keller for the uptune, and Steve Delehanty for the ballad.

 

We also used time for individual tapings for self improvement and for the vocal evaluators to listen to more guys “live” on the two songs.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the weekly chapter meeting.  When Joe started the nite, he welcomed back Rick Wagner who was out for heath issues recently, Lew Klinge who was in SE Asia on a tour, and Edris Qarghah who we have not seen for a while on the risers.

 

President Alan Wile spoke about the need for three or four more guys to help with the southern division contest operation April 26-27.  The jobs are in registration and in door monitors.  Volunteers should email Chuck Harner, our chairman, at CACHUCK@cox.net.

 

Alan also alerted us to a one-day event called Spring to Action that is a fundraiser for the chapter – online.  Community service vp Clyde Crusenberry will send out an email reminder to all on how to participate.

 

Bob reported the successful result for Erin Odell, Craig’s daughter and Dan Cook’s wife, at the recent Sweet Adeline regional contest.  Her chorus won, her quartet SHADES OF GREEN was first, and she was named winner of the Novice Director award.

 

Nick Leiserson is leading a task force  seeking feedback and input on how to rekindle the Singing Valentine operation for 2014.  There will be opportunities to offer input to a task force before the chapter meeting on April 30^th and at the studio event on May 4^th.

 

Randall Eliason offered again to get a block of tickets for the baseball game while we are in Toronto.  Speak with him in the next couple weeks if you are interested.

 

Other announcements included a call for coolers for the contest weekend in Reston, reminder to buy scrip for use in paying hotel bills in Toronto, and vocal studios are this weekend.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer with Ken White introduced the guests this week – a couple former members Jim Gammon and Bill Teale; some tourists from other chapters, and applicant Lou Bergner.

 

At the end of the meeting, president Wile announced that the May 18^th show at Lincoln Theater has been cancelled until next spring.

 

We cleaned up the church meeting space and departed just after 10.  And a good crowd made it over to the afterglow.

 

In other news, Dick Dangel, Joel Golden and Drew Fuller along with Ray Hastings, one of their fellow Atlantic Harmony Brigade pals, did a quartet gig promoting the barbershop style at the 27^th Annual Centenarian Salute hosted by Mayor Vincent Gray and DC office on Aging. They report “it was fun serenading all these very senior citizens. The oldest one was about 110.”

 

AND – there are 26 Harmonizers singing in division contest quartets April 26^th in Reston.  The number in the list below is their singing order; names are in order of tenor, lead, bari, bass; and Harmonizer names in boldface.

 

2. MIND CONDITION – Bob Rodriguez Jr., Kevin McKenzie, Drew Fuller, Arthur Louis

13. THE ESTABLISHMENT – John Reece, Bill Colosimo, Joe Cerutti, Dean Martin

17. MAYHEM – Matt Fellows, Neil Dingle, Mike Pinto, Ken White

18. SURPRISE! –  JC O’Donovan, John Grant, Bob Hirsh, Bruce Minnick (Seniors Contest)

21. SOUVENIR – Carl Kauffmann, Brad Jones, Drew Fuller, Roger Day (Seniors contest)

25. BLARNEY BROTHERS – Pappy DeVoe, Mike Calhoun, Ron Davidson, Tom Pearce (Seniors Contest)

26. YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT – Hardman Jones, Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Vic Owen (Seniors Contest)

28. ACME CHORD COMPANY – Dan O’Brien, Chris Susalka, Paul Grimes, Chris Yates

29. THE MONORAIL FOUR – Kellen Hertz, Phil Ferguson, Bobby Seay VI, Andrew Havens

31. GOOD GUYS – Jim Lake, Frank Fedarko, Joel Golden, Don Dillingham

32. HANDSOME REWARD – Mike Sengco, Mike Edison, Vince Lynch, Mike Gilmore

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 during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the April 9^th Chapter Meeting

This week’s meeting and rehearsal was another hard-work session.  As is the case this time of year, the front row was working hard in the lobby with choreographer Carlos Barillo and other guys were on the stage working with riser coach Chuck McKeever.

 

When the bell sounded to get us on the risers, the AV team played a gold medal song by the BLUEGRASS STUDENT UNION. 

 

The FRIENDS IN HARMONY were there too and left for their meeting at a nearby restaurant.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo conducted the weekly vocal warm ups and then yielded the chorus to director Joe Cerutti who followed up on Tony’s class and stressed multi-dimension singing and proclaimed it was the new thrust for the Harmonizer development.  (Thanks to coach Tony DeRosa’s recent weekend coaching session.)

 

Before we got too far, assistant director Terry Reynolds made a few tweaks on the riser placements – mostly putting some visual team as end men on some rows, relocating some guys on the back row, and posted some guys who will have extra duties on stage during the uptune nearer the end of the risers.  He also helped the newer members and Special Forces guys find their spots.

 

Tony also conducted a barbershop craft session so that we could also use the craft maxims during our rehearsal.

 

We started working on the uptune and at one point, Carlos taught us a couple adjustments to the plan and then began work on the tag of the uptune.

 

Before break we took time for guys to make self-eval tapes and for guys to sing ‘live” for their vocal evaluators. Randall Eliason, faces coach, was out front helping us come alive on the face and with the eyes.

 

Before the meeting period conducted by Bob Rhome, quartet promo chair Calvin Schnure introduced ACME CHORD COMPANY to sing for us.  The quartet will compete at the International prelims contest at Seneca Land district (since they were unable to attend the contest in our own district,) Quartet is Dan O’Brien, Chris Susalka, Paul Grimes and Chris Yates.

 

Roger Day was in the house and invited all to stop by the sales table to order one of the 2013 Toronto polo shirts he had developed for us to wear.  He will be at the meetings the next few weeks.  The shirts will be $40 to be paid on delivery.

 

Randall announced that he is getting a block of tickets for the Blue Jays baseball game in Toronto while we are there.  See him if you want one of the $45 tickets. This price level will let you sing the National Anthems at the game.

 

President Alan Wile sought and got three or four volunteers to help with stage set up for the Southern/Western division contest which our chapter is hosting in Reston over the weekend of April 26-27.  Chuck Harner is our chairman for that event and has several team leaders who will also be seeking help for that weekend.

 

Alan also reminded us that RINGMASTERS quartet (2012 Intl. champs) will be on the TODAY show on Thursday in honor of the BHS 75^th anniversary. 

 

And Alan reports that Rick Wagner is still under doctor care but feeling good.

 

There will be a board meeting on Wed. nite at Durant.

 

And everyone was reminded that there will be a recording session next Tues at First Baptist Church on King Street.  However, Joe noted that we will work a lot on the contest songs that nite too. So don’t miss it.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented a Man of Note Award to Carlos Barillo for bringing new member Mike Ibay, who received his new-member packet.

 

Mike Kelly promoted attendance at Harmony College East – a weekend school that is a great way for new barbershoppers to get a short-course on the art form, meet lots of other singers and grow personally in musical skills.  Details to register and sign up for classes are on the district website – www.harmonize.com/mad/

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer with help from Ken White introduced a group of guests with us this week.

 

By way of instruction, all those who brought their black suit coats in were asked to meet with the FRIENDS team of seamstresses by the stage during the break.

 

After coffee break, we worked a lot on the ballad, plus reviewed “Drunken Sailor” and “Great Day” which we will be using for the recording session next week. During the break the usual sales efforts were conducted to sell scrip cards, 50/50 tickets, and to make deposits for France.

 

We worked hard then right up til the last minute before we had to put everything away. No one seemed to have the winning 50/50 ticket, so the cash will go into the pot for next week.  A big crowd came to the afterglow this week at LaPortas at 1600 King Street.

 

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 during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the April 2^nd Chapter Meeting

Guys came prepared to work and perform this week.  Many had submitted vocal self-eval forms and were on the list to sing live for their evaluator. The set up crew worked hard to have the hall ready for work too including the new area behind the risers with printer and office materials for the Music and Performance Committee.

 

The many sales operations were in place too especially the scrip sales by Ian Poulin for guys to make deposits for Toronto hotel; 50/50 by Dick and Carolyn Hall; and deposits for the France trip to Mick Stamps.

 

As we were all arriving, news came from Peggy that Rick Wagner had suffered a heart incident and was getting care in the hospital.  Waiting for an update at the end of the meeting.

 

Another big crowd of guys were on the stage working hard to learn the nuances of the stage moves for the contest uptune with Chuck McKeever.  Chuck has stressed with all singers to use the visual self-eval forms along with the videos he has posted online already and submit them right away.  That will prompt our visual evaluators to get us passed or to give us feedback.

 

The current visual team starts with director Joe Cerutti at the head, along with choreographer Carlos Barillo. Chuck McKeever is head riser coach and instructor; TJ Jones and Keith Jones are assistant riser coaches. Craig Kujawa is front row coach and Randall Eliason is”faces” coach.

 

Row Leaders and our visual evaluators are

Bob Blair – stage left, row 2

Nick Leiserson – stage left, row 3

Ian Poulin – stage left, row 4

Troy Hillier – stage left, row 5

Chuck Powell – stage right, row 2

TJ Donahue – stage right, row 3

Carl Kauffmann – stage right, row 4

Don Thompson – stage right, row 5

 

The call-to-the-risers music played by our AV team was the Dallas, TX, Vocal Majority singing their gold-medal performance of  “Runnin’ Wild.” Associate director Tony Colosimo conducted the vocal warm ups for the evening before turning the chorus over to Joe. We went right to work on the ballad and the many changes in the interp (using the very thorough 1-page charts with breath points, anti-breath points, melody reminders, volume plans all on a word structure that is part-related).  We also had 20-minute sectionals to tighten up unit work on the ballad.

 

We have another recording session on the upcoming calendar and Joe had us working on “Drunken Sailor” to show each singer the spots that need homework in order to make a good cut for the recording.

 

Just before break, we were did several runs of the ballad for self-recording and/or for live evals.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conduced the weekly chapter meeting.  President Alan Wile read a brief note from Ross Felker who has been reassigned to Germany. And then Alan read the proclamation of Barbershop Harmony Week in Alexandria as released by the Mayor of Alexandria and the City Council.  The document also saluted the chapter for its 65^th anniversary year and the BHS for its 75^th.

 

Ian Poulin distributed Toronto hotel scrip cards to many members who had made purchases last week.

 

Assistant director Terry Reynolds reminded all singers to confirm their availability for vocal studios coming up soon on the calendar.

 

Also the chorus is supposed to bring in the black suit coat next week.  Be sure to mark it with your name. YeEd senses there is something afoot for our contest uniform in Toronto!

 

TJ Donahue is looking for guys with carpenter skills – also for the visual plan in Toronto.  Contact him right away if you can help.

 

Ike Evans was available at break this week to take replacement mug shots for the member photo board that is up each week at Durant for all to see.  This also includes photos of new guys.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler encouraged any member who got special registration coupons when they joined in the last year or so to be sure and use them this year, as that program will be discontinued by the BHS.   

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer and Ken White introduced the guests including applicants and regulars with us this week.

 

Southern/Western Division contest and convention chairman for our chapter, Chuck Harner, is seeking three helpers for the stage and set up crew on the early morning time slot of Friday, April 26^th  at the Reston Hyatt.  You will be working with Bob Blair.  Please volunteer to Chuck or Bob.

 

After coffee break, Tony held a barbershop craft session with emphasis on two craft maxims – Awesome Breath = Awesome Tone, and Small in Front – Tall in Back.

 

Then for the second time in the nite, the chorus was placed in new singing positions on the risers.  This time we tried singing the uptune intro with the first lineup, and when we switched to the second lineup, you could see the smiles come across the faces of Joe, Tony, Chuck and Terry who were out front.  So that is settled – with Terry making a specific chart and adding in the other names of guys who were not with us this week such as the Special Forces singers.

 

Then, with time short, the visual team asked us to perform the uptune for the cameras.  No one fell or stumbled and most seemed to have adjusted to doing the placements even if they were on a new row or side.  (Gotta have helped to have been well trained early on.)

 

Joe then had us sing “Great Day” as a prep or reminder that it will be sung at the next recording session.  And after that we worked on singing and performing “That’s Amore” since we will be using it in the months ahead for shows. It was first for many of the new members but went well.

 

We worked all the rest of the nite on the package and then closed the meeting with KTWWS directed by Ken White who won the 50/50 (a lot of guys bought tickets this week, so he won a nice amount and the chapter received a nice amount to be contributed to the M-AD Endowment Fund.

 

After the equipment was put away, a good crew made it to the new, fun and relaxing afterglow location – LaPortas at 1600 Duke St.  Everyone is invited. Come join in the fun.  The food is good, the prices are decent, there is space to sing tags if you like, and there is easy free parking.  It is also an easy walk to the King St. Metro.

 

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 during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Mar. 26^th Chapter Meeting

Everyone came to chapter meeting this week ready to work, knowing full-well that after the coaching session with Tony DeRosa on Saturday, we had lots to review and relearn.

 

Meanwhile the usual cast of characters were busy with set up of the hall, practice on stage with Chuck McKeever for uptune stage moves, front row drill in the lobby, and a typical array of business matters to be taken care of.  The new book Visions of Excellence edited by our director Joe Cerutti was available for $20 (it will be sold again next week while the supply lasts).  

 

Assistant director Will Cox did the vocal warm ups, and then director Joe gave a brief recap of the weekend (he is still laughing after the fun he had with Tony D on Saturday!).  Joe also introduced the four section leaders and then introduced the visual row leaders.  And he also announced a new visual team member, Randall Eliason, who will be the “face guy” for the chorus.  So Randall will be out front a lot, working to improve facial expression.  He announced a new craft maxim – “Your Face Matters!”

 

Before we really got to sing, assistant director Terry Reynolds called off the exact new riser positions for the guys and so we got up onto the risers.  This realignment is a result of the weekend coaching session too.

 

Then we went to work on the uptune with changes and with visual drills. We worked a long slot of time on it with input from Carlos Barillo and Chuck McKeever.  Then before break, took time for guys to record or make live evaluations for listeners.

 

Bob Blair was filling in for operations vp Bob Rhome and conducted the weekly chapter meeting.  He alerted all that Ike Evans is set up to redo and/or take mug shots of anyone whose picture is not on the wall board display.  He said “if you Mother would not recognize you in those pictures, get a new one taken tonite.”

 

Ian Poulin is eager to complete sale of scrip for the Toronto hotel costs. Note that he will not be with us in May!!

 

Mick Stamps and Ken Fess are also eager to collect the latest payments needed for the Normandy trip.

 

Shows vp Ken Rub confirmed the date change for the show and a cappella contest to May 18, 2013.  He recently signed the contract to hold the event at Lincoln Theater on U Street.  The contest has a $2000 cash prize for the best group.  He is interested in our input for possible candidates for the competition that will run from 8-10:30 pm.  There will be an afterglow too.

 

Terry Reynolds asked us all to sign up for the vocal studios on the clip boards he posted on the table behind the risers.  Visual studio sign up should be done on the Groupanizer site.  He also suggested we start getting a recording made of the ballad and submitting it. And finally, the video recordings for our private review will continue.

 

Chuck Harner, chairman of the chapter’s host committee for the Southern Division contest and convention, spoke about the need for volunteers.  Jobs needed are not hard nor time consuming.  Most are needed just Friday nite April 26 and/or Saturday April 27 in Reston. Typical tasks are being runners for quartets or choruses en route to the stage; passing out programs at the auditorium door and keeping the doors closed; set up and take down of the stage drapes and risers and auditorium set up.  There are shifts too, so you can get a break.  Sign up right away and join in the fun.  When we have done this before, a lot of guys helped and got to know each other better and met other barbershoppers.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented a new member kit to Josh DesPortes and a Man of Note pin for Dave DesPortes for bringing his son into the chapter.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer welcomed guests who were in town for the Cherry Blossoms and found us via the “Things To Do In Alexandria” brochure.  There were also two applicants with us.

 

During the break, YeEd heard that ACME CHORD COMPANY will be singing out-of-district in Seneca Land April 12.  Good luck guys.

 

YeEd also spoke with Don Harrington about his temporary assignment with USAID for the next few months.  He and his wife will be posted there and will miss the trip to Toronto.  He is planning to be back for the France trip.  Be safe over there, Don.

 

The second half of the nite we reviewed and worked hard to bring the ballad back up together with changes, new interp, revisions even from Saturday and a special session on getting the tag to work as planned, with help from Chuck Hunter.

 

We put things all away and some guys went over to the LaPortas for the afterglow.

 

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 during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Mar. 23^rd Coaching Session with Tony DeRosa     

 The chorus worked really hard on Saturday, March 23^rd from 9-5 at our regular meeting place with coach Tony DeRosa and director Joe Cerutti.  For sure we got in a lot of good laughs with Tony teasing Joe and all of us too.

 

But the hard work left us with an awesome interp and execution plan for the ballad and many improvements for the uptune.  It was just what Joe and his music team wanted to happen. And the chorus singers liked getting to drill it and get it first-hand.

 

The day started early with all the guys helping set up and get the room ready.  Ellen Dellert had brought donuts and goodies to go with the coffee – thanks.  Chuck McKeever’s visual team was sporting new t-shirts with “leave no point behind” in bold letters as a reminder for all.

 

Great to welcome long-distance singers with us as Special Forces guys for this special session – Bob Wilson, Mike Geipel, Dan Cook and Mike Wallen from the Richmond area, Dave Ellis from Denver and Kevin McKenzie from Cumberland, MD.  Mike Everard was present to cheer and keep an eye on us along with some fellas from the Harmony Heritage Singers. During the day various family members stopped in, and during the long lunch break, Peggy Wagner brought two yummy birthday cakes for all to enjoy in celebration of Rick’s birthday.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo started off the singing at 9am with important warm ups before turning the chorus over to Joe and Tony D.

 

We basically worked on the uptune all morning until the release for lunch.  Many guys formed car pools and went off-campus for chow.

 

After lunch it was back to work.  Assistant director Will Cox did the afternoon warm ups.  And then Joe and Tony D. worked on the ballad. One good point Tony D. made – “when passion and precision meet – artistry and excellence happens!”

 

During the day, there was a good bit of teasing of assistant director Terry Reynolds by Tony D. each time Terry stepped up to change events or announce some new aspect of the work times!  Those included a major shift in riser positions after luncheon-talk by the team.  And it also included times for vocal assessment listeners to do their thing for some guys who were ready.

 

Terry also stressed the plan for the vocal studios and the visual studios.  Both are designed to bring a small segment of the chorus together with musical or visual leaders who can help them with interp and execution.  Terry asks all members to be prepared on Tues. March 26^th to sign up for one of the vocal studios that will all be at Durant: Wed. April 17 at 7-8:30pm or at 8:30-10pm; Sun. April 21 at 1-2pm or 2:30-4pm or 4:30-6pm; or Mon. April 29 at 7-8:30pm or 8:30-10pm. The visual studios will be Saturday, May 4^th at Durant and parts of each row will be assigned specific times. Stay tuned.

 

Thanks to the AV team who had sound equipment working and to Sam McFarland and others who helped record notes and points made by our coach and director.

Other announcements for all – the Youth In Harmony festival scheduled for April 6^th has been canceled since not enough students could attend.  Also the April 20^th show at Lincoln Theater has been rescheduled to Saturday May 18^th.

 

We ended a little early and Tony D. took us out with KTWWS.  All the guys got the hall back in shape  and a bunch of quartets were singing tags and even some registered quartets were using the extra half hour to work on songs for Southern Division, YeEd is guessing.  Some guys were talking about attending the Fairfax Chapter show Saturday nite featuring DA CAPO.

 

For sure there is a ton of individual work needed before next Tuesday!  But we made huge progress this weekend. Thanks to all who were 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 of the great things going on each week during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)