Looking Back on the March 25^th Chapter Meeting

It was a busy nite for the Harmonizers as we roll forward from the A CA CHALLENGE to the next shows and concerts.  There were a lot of important announcements, especially regarding the trip to France.

Chuck McKeever conducted a visual review on the stage at 6. A big crew of guys got the room ready for singing, coffee break and seating for the guests.

When the gong sounded at 7, we heard music by the Bowling Green OH University chorus.  Assistant director Will Cox did the vocal warm ups.

When director Joe Cerutti took over, he started with thanks for the great CHALLENGE event and we all enjoyed hearing about the many standing ovations we earned. Many men on the risers shared fun stories from customers or family or from their own observations. 

Joe shared his excitement that David Wright is coming to coach us next Tuesday nite and particularly work with us on “Stars and Stripes” which is one of the songs we will sing with the Ambassadors on the June 21^st Crescendo Show.

Joe also announced that our friend and member Chuck Hunter, stationed in Turkey, has made plans to sing with us in France. In addition to Chuck, YeEd hears the following guys are planning to sing with us: Jay Butterfield, Bob Eckman, Jim Gammon, Don Johnson, Jim Kew, Alan Lamson, Jim Lucey, Jim McConnell, Dick Newton, Chuck Roots, John Santora, and Fr. Joe Witmer.

We worked hard on more songs for Normandy and we listened to a message from Gen. Dwight Eisenhower that he sent to all of his troops. This is part of the effort by chapter leaders to help us prepare mentally for our important mission in honor of WWII heroes.

Next, choreographer Carlos Barillo introduced his exciting visual plan for “Something About a Soldier” and the chorus grasped his plan and really was able to do it all from the start. 

Associate director Tony Colosimo conducted another important barbershop craft session for us.

Then operations vp Bob Blair began the chapter meeting for this week.  As promised, he presented the “Oops I Forgot My Nametag” large nametag to Rick Wagner.  Beware next week.

Creator of the A CA CHALENGE, Ken Rub, thanked all the many helpers personally (as reported in the previous Looking Back column).

Shows vp Nick Leiserson announced many details about shows coming up such as Crescendo,  June 21^st. He announced that Steve Murane is handling consignment ticket sales for that show.  Get Steve word how many tickets you want to get.  Reed Livergood is helping with the project of hosting the Ambassadors in our homes – we need many more families to offer to host. Shawn Tallant is coordinating the afterglow for that major show and is about to announce the location and details.

Ken Fess explained many details about the Normandy trip, and announced that Peter Hubbard is selling the shirts for those who want one for the trip and is helping with many other details. Ken is expecting immediate responses to emails in order to make the trip a success.

Brad Jones is coordinating the Youth Harmony Festival event on Saturday April 5^th for over 60 youth and several music teachers. We all need to help – especially to contribute cookies, snacks or goodies for the youth.  Bring these items on Tuesday April 1 or Friday nite April 4 when you come to help set up the tables and chairs and such for the event.  AND we sing on Saturday nite of the Festival.

Quartet promotion chairman Calvin Schnure encouraged quartet singers or prospective quartet singers to register for the Southern Division Contest in May in Roanoke. Calvin also offered to help guys find others to form a quartet.

Alan Wile spoke to the chorus about contributions to the Harmony Foundation, plus introduced a new Harmo item that is about to come on the market –  Harmo Logo cufflinks for $10.  The similar lapel pins are just $2.

Guys who need to update their mug shot photo on the board in the hall were asked to meet with Ike Evans at the break for a new shot.

President Terry Reynolds asked for good support for the Youth Festival, the May 17^th retreat in preparation for Normandy; and suggested that hard workers like Ken Rub are the reason why “It is Great to Be a Harmonizer!”

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Bob Griesemer for 3 years; Joel Golden for 9 years; Harold Weinberger for 20 years; and Bruce Minnick for 37 years.

Membership vp Jeremy Richardson with help from Rich Hewitt welcomed and introduced the many guests present this week.

After coffee break, it was back to work on the risers including a successful first-time-through “Deep River” and work right up til closing time on other songs.  We did a performance of three songs that will be performed as a package.

YeEd forgot last time to report on the M-AD House of Delegates meeting held Sunday, March 16^th as part of the Prelims weekend.  Our chapter president Terry Reynolds attended as our voting delegate. Terry Jordan reports to YeEd that he and a long list of other Harmonizers were also present including Bill Colosimo, Keith Jones, Bob Eckman, Alan Wile, Mike Kelly, John Santora, Chris Buechler, Gary Plaag and Sean Devine.

In other news, former member Mark Rodda's quartet ZERO HOUR earned a slot in the BHS contest in Vegas this summer to represent the Carolinas District.  Mark’s dad, Brian, was a front row Harmonizer for years and sang with the NOVA CHORDS quartet from our chapter who qualified to sing at International from 1967-78. Brian died some years ago, but his wife Ceil is an avid barbershop fan and lives in SC these days.  She was the first president of the chapter’s auxiliary group in 1966.

At that same contest, current member John Adams was in the first place seniors quartet, THE HARDLY BOYS.  He is a past president of our chapter and retired to NC. He sang with the NOVA CHORDS too and was tenor in REMINISCE  with Scott Werner, Alan Durick and Dick Whitehouse when they won the BHS Seniors Quartet gold medal in 1995.

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Did you see Dick Dangel and Drew Fuller on the evening news piece Monday nite about the District of Columbia annual celebration for Centenarians?  They were in a quartet POTOMAC RIVER RASCALS with Bob Scarlett and Wes Kriebel who are members of the Harmony Heritage Singers.  Dick has been doing this gig for several years with various pick-up quartets.  He reports that the quartet made a lot of folks happy strolling among the tables to serenade the honorees and did a couple songs from the stage.  Good job guys.

Many guys were wearing special t-shirts in support of our buddy Rick Wagner as he fights thru the radiation treatments.

Thanks to the guys who brought in goodies (such as boxes of Girl Scout cookies) for coffee break. Contributions are always welcome!

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

Looking Back on the April 1^st Chapter Meeting

It was a busy nite for the Harmonizers as we roll forward from the A CA CHALLENGE to the next shows and concerts.  There were a lot of important announcements, especially regarding the trip to France.

Chuck McKeever conducted a visual review on the stage at 6. A big crew of guys got the room ready for singing, coffee break and seating for the guests.

When the gong sounded at 7, we heard music by the Bowling Green OH University chorus.  Assistant director Will Cox did the vocal warm ups.

When director Joe Cerutti took over, he started with thanks for the great CHALLENGE event and we all enjoyed hearing about the many standing ovations we earned. Many men on the risers shared fun stories from customers or family or from their own observations. 

Joe shared his excitement that David Wright is coming to coach us next Tuesday nite and particularly work with us on “Stars and Stripes” which is one of the songs we will sing with the Ambassadors on the June 21^st Crescendo Show.

Joe also announced that our friend and member Chuck Hunter, stationed in Turkey, has made plans to sing with us in France. In addition to Chuck, YeEd hears the following guys are planning to sing with us: Jay Butterfield, Bob Eckman, Jim Gammon, Don Johnson, Jim Kew, Alan Lamson, Jim Lucey, Jim McConnell, Dick Newton, Chuck Roots, John Santora, and Fr. Joe Witmer.

We worked hard on more songs for Normandy and we listened to a message from Gen. Dwight Eisenhower that he sent to all of his troops. This is part of the effort by chapter leaders to help us prepare mentally for our important mission in honor of WWII heroes.

Next, choreographer Carlos Barillo introduced his exciting visual plan for “Something About a Soldier” and the chorus grasped his plan and really was able to do it all from the start. 

Associate director Tony Colosimo conducted another important barbershop craft session for us.

Then operations vp Bob Blair began the chapter meeting for this week.  As promised, he presented the “Oops I Forgot My Nametag” large nametag to Rick Wagner.  Beware next week.

Creator of the A CA CHALENGE, Ken Rub, thanked all the many helpers personally (as reported in the previous Looking Back column).

Shows vp Nick Leiserson announced many details about shows coming up such as Crescendo,  June 21^st. He announced that Steve Murane is handling consignment ticket sales for that show.  Get Steve word how many tickets you want to get.  Reed Livergood is helping with the project of hosting the Ambassadors in our homes – we need many more families to offer to host. Shawn Tallant is coordinating the afterglow for that major show and is about to announce the location and details.

Ken Fess explained many details about the Normandy trip, and announced that Peter Hubbard is selling the shirts for those who want one for the trip and is helping with many other details. Ken is expecting immediate responses to emails in order to make the trip a success.

Brad Jones is coordinating the Youth Harmony Festival event on Saturday April 5^th for over 60 youth and several music teachers. We all need to help – especially to contribute cookies, snacks or goodies for the youth.  Bring these items on Tuesday April 1 or Friday nite April 4 when you come to help set up the tables and chairs and such for the event.  AND we sing on Saturday nite of the Festival.

Quartet promotion chairman Calvin Schnure encouraged quartet singers or prospective quartet singers to register for the Southern Division Contest in May in Roanoke. Calvin also offered to help guys find others to form a quartet.

Alan Wile spoke to the chorus about contributions to the Harmony Foundation, plus introduced a new Harmo item that is about to come on the market –  Harmo Logo cufflinks for $10.  The similar lapel pins are just $2.

Guys who need to update their mug shot photo on the board in the hall were asked to meet with Ike Evans at the break for a new shot.

President Terry Reynolds asked for good support for the Youth Festival, the May 17^th retreat in preparation for Normandy; and suggested that hard workers like Ken Rub are the reason why “It is Great to Be a Harmonizer!”

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Bob Griesemer for 3 years; Joel Golden for 9 years; Harold Weinberger for 20 years; and Bruce Minnick for 37 years.

Membership vp Jeremy Richardson with help from Rich Hewitt welcomed and introduced the many guests present this week.

After coffee break, it was back to work on the risers including a successful first-time-through “Deep River” and work right up til closing time on other songs.  We did a performance of three songs that will be performed as a package.

YeEd forgot last time to report on the M-AD House of Delegates meeting held Sunday, March 16^th as part of the Prelims weekend.  Our chapter president Terry Reynolds attended as our voting delegate. Terry Jordan reports to YeEd that he and a long list of other Harmonizers were also present including Bill Colosimo, Keith Jones, Bob Eckman, Alan Wile, Mike Kelly, John Santora, Chris Buechler, Gary Plaag and Sean Devine.

In other news, former member Mark Rodda's quartet ZERO HOUR earned a slot in the BHS contest in Vegas this summer to represent the Carolinas District.  Mark’s dad, Brian, was a front row Harmonizer for years and sang with the NOVA CHORDS quartet from our chapter who qualified to sing at International from 1967-78. Brian died some years ago, but his wife Ceil is an avid barbershop fan and lives in SC these days.  She was the first president of the chapter’s auxiliary group in 1966.

At that same contest, current member John Adams was in the first place seniors quartet, THE HARDLY BOYS.  He is a past president of our chapter and retired to NC. He sang with the NOVA CHORDS too and was tenor in REMINISCE  with Scott Werner, Alan Durick and Dick Whitehouse when they won the BHS Seniors Quartet gold medal in 1995.

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Did you see Dick Dangel and Drew Fuller on the evening news piece Monday nite about the District of Columbia annual celebration for Centenarians?  They were in a quartet POTOMAC RIVER RASCALS with Bob Scarlett and Wes Kriebel who are members of the Harmony Heritage Singers.  Dick has been doing this gig for several years with various pick-up quartets.  He reports that the quartet made a lot of folks happy strolling among the tables to serenade the honorees and did a couple songs from the stage.  Good job guys.

Many guys were wearing special t-shirts in support of our buddy Rick Wagner as he fights thru the radiation treatments.

Thanks to the guys who brought in goodies (such as boxes of Girl Scout cookies) for coffee break. Contributions are always welcome!

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

Looking Back on the A CA CHALLENGE Event March 22^nd

The event was a huge success!!  A huge and wild audience cheering for the six A CA CHALLENGE contestants in the first such contest sponsored by the Harmonizers came to the famous Lincoln Theater on U Street in DC all in support of a cappella singing.

There were six groups competing for the $1000 first prize offered by the Alexandria Chapter:

UMW Symfonics

GW Vibes

Chromatics

Capital Blend

Word of Mouth

Noctonals

Each of the groups is from the DC Metro area and has grown out of singers wanting to do more singing in their work or college communities.

First place winner was Word of Mouth.  Second place was Chromatics and third place was GW Vibes

Judges were Amanda Cornaglia (managing partner at Clear Harmonies productions and The A Cappella School in Gaithersburg, MD), Danny Ozment (director of outreach with CASA); and Joe Sawyer (Harmonizer bari of DA CAPO).  Emcee for the event was Harmonizer Rick Taylor (also director of the Dundalk Chorus of the Chesapeake).

While judges scores were tallied and the audience votes collected (audience favorite votes were cast via texts to numbers assigned to each contestant), the Harmonizers performed for the enthusiastic audience.  The chapter’s own a cappella group,. TBD, sang a song as well (Kellen Hertz, Scipio Garling, Ben Roberts, Dave Hood, Terry Reynolds, Todd Ryktarsyk, Tom Kraus, Noah Van Gilder, Josh DesPortes, Josh Roots, Nick Leiserson, Troy Hillier, Jeremy Richardson)

Director Joe Cerutti and the chorus debuted two new songs for this show that will be used during the shows in Normandy France when the chorus sings there in June.  Choreographer Carlos Barillo had developed a revived “Glenn Miller Medley” for the chorus.  The strong arrangement by Jay Giallombardo of “Tribute to World Peace” was a resounding finale for the show.  The highly entertaining “Anything Goes” package from the Harmonizer’s third place medalist performance in Toronto for the BHS contest was also a hit with the audience of singers.

The show and contest pushed the old Lincoln Theater to the limits with so many performers on the stage during the nite.  So the chorus did warm up work in the lobby with assistant director Will Cox before the show, in a nearby bar that was not opening til late, and in the parking lot just before taking the stage.  The 85 chorus singers dressed where ever they could find a corner.  Terry Reynolds and Mark Klostermeyer kept the chorus informed and headed in the right directions throughout the rehearsals.  Don Dillingham, Mike Kelly and Chris Huber helped introduce songs during our part of the show.  This was the first Harmonizer show for Nathan Ritter and Tony LaRosa.

Ken Rub was over all producer for the event including getting the idea off the ground. Greg Tepe was event director and kept the stage operations rolling. Christina Ammerman was coordinator of the talent groups back stage along with Robyn McQueen.  Craig Kujawa was judge coordinator. Scipio Garling was talent scout. Noah Van Gilder was marketing head. Skip Coburn did the “showbill” advertising sales and production as well as helped with outside events such as the afterglow at Diego Lounge.  FRIENDS IN HARMONY volunteered and staffed information and will call tables in the lobby.

The hall was very full thanks to a big push of ticket sales via Groupon and the good response to ticket sales by the chapter 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 during the 66^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Show on Mar 15^th , Prelims Weekend and Mar 18^th Chapter Meeting

Producer Greg Tepe thanked the 45 singers who performed Sat. night Match 15^th at the ASPA dinner at the Mayflower Hotel. The organizers were pleased beyond their expectations.
Assistant director Terry Reynolds was show director and announced for us. Ten guys stayed until 9pm to sing “God Bless America.” For most of the performance we served as background music, but people were listening and enjoying the singing. And perhaps we'll get additional paid performances from this appearance.

Also during the weekend, nine quartets with Harmonizers singing in them were competing in the M-AD spring International prelims quartet contest at the Reston Hyatt to earn the right to sing in Vegas in July. 

 Four of them qualified to compete in July and ranked first, second, third and fourth!

 

DA CAPO with Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer, Wayne Adams

BSQ - Rob Seay, Kevin King, Rick Taylor, Al Mazzoni

MAYHEM - Matt Fellows, Pookie Dingle, Mike Pinto, Ken White

LAST MEN STANDING - TJ Barranger, Drew Feyrer, Ed Bell II, Mike Kelly

 

Our other quartets were

ACME CHORD COMPANY - Dan O'Brien, Chris Susalka, Paul Grimes, Eric Wallen in fifth

FORECAST - Mike Fitch, Ian Galvin, Travis Murray, Dan Cook in sixth

THE MONORAIL FOUR - Kellen Hertz, Phil Ferguson, Bobby Seay VI, Andrew Havens in seventh

YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT - Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Hardman Jones, Vic Owen, Jr. in eighth

OLD TOWN SOUND - Alan Kousen, Clyde Crusenberry, Bob Mattes, Dave Welter coming in as second place seniors quartet.

 

As usual there were lots of Harmonizers around for the contest weekend:  over 20 guys there to cheer on our quartets over the weekend; Sam McFarland and Harold Weinberger who are dual members with Fairfax helped host the weekend; Sean Devine was on hand to promote support of the Harmony Foundation; Chuck Harner and Alan Wile hosted a reception for Presidents’ Council members with help from several Harmonizers;  Bill Colosimo was emcee for the finals session as district president and Gary Plaag helped run the contest as district vp for contest and judging in addition to other M-AD leaders from our chapter Kauffmann, Ritchey, Kelly, Eckman, and Keith Jones. 

 

Next year’s prelims will be in Harrisburg, PA, March 13-15 and for the first time will include mixed harmony sessions for men and women to sing together.

The Tuesday nite meeting on Mar. 18^th was BUSY!  Lots of work in preparation for the A CA  CHALENGE on Sat. nite March 22^nd at Lincoln Theater on U Street NW.  Skip Coburn helped get the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the event! He also helped arrange for a social hour pre-show especially for family members who had to come early with their singers; and then too an afterglow to follow the show.

On Tuesday there was a lot of work in the hall at 6pm for stage presence drills.  Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups when the chorus assembled on the risers at 7 to the music of Vocal Majority singing “Deep River.” Then director Joe Cerutti went right to work on the songs for the A CA CHALLENGE. 

The chapter meeting was conducted by operations vp Bob Blair.  He announced his intentions to start issuing the “Ooops I Forgot My Nametag” badge to be issued to guilty guys next week!  (It is huge and should motivate us to wear our regular tag.)

The FRIENDS IN HARMONY members were at work on checking and repairing scarves and front row vests as needed, including fitting some new front row guys with their uniform parts for the “Anything Goes” routine.

Bob Griesemer is coordinator for Harmo Truck drivers and invited any interested guys to see him as we need some new drivers this year.

Ken Rub thanked the chorus for selling more tickets for the Challenge show, but assured all that there will be tickets at the door. Marketing vp Noah Van Gilder asked for helpers to staff an information table at the show.

Shows vp Nick Leiserson thanked again those who did the show on Mar. 15^th including a shout out to Bruce Lauther for helping line up this paying gig.

 Terry Reynolds filled in for music and performance vp Steve White and reported that we will be adding “Music of the Night” for the June 21^st show and will sing it with the Ambassadors of Harmony.

In his role as president, Terry thanked again all those working on the shows on our schedule and paid tribute to the quartets mentioned above.  He was proud to suggest that having some many of our members going to the International quartet contest proves we keep the “Q” in SPEBSQSA – another reason why It is Great to Be a Harmonizer!

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Sam McFarland for 27 years and to Alan Lamson for 34 years.

Membership vp Jeremy Richardson and Rich Hewitt welcomed Michael Bobrowski who was a first-time guest this week. Jeremy also reminded all about the Open Auditions event on April 9^th  at Durant.

After coffee break, it was back to work on new music for shows this year and for our shows in France in June.  Our a cappella group, TBD, sang for us. (There are some new guys in the group but YeEd failed to write down the names.  So stay tuned.)

Most of the rest of the evening was spent on “World Peace” with soloists, quartets and chorus. We will sing it and “Glen Miller” for the first time at the A CA CHALLENGE.

Peter Hubbard filled in for Ken Fess and Mick Stamps regarding payments for the Normandy trip. He was busy since many of us had a payment to make.

The meeting closed with the reminder that David Wright will be at the April 1^st chapter meeting to work with the chorus.  David is associate director for the Ambassadors, a prolific arranger for the BHS (we sing several of his pieces like “Stars and Stripes,” and is a frequent coach for our chorus.  Welcome back David!

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

Looking Back on the March 11^th Chapter Meeting

The events on Tuesdat the 11^th started with big crowds at work on their stage presence for “Miller Medley” – both riser guys and floor guys. We are getting there on it!! Thanks to Chuck McKeever and Carlos Barillo for helping us.

At the 7pm bell, we listened to KEEPSAKE as we took the risers ready to go to work.  Assistant director Will Cox did the warm ups and then director Joe Cerutti got us singing right away on the new songs for 2014 and our trip to France.  We worked hard on performing the material and preparing for shows coming up soon.

Operations vp Bob Blair conducted this week’s chapter meeting, opening with a thanks to those guys who are wearing their name tags. But more of us need to get on this!

Show producer Greg Tepe announced details for the paid gig on Saturday nite, March 15^th, at the  diamond jubilee gala for the  American Society of Public Administration, Mayflower hotel in DC – chorus call for the 70 guys signed up is 5 pm. He also announced that there will be no stage presence moves for the gig, so new guys are encouraged to come (and they can come and go from the risers as needed).  

Event coordinator of the A CA Challenge Ken Rub has tickets on consignment.  More tickets need to be sold, so Ken asked guys to take some and just ask people to attend March 22^nd  event at the Lincoln Theater on U Street.

Normandy trip coordinator Ken Fess reviewed a number of points about the June trip (and stressed the importance of people responding to him when he asks for a reply)!

Ken Fess also announced the Harmony on the Harbor show November 3^rd – in conjunction with the Pride of Baltimore SAI chapter. This is just prior to the SAI convention in Baltimore.  It will be another barn-burner barbershop harmony event.

FRIENDS IN HARMONY held a meeting this week and also assisted in measuring and checking scarves and front row vests for wear-an-tear and fit.  If you forgot yours, bring em next week for sure!

Several of our chapter quartets were recognized tonite as they will be singing in the M-AD International Preliminary Quartet Contest in Reston at the Hyatt on Friday, March 14^th.  This contest is how quartets earn the right to compete in the International contest this summer in Vegas. Each quartet gets a check from our chapter in support of their representing us at the contest.

In singing order based on current M-AD website in the first round, Friday nite at 7pm:

2. OLD TOWN SOUND - Alan Kousen, Clyde Crusenberry, Bob Mattes, Dave Welter

3. DA CAPO - Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer, Wayne Adams

5. MAYHEM - Matt Fellows, Pookie Dingle, Mike Pinto, Ken White

6. THE MONORAIL FOUR - Kellen Hertz, Phil Ferguson, Bobby Seay VI, Andrew Havens

7. YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT - Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Hardman Jones, Vic Owen, Jr.

9. BSQ - Rob Seay, Kevin King, Rick Taylor, Al Mazzoni

14. ACME CHORD COMPANY - Dan O'Brien, Chris Susalka, Paul Grimes, Eric Wallen

15. LAST MEN STANDING - TJ Barranger, Drew Feyrer, Ed Bell II, Mike Kelly

16. FORECAST - Mike Fitch, Ian Galvin, Travis Murray, Dan Cook

 

On Saturday morning, there is an adjudication for college and high school quartets at 11am.  The finals contest is Saturday nite at 7pm. 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented new member materials to Peelee Clark and Nathan Ritter. Then he gave out membership renewals to Nick Leiserson for 4 years, Calvin Schnure for 19 years, Ken Ives for 29 years and Bob Wachter for 62 years!

Membership vp Jeremy Richardson had to work late this week, so Rich Hewitt assisted him and welcome all of our guests and applicants for this week. He also gave a plug for the April 9^th Open Audition.  Tell your friends and coworkers and choir members about it – any guys that like to sing.

After a good break with some coffee and goodies, we returned to the risers for more solid musical work, sectionals and a great chance to put together the quartets and soloists and chorus for “Tribute to World Peace.”

In other news:

The chapter conducted another youth harmony workshop as a community outreach event on Friday, March 7^th, at Francis Scott Key Middle School.  There were 29 Harmonizers and 27 middle school boys and their instructor, Christina Matula.  Joe conducted the sessions, taught the students about good posture, some vocal techniques, and explained barbershop harmony music as one of the acappella art forms.  The students were enthusiastic and reacted well to the coaching when they sang for us.

There was a huge crowd from the Harmonizer family at the 30^th annual Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival at The Birchmere on Saturday nite, March 8^th.  Our buddies in MAYHEM completed and represented us well.  The chapter was also covered well with advertising flyers about our A Ca Challenge event on every table as well as in the printed program.  And the hosts for the event promoted both our Challenge event and our fall 2014 show with Pride of Baltimore chorus.  At the end of the event, all former contestants were invited to join our buddies on the stage and again it was another long list of guys from the chapter – Troy Hillier, Ken Rub, Frank Fedarko, Terry Reynolds and Steve White.

Members in the news too:  Jeremy Richardson was on MSNBC again on Sunday morning; Chuck McKeever is recovering from hand surgery this past week; and Josh DesPortes left rehearsal early to depart with his University of MD Men’s Chorus for tour to New York and Philly.

HELP is needed to get more guys and girls to come to our chapter sponsored Youth Harmony Festival on Saturday, April 5^th.  The numbers are extremely low, according to chairman Brad Jones. He needs responses from teachers, choir directors, youth group leaders, Scout groups hoping to earn a badge for singing, your grandkids, or your voice lesson students.  If you have prospects or a teacher wants help to register students, contact Brad at Youthfestival2014@verizon.net.  The fee is just $15 per student which includes the festival fun, music, a t-shirt and snacks and lunch and dinner.  Registration deadline was Monday, Mar. 10^th so the t-shirts can be ordered.

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

Looking Back on the March 4^th Chapter Meeting

Guys were ready to get to work and many arrived early at Durant to set up (honestly, Todd Ryktarsyk had lots of the risers up by himself by 6pm), to drill stage presence with Chuck on the stage (a large crowd of 30+ guys including some front row men who have to know the riser moves too for parts of the “Miller Medley”), floor dancers in the foyer to work with Carlos and adding Doug White to the mix – great to have him back after his work duty took him away for a month), and everyone to help welcome a good crew of singer-guests.

During the evening, candidates for emcee work with the chorus were auditioned; and quartets and soloists for “World Peace” met with associate director Tony Colosimo.

Assistant director Will Cox did the warm ups and then gave the ready chorus to director Joe Cerutti.  Joe was excited and ready too and shared with us a package of thank you notes/cards/hand drawn cartoons from the students at Oakton Elementary school who were appreciative of our singing at their school on Veteran’s Day in November.

The music and visual team helped us expand our confidence for the many new songs for the shows coming up and in France at Normandy.  We did take time to clean up “Stars and Stripes” and get it to the level of our other songs. The staging of “Miller Medley” is coming along as we will be singing it in a couple weeks for the A CA CHALLENGE show at Lincoln Theater on March 22^nd. (Ken Rub had tickets for the audience members and family members for that show.)

Bob Rhome was filling in for operations vp Bob Blair and he conducted the chapter meeting.  He ran down the list of events on the front burner: 

Early Friday morning, March 7^th, a mini-chorus will help Joe demonstrate barbershop harmony for the boys chorus at Francis Scott Key Middle School.

Our own MAYHEM is singing  in the 2014 Mid Atlantic Harmony Sweeps  A Cappella Festival at The Birchmere in Alexandria on March 8^th at 7:30 pm.  Let’s get a good crowd there to support them – besides it is a fun place for a Harmo social event. Birchmere is a dinner theater atmosphere, so go early to get food and a good seat.  General admission for $39.10 each. Here is a  link: http://m.ticketmaster.com/event/15004B5CDC9F7C4B?brand=birchmere&SREF=SLfbk-013_15004B5CDC9F7C4B

Several of our chapter quartets will be singing in the International Preliminary Quartet Contest in Reston at the Hyatt on Friday, March 14^th.  This contest is how quartets earn the right to compete in the International contest this summer in Vegas.

In singing order based on current M-AD website in the first round, Friday nite at 7pm:

2. OLD TOWN SOUND - Alan Kousen, Clyde Crusenberry, Bob Mattes, Dave Welter

3. DA CAPO - Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer, Wayne Adams

5. MAYHEM - Matt Fellows, Pookie Dingle, Mike Pinto, Ken White

6. THE MONORAIL FOUR - Kellen Hertz, Phil Ferguson, Bobby Seay VI, Andrew Havens

7. YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT - Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Hardman Jones, Vic Owen, Jr.

9. BSQ - Rob Seay, Kevin King, Rick Taylor, Al Mazzoni

14. ACME CHORD COMPANY - Dan O'Brien, Chris Susalka, Paul Grimes, Eric Wallen

15. LAST MEN STANDING - TJ Barranger, Drew Feyrer, Ed Bell II, Mike Kelly

16. FORECAST - Mike Fitch, Ian Galvin, Travis Murray, Dan Cook

 

On Saturday morning, there is an adjudication for college and high school quartets at 11am.  The finals contest is Saturday nite at 7pm. 

The deadline to get the better rate for housing for the weekend in Reston has been extended to March 7^th for rooms in the Reston Hyatt. Rate is $120. You can reserve a room by visiting www.MidAtlanticDistrict.com/Spring and click the link under “Housing.” While you’re on the site, be sure to reserve your convention registrations, too! Or you can buy tickets at the door.

Also on Saturday March 15^th, a chorus of Harmonizers will sing a paid job at the Mayflower in DC for American Society of Public Administration for their diamond jubilee gala.

HELP is needed to get more guys and girls to come to our chapter sponsored Youth Harmony Festival on Saturday, April 5^th.  The numbers are extremely low, according to chairman Brad Jones. He needs responses from teachers, choir directors, youth group leaders, Scout groups hoping to earn a badge for singing, your grandkids, or your voice lesson students.  If you have prospects or a teacher wants help to register students, contact Brad at Youthfestival2014@verizon.net.  The fee is just $15 per student which includes the festival fun, music, a t-shirt and snacks and lunch and dinner.  Registration deadline is Monday, Mar. 10^th so the t-shirts can be ordered.

Reed Livergood is coordinating housing for our guest chorus, Ambassadors of Harmony [where he was a member before moving to our area], when they come to the DC area to sing with us for the Crescendo show on June 21^st.  Reed got responses from 30+ Harmonizers which gets us over 25 beds available for AoH-ers to use. That said, our goal of 70-80 beds has not been met, yet. For those who have not indicated their hosting status, please take 5 minutes within the next week to indicate if you can make housing available, possibly available, or not available to host our guests in June.

Other announcements in the meeting included the plea for riser singers to bring in their gold scarves used in Toronto on March 11^th! And front row to bring in their gold vests.  All for the FRIENDS IN HARMONY to begin adjusting them.

Regarding the trip to France, chairman Ken Fess asks all members to respond quickly to inquiries he sends out regarding travel and other admin matters for the trip.

Membership vp Jeremy Richardson with help from Rich Hewitt welcomed and introduced a long line of guests – several first timers including four fellow students and friends of Ben Roberts.

President Terry Reynolds offered this week’s notation of why It’s Great to Be a Harmonizer – the chance to sing with our master director Joe Cerutti!

After coffee break, we worked on more of our new music including presenting the men who will sing the quartet parts for “World Peace” with the chorus and soloists.

Interesting background info from music and performance vp Steve White explaining how the weekly schedule is developed for our Tuesday nite rehearsals, “At 5:30 each Wednesday after our Tuesday nite meeting, the chorus directors have a "hot wash" conference call to discuss the previous night's rehearsal and lay out what is needed for the coming rehearsal. Then on Thursday morning the M&P vp plans the rehearsal with the goal of getting the outline to Dave Branstetter for the weekly e-mail to the members.”

In other news, our BHS mourns the passing of Lew Sims, 66-year Society member, DELA stalwart, Hall of Honor inductee, judge, quartet singer and chorus director. Lew died peacefully on Feb. 24, at the age of 104.  He was a loyal member of the DC Chapter and was their director when they won the Society's first official International Chorus Champions in 1954. His popular quartet, FEDERAL CITY FOUR sang joyfully together for five decades.
 

Our chapter historian Martin Banks adds, “Sixteen choruses from 9 of the 14 districts competed in the June 1953 contest in Detroit. The contest winner, The Great Lakes Chorus, was designated as the "International Convention Chorus Champion" and was the first and last chorus so named. This unique title was chosen because the participating choruses were not selected through district competition and not all districts were represented. The Singing Capitol Chorus, directed by Lew Sims, won the Society's first "official" International Chorus Competition in 1954 in their hometown of Washington DC. The Alexandria Harmonizers represented the Mid-Atlantic District in Detroit in 1953 and would not represent the district in an International Chorus Contest again until 1978, nearly a quarter of a century later.”

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