Looking Back on the Feb 18^th, 2020 Chapter Meeting

This week’s meeting was another busy nite with emphasis on small group learning. 

Before the meeting, the Ops Team that functions as operational directors met at 6 pm to kick off their work year.

The chorus assembled on the risers at 7 pm with associate director Tony Colosimo leading a strong warm up session for all.

Then director Joe Cerutti announced when judges will be with the chorus in the months ahead – Steve Scott on Mar. 3^rd (anyone who wants a voice lesion should contact Terry Reynolds and see if there are any spaces left in his schedule – lessons will be given at the chapter meeting place); Kevin Keller will be here on May 5^th, and Cy Wood will be here on May 9^th.  All three coaching sessions will be to work on “42^nd Street.”

Joe reminded singers that next week, those who have been approved will be singing “42^nd Street” on the risers.  Those who have not been cleared to do that yet, are encouraged to attend and absorb the work session with the chorus.

Joe also reports that the new pilot plan for chorus meetings will be evaluated next week as to its success, effectiveness, and acceptance. Early indications have been good, but the music team will assess the plan and announce their intentions of using it or adapting it for the next cycle.
Any member who has feedback for the music team regarding the pilot is urged to offer their ideas and suggestions to Joe or Tony this week.

The next song to feed into the learning process for 2020 is “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.  Soon after that will be the finale from The Producers, and then “Sweet, Sweet Roses of Morn.”

Then it was time to form into small groups – at least two and  not more than 7 guys.  Terry added a helpful admin touch to this with a map and directions inside the meeting place for every small group.  These groups were asked to follow the instructions and training points given to the singers in the weekly “HarmoGram” published on the previous weekend by Dave Branstetter.

At 8 pm all singers assembled back into the main hall for the chapter meeting conducted by communications director Steve Murane.

The first of monthly social events organized by chapter  membership director Jacob Broude for Harmonizers and  their friends and family will happen on Friday, Feb. 21^st from 6 pm until 8:30ish at Caboose Commons (Brewing Co.) 2918 Eskridge Rd, Fairfax VA 22031.  Check out their website for food and drink menus: https://www.caboosebrewing.com/fairfax-va.  This event is open to everyone, active and inactive or former members, significant others, friends and family. Please come out for a night of socializing, talking, and yes, maybe some singing.

A Night at the Theater is also being organized - Tyson's 1st Stage is putting on a production of the infrequently staged off-Broadway musical "A New Brain".  This may be familiar to the some among us, because "A New Brain" was the musical that our uptune "Heart and Music" was in.  Clark Chesser is organizing a theater night to see this on Friday, Mar. 27th, the show starts at 8pm.  It’s a fairly small venue, and tickets start at $42.  However, 1st Stage of Tysons offers group discounts as follows: Group 10-15 - $33 ea, Group 16-20 - $30 ea, Group 21+ - $25 per ticket. If you are interested, contact Clark at gyr8or@gmail.com.  Deadline is Fri. Mar. 6^th, so we can get the tickets ordered.
President Stan Quick presented a thank you gavel and plaque to Shawn Tallant for his leadership and service as chapter president the last two years. And he thanked Matt Doniger for his work in organizing the fun Put Together Quartet contest last week. And he recognized the men who sang in the Singing Valentine quartets and represented our chapter in the Greater Alexandria area which included Steve Szyszka, Rob Barnovsky, Matt Doniger, Brian Ammerman, Mario Sengco, Chuck Hunter, Ken Rub,  Dean Rust, Aaron Simoneau, and Brian Miller.
Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Ryan Mextorf for 2 years, and Walt Page for 26 years.
Ben Watsky welcomed Michael Berkson back.  And we also welcomed Doug White who is in the area as he prepares to relocate.
The second half of the nite was divided into 40-minute sessions (each repeated twice) where guys could attend their choices. Options included choreo review with Joe using the mirror video; vocal pedagogy with Tony; tag singing with Chuck Hunter, Ken Ives and SILVER ALERT quartet; and office hours with the section leaders.  Our ensemble TBD also practiced during one of the periods.
Then everyone reassembled to sing a song, to select the 50/50 winner,  and to adjourn. 

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 71^st year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the Feb 14^th, 2020 Singing Valentines

The Harmonizers’ Singing Valentine program for 2020 was designed to get quartet performances in many venues and in front of many audiences in the greater Alexandria area.  It is part of the chapter’s strategic plan to expand our “brand” in all aspects of the metro area.

Chapter leaders working in community relations such as Clyde Crusenberry, and in communications such as Steve Murane made contacts and assigned the quartets.  Music team member Calvin Schnure formed the quartets needed to fill all the performances.

Here are the reports from the quartets who made the appearances.

Quartet No. 1 consisted of Steve Szyszka, Rob Barnovsky, Matt Doniger, and Brian Ammerman (who prepared this report of the quartet’s day). 

We sang for four different centers/communities between 10am and 12:30 on Valentine’s morning. This included singing for 20-30 people at St. Martin du Porres Senior Center; for 10 lovely ladies at Mount Vernon Rec. Center; for 10 residents at Paul Spring Retirement community where our gracious host was Clyde Crusenberry’s niece Lynne; and finally for four separate groups of lunching residents at The Fountains at Washington House. 

Our repertoire for the first stop consisted only of “Heart of My Heart”, and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”  For the other locations we added in “I’ll Be Seeing You”, which delighted and moved people, and we made “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” a sing-along which put smiles on lots of faces.

This year’s experience was good for the heart, and a good time for all involved, residents and singers alike.

Reports for quartets No.2 and No. 3 were prepared by Dean Rust.  In all locations, quartets sang “Heart of My Heart” and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” with one exception when quartet 2 sang “My Wild Irish Rose” in response to a determined audience member who wanted one more.

Quartet No. 2 included Mario Sengco, tenor; Chuck Hunter, lead; Ken Rub, bari; and Dean Rust, bass. They sang four gigs set up by Clyde and confirmed by Dean. The quartet was organized and gigs assigned by Calvin. Here is where they sang:

Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria (12:30) – Sang for 20 women who call themselves the “Crunch Bunch.”  Met Vanessa Greene, who runs the Senior Programs at the Center and is John Greene’s sister.  The ladies looked spectacular in red as befits the day and were very appreciative. We were offered lunch but had to decline.

Mayor’s Office (1:05) – Sang for the Mayor’s staff at City Hall in Old Town Alexandria, and the people in the 5^th floor lunch room.  The Mayor’s administrative aide is clearly a fan and was quite taken with our version of “Heart of My Heart.”

Lee Center Adult Day Services (1:30) – Sang for about 25 adults, male and female.   Smiles all around as we sang, an especially warm reception.  Staff very welcoming.

The Fairfax (2:15)– A long trek down Route 1 to this facility near Ft. Belvoir.  Reported to the Community Center and sang in 5 locations for residents and staff. 

--For about 10 in the lobby including passersby who stopped and a woman who seemed as much taken with the four “handsome” men (in white ties and tails) as she was with our singing. 

--For 10 in the lunch room (lunch was over but for a few stragglers). 

--For 10 playing cards in a sun drenched alcove with passersby who stopped. 

--For 10 in the assisted-living section, who we left with cries of “encore.” 

--For 15 in the “memory” section including a lady quite agitated as we entered, but who calmed and moved up front as we sang.  The power of music to reach people seemed especially apparent in the memory unit.

Quartet No. 3 included Aaron Simoneau, tenor; Brian Miller, lead; Ken Rub, bari; and Dean Rust, bass. Here is where they sang:

Six gigs at restaurants in the Del Ray area between 6:30 and 7:30 pm, also set up and confirmed by Dean, with information from Clyde, and the quartet organized and gigs assigned by Calvin.

In all cases, restaurants turned down ambient music before we sang.

Before the first stop, we dropped into a chocolate store to sing through the songs.  It had no customers at the time.  Staff took note, smiled from ear to ear, and presented us each with a piece of chocolate as we departed.

The Evening Star – for around 20 customers and staff.  The manager, cooks and waiters stood along the back wall soaking it in.

Bob Vivant Café – for around 10 patrons and staff, including 2 small children who seemed both pleased and annoyed at different times.

St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub – for around 10 patrons who seemed not to be annoyed by our disruption of their conversation and laptop work and cheerfully applauded.

Holy Cow – for about 25 patrons who allowed themselves time away from their monstrous burgers to listen to Brian Miller’s romantic lead.

Pork Barrel BBQ – for about 35 patrons who came to attention at the sound of the pitch pipe and enthusiastically welcomed both songs.  In between the songs we led the crowd in singing happy birthday to the bartender.  Best reception of the night.

Tios Grill – Biggest crowd at 60, but also most challenging venue given crowd size and noise.  Sang in two locations.  The strolling guitar man gracefully withdrew as Brian belted out a strong lead on both songs. 

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 71^st year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the Feb 11^th, 2020 Put Together and Chapter Meeting

The chapter meeting place was full of singing from about 6:15 til we left at the end of everything.  All the quartets planning to sing in the 46^th annual Put Together Quartet Contest were meeting (some for the first time) and going thru their songs.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did warm ups on the risers to kick off the nite.  Then there were sectionals to work on a new song “Never Fully Dressed Without a Song.” The chorus had gotten a copy of the song with notes and markings from the music team via Groupanizer. The section leaders all had a lesson plan determined by the music team to cover the same parts of the song – Brian Ammerman for the tenors, Reed Livergood for the leads, Jason Lee for the baritones, and Tony for the basses.

After this work period, the chapter meeting time was conducted by communications director Steve Murane.  He reminded all members that our Youth Harmony Festival will be on Saturday, March 28^th at Scottish Rite Temple. Members were asked to use social media to spread the word to prospective student groups.

President Stan Quick reported that Frank Fedarko’s sister died recently, and that Krissi Folsom fell this week and broke her arm at her chorus meeting.

He also reported that Clyde Crusenberry, Calvin Schnure, and Dean Rust have set up the plans for the Singing Valentine quartets to make appearances in the greater Metro area.  Three quartets will be making the appearance for citizen groups, Alexandria officials, senior centers and retirement places, schools and public events.

Finally, Stan reminded members to consider submitting nominations for the BHS new awards to be presented at a Gala at the International convention in LA in July.

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Dylan Smith for 2 years, Ben Roberts for 7 years, Tyler Carpenter for 9 years, and Kevin McKenzie for 21 years.

Membership director Jacob Broude announced plans for the “first of monthly recreational events for Harmonizer Friends and Family” to be held on Friday, Feb. 21^st at Caboose in Merrifield. From 6 – 8:30 pm or so.  2918 Eskridge Rd., Fairfax, VA 22031. Stay tuned for more details.

 Ben Watsky welcomed back Michael Berkson for his third visit, and then the nine members of the Georgetown Chimes for their first visit who came to help us with the quartet contest.

After a break time (used by many of the quartets for another run thru) and some time to set up the sound equipment and judges table, the chapter members reassembled in the auditorium of the SRT for the 46^th annual Wilbur Sparks Memorial Put Together Contest.  Troy Hillier was emcee for the event and shared stories about Wilbur (often called Dr. Put for his fun approach to organizing a chapter quartet contest and for getting new guys singing in quartets that had not done so before.  Wilbur’s fun approach to create crazy names for the quartets seems to carry on as some of this year’s were wild – Dave’s in Charge of That, Per Four Mens, Ives Gotta Plan, We Probably Shouldn’t Do This, and Whisky Switch.

There were two categories and prizes for top three quartets in each – comedy and regular. Judges were Georgetown Chimes singers Chase, Jack, John and Dylan.  Jack Pitzer was panel chairman. We even had a mic tester quartet.

When all 17 quartets had finished, the whole crowd adjourned to the cafeteria for refreshments and announcement of contest winners by Troy and Matt Doniger, who was ‘Dr. Put’ for this year’s event.  Each singer in the top three quartets in each category received a plaque.

COMEDY QUARTETS Winners
Third:
JOCKULAR STRAPS - Ammerman, Eliason, Hillier, Chesser
Second:
ADAM SHEPARD AND HIS LITTLE LAMBS - Gerzof, Shepard, Lee, Carpenter
First:
FRONT ROW OLD GUYS (FROG) - Reynolds, Eliason, Rub, White

REGULAR QUARTETS Winners 
Third:
ALEXANDRIA COMMON - Gerzof, Livergood, Schnure, Peacock
Second:
AT EASE - Lazear, McKenzie, Cameron, Golden
First:
42^ND YEET - Gerzof, Roberts, Colosimo, Peacock

To finish up the nite, the Chimes sang several songs for us and were cheered loudly by the men of the Harmonizer chorus.

We concluded the fun nite with “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 during the 71^st year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the Feb. 7^th Show with the Yale Whiffenpoofs 

A full-house audience was on hand for the 7:30 pm Friday, Feb. 7^th show when the Harmonizers presented The Yale Whiffenpoofs at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.  This is the 101^st  year for the famous college a cappella group, and the chapter is pleased to host them again in Alexandria.

The Harmonizer chorus was directed by associate director Tony Colosimo and they sang five of the great Broadway show songs from our fall show for the mostly new-to-us audience.


The chorus walked in and positioned themselves on the risers and after a moment’s silence, Tony began the opening solo for “Heart of Music.” This opener set the stage for great audience responses to every song. Drew Fuller also sang a solo in the first song.



Ben Roberts told the great story in his solo for “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” then when Brian Ammermann tried to cheer up Ben, they set the stage for a fun song the audience liked, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”


The TBD ensemble sang “If I Were Gay” from Avenue Q with Tony teasing Noah Van Gilder for this song.




Jon Frank sang the powerful solo message with the chorus on “For Good.”



And the Harmonizers finished their portion of the show with “Circle of Life” adding percussion by Bob Blair, solo by Tony and all the ribbons and choreo for the finale.


Terry Reynolds welcomed the audience and invited men who like to sing to visit with any member after the show.


A riser crew arrived early to set up along with Mike Kelly and crew for the sound equipment. During the chorus warm up, a crew of volunteers sold tickets, welcomed guests including some folks from local senior citizen facilities, ushered and helped the guests trade in their online paperwork for tickets. Volunteers were family members and chapter members - Aideen Mannion, Rebecca Conner, Lydia Golden, Ginny Wells, Jack Pitzer, Walt Page, Kathy Kauffmann, Janet Cerutti, Naida Harrington, Isabella Salmi, Nate Balke, Alex Chen, Amber Friedman, Dixie Kennett, and Krissi Folsom.  Robyn Murane helped coordinate that crew and coordinated the performers getting to the stage for sound check and show times.  Shows chairman Joe Cerutti Sr. helped with logistics including hosting our guest artists. Rob Langston took photos for the chapter communications team.

The Whiffenpoofs are on a tour of US cities and sang a great mix of their favorites.  Most of the fourteen singers had a solo or specialty piece to perform.  Ben Watsky, a Harmonizer who is also an alum of the Whiffenpoofs, joined other of their alums in the audience to sing the group’s well known “The Whiffenpoof Song” as a show finale.



The chorus sang about 30 minutes and the guests sang about one hour.


It was great to see several members and former members in the audience. The audience was invited to complete a survey online with a handout flyer and survey form given to concert attendees.


A number of members and some of the Whiffs enjoyed an afterglow at Chadwicks in Old Town Alexandria.

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 71^st year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd