It seemed like everyone was really needing a “fix” of barbershop harmony and being with our fellow chapter members tonite. Since we had to cancel the Feb. 9th meeting, there was also a lot of catch up work to do.
And many guys realized that and came early for Chuck McKeever’s training session on the stage that starts every Tues. at 6 pm. He had a stage full and so some guys were watching from the main floor to absorb as much as possible.
The set up crew went right to work at 6 too and the coffee pot was perking away too.
There were some weather stories relayed to YeEd. Ian Poulin got hit by the snow in Richmond before it came to NoVa. So he has had snow to contend with for at least a whole other week. And Steve Guy and Len Dornberger made it down from DE and there-abouts. Of course the shoveling stories and sore backs were common.
Director Joe had stories too – but his were from his week of coaching in Hawaii. The chapter there says they are the “farm club” for the Harmonizers. There has been a long list of men who came to Alexandria from the Aloha Chapter. And a couple men have gone there from here.
Joe also reported visiting with David Wright, our terrific coach lined up for the retreat in June. David was here helping Joe at a weekend retreat for the Pride of Baltimore chorus that Joe also directs.
When the singing and chorus work out began, Will Cox did the musical warm ups. Then Joe started the work on the contest songs. After a little bit, he invited McKeever to take a few minutes of drill and review. That time was used for “ripple drills” as Chuck called them. The guys got so they could do the stepping down and stepping back up pretty well!
Then it was time to concentrate on the ballad. Geri and Royall Geis were back and Geri was welcomed to begin the process as our coach for the ballad. What a great plan and approach and rekindling of the great Harmonizer approach to delivering a heavy message song. She read a scenario and talked to the guys about their commitment in convincing first themselves and then their audience the true emotions of this great song.
The scenario and other materials about the ballad were sent to all members then as an email on Wednesday.
Geri used a new technique some of us had not seen to help the chorus understand the many layers of emotion needed for the ballad. She had a quartet sing the song and each time she raised her finger they stopped and she added another layer of emotion or description of what the singer needed to convey to his audience. (The quartet had worked on this to be able to do it so well. Thanks to Dan O’Brien, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer, and Terry Reynolds.)
One drill Geri used, which we have seen her use with us before, was stating a word such as tender, bewildered, forsaken or flippant, then have the men demonstrate that word visually. When she finished her list it was clear that those 30 words were the essence of the ballad message.
She also talked about the passion of the singer and his message. It was clear we will approach a time when it won’t be funny to do some things, or that it will be ok to have such emotion in your throat you can’t sing! Those were the days!!!!
When Geri had finished and the cheers subsided, Joe took the chorus thru a “hot” run of the ballad. Wow!
It was time for meetings and break. Mark Klostermeyer welcomed all and plugged the need for guys to buy the left over Valentine candy from the chapter. Secretary Buechler gave new member materials to Victor Hills and Bert Phillips. He also asked those two guys to help him present renewal membership cards to Jim Lake for 16 years; Dean Martin for 7 years; Chuck Powell for 16 years; Frank Fedarko for 8 years; Brian Ammerman for 16 years; and Drew Fuller for 20 years.
Terry Reynolds, music vp, reminded guys to have their recording equipment ready after the break.
Dan O’Brien welcomed Jim Shoenhard and Jon Abel. Then he introduced four guests who were visiting and are possible new singers for the chapter.
During the break the guys nearly drained the coffee pot and ate every last cookie that was out!! It was cold in the hall.
We sold all the candy!
We sold a bunch more tickets for the rescheduled Presidents’ Ball – now set for Sunday, Feb. 28th. Past President Brad announced that Mark Hale was able to change his flight and can come to Alexandria for our event!
This year’s Ball, tho being held at the Rec Center, will feature several touches to make it special and still affordable. Guest speaker will be Mark Hale from the often-gold-medal Masters of Harmony in California. He is thrilled about coming to give us all a message of cheer, motivation and inspiration.
The main course will be catered. Other food items will be brought by members –
Last Name A-C bring hors d’oeuvers to go with the reception;
Last Name D-J bring salads/veggies;
Last Name K-P bring sides like vegetables or starches;
Last Name Q- Z bring desserts.
There will be a cash bar during a reception period from 6 – 6:30 pm in the lobby of Durant.
Then at 6:30 we will go into the banquet room (it won’t look anything like the usual meeting hall!). Member Pete Frank is coming down from PA to do the DJ honors for the last part of the evening. Mike Kelly’s new quartet, ENTOURAGE, will not be able to reschedule and sing for us (tho they will be competing in the M-AD prelims in Harrisburg in March).
This traditional event also will be our nite to honor men from our ranks and set the goals for next year’s team of chapter leaders. (Former members and chapter friends are also welcome to buy tickets, as well as our many brand new members.)
There are tickets left, so email Jack Pitzer editorjack@aol.com to get a space for yourself, and a guest if you wish. Just $15 each. You can settle up that nite.
Craig Kujawa sent word from his post overseas that the 10 for 10 program weigh-in will be conducted by Joe Sawyer!
Jack Cameron reminded guys to pay for their fall contest photos.
Bob Blair and Bill DePuy were thanked by chapter leaders for cleaning out one of the chapter’s rental storage units and thus saving us a chunk of cash each month.
Joe thanked Dean Martin for his professional work on the podcasts.
Then we got back to singing. Tony directed the uptune again and Joe coached. The front row is continuing to develop their part of the show.
Before we left for the nite, Terry Reynolds explained the detailed new system of self evaluation for singing and visual performance. The eval forms are electronic and the evaluator response forms are also electronic. It is a massive effort to streamline the work and process.
We had a great wrap up with lots more activity such as a long line of guys getting measured by our own haberdasher, Rick Savage, so we can order new uniforms. There was a quartet singing tags with a first-time guest. Risers were stashed and another good crowd came to 815 Southside 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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —Ye Ed.)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Looking Back on the February 2nd Chapter Meeting
The weather took a hit on us tonite, but even that didn’t discourage everyone. We had a good crowd of singers. In fact, the stage was full again of guys working on their stage presence with Chuck McKeever.
Will Cox did the vocal warm ups which included some practice on Singing Valentine songs. Dean Rust gave a testimonial about his experiences singing in quartets and making Valentine deliveries.
Tony Colosimo had up front duties tonite as Director Joe was not back from Hawaii. Tony gave McKeever a chunk of time to drill and rehearse the moves for “Hello My Baby” while the front row worked on their own to drill their part.
After that, the chorus was dismissed into sectionals to work on their music. Then they reconvened and worked on putting it all together.
As the snow continued to fall, the plan emerged to end early. Dan O’Brien reported we have 111 men signed up to sing in Philly, but that our goal is still 120!! There were no guests tonite, but YeEd noticed the new guys were all there!!
Past President Brad Jones reported that his team is considering the weather this weekend and how it will effect the Presidents’ Ball, currently scheduled for Sat. nite at Durant. BUT stay tuned – it might be moved to Sunday at 1 pm if the Rec Center gets closed by the city officials.
There are tickets left, so email Jack Pitzer editorjack@aol.com to get a space for yourself, and a guest if you wish. Just $15 each. You can settle up that nite.
This year’s Ball, tho being held at the Rec Center, will feature several touches to make it special and still affordable. Guest speaker will be Mark Hale from the often-gold-medal Masters of Harmony in California. He is thrilled about coming to give us all a message of cheer, motivation and inspiration.
The main course will be catered. Other food items will be brought by members –
Last Name A-C bring hors d’oeuvers to go with the reception;
Last Name D-J bring salads/veggies;
Last Name K-P bring sides like vegetables or starches;
Last Name Q- Z bring desserts.
There will be a cash bar during a reception period from 6 – 6:30 pm in the lobby of Durant.
Then at 6:30 we will go into the banquet room (it won’t look anything like the usual meeting hall!). Member Pete Frank is coming down from PA to do the DJ honors for the last part of the evening. Mike Kelly’s new quartet, ENTOURAGE, sing for us as well.
This traditional event also will be our nite to honor men from our ranks and set the goals for next year’s team of chapter leaders. (Former members and chapter friends are also welcome to buy tickets, as well as our many brand new members.)
This Thursday nite is the first stage presence review session at Lee Center, at 7 pm, for stage right. Stage left in next Thurs, Feb. 11th, same time and place.
Tom Kern offered to help anyone who needs white tails for Valentine gigs. And he pleaded for more guys to get him their sizes for the new uniforms for Philly. Members should give Tom their current suit size, dress shirt neck and sleeve length, waist size. He would prefer to get the info via email (tkern@caci.com).
Bob Rhome insisted that those men he asked for credit card info for Philly reservations must take action to contact him.
Eric Wallen stressed that we need a crop of singers to fill the many requests we are getting for Singing Valentine gigs. This is a major fundraiser for the chapter and is as important as a big singout. We need about the same number of singers to contact Eric and help.
Terry Reynolds yielded to early closing and will get out more details about evaluation standards. He alerted us that there will be new self-evaluation forms for both singing and visual uses.
VP Klostermeyer closed the meeting about 8:45 or so. Since the roads were bad, we called 815 Southside and alerted them that we would not be there this week.
We sang “Keep The Whole World Singing” and packed things away. But the early closing did not stop some quarteting in the hall nor a group of guys from singing the new ballad.
Guest reporters Kennett and Buechler gave YeEd some info about the recent Mid Winter BHS convention in Tampa. This International event is “more fun and less hectic” they report. It features a Senior’s quartet contest and one of our members, Mike Wallen and his buddies in YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT, came in 9th; and Darryl Flinn was in the fifth place quartet, LIGHTLY SEASONED.
Alan Durick, John Adams and Scott Werner were there as past seniors quartet champs. Alan Wile and Chris Buechler were there for the Society Board meeting. Other Harmonizers noted among the attendees include Tom Gannon, Chuck Harner, Bob Hirsh, John Hohl, Ross Johnson, Keith Jones, Sam McFarland, Phil Stern and Bob Thames.
Some former members there were Dwain Chambers, Larry Deters, Joe Kane, Bill Ward, Paul Wietlisbach and Jim Gammon.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Will Cox did the vocal warm ups which included some practice on Singing Valentine songs. Dean Rust gave a testimonial about his experiences singing in quartets and making Valentine deliveries.
Tony Colosimo had up front duties tonite as Director Joe was not back from Hawaii. Tony gave McKeever a chunk of time to drill and rehearse the moves for “Hello My Baby” while the front row worked on their own to drill their part.
After that, the chorus was dismissed into sectionals to work on their music. Then they reconvened and worked on putting it all together.
As the snow continued to fall, the plan emerged to end early. Dan O’Brien reported we have 111 men signed up to sing in Philly, but that our goal is still 120!! There were no guests tonite, but YeEd noticed the new guys were all there!!
Past President Brad Jones reported that his team is considering the weather this weekend and how it will effect the Presidents’ Ball, currently scheduled for Sat. nite at Durant. BUT stay tuned – it might be moved to Sunday at 1 pm if the Rec Center gets closed by the city officials.
There are tickets left, so email Jack Pitzer editorjack@aol.com to get a space for yourself, and a guest if you wish. Just $15 each. You can settle up that nite.
This year’s Ball, tho being held at the Rec Center, will feature several touches to make it special and still affordable. Guest speaker will be Mark Hale from the often-gold-medal Masters of Harmony in California. He is thrilled about coming to give us all a message of cheer, motivation and inspiration.
The main course will be catered. Other food items will be brought by members –
Last Name A-C bring hors d’oeuvers to go with the reception;
Last Name D-J bring salads/veggies;
Last Name K-P bring sides like vegetables or starches;
Last Name Q- Z bring desserts.
There will be a cash bar during a reception period from 6 – 6:30 pm in the lobby of Durant.
Then at 6:30 we will go into the banquet room (it won’t look anything like the usual meeting hall!). Member Pete Frank is coming down from PA to do the DJ honors for the last part of the evening. Mike Kelly’s new quartet, ENTOURAGE, sing for us as well.
This traditional event also will be our nite to honor men from our ranks and set the goals for next year’s team of chapter leaders. (Former members and chapter friends are also welcome to buy tickets, as well as our many brand new members.)
This Thursday nite is the first stage presence review session at Lee Center, at 7 pm, for stage right. Stage left in next Thurs, Feb. 11th, same time and place.
Tom Kern offered to help anyone who needs white tails for Valentine gigs. And he pleaded for more guys to get him their sizes for the new uniforms for Philly. Members should give Tom their current suit size, dress shirt neck and sleeve length, waist size. He would prefer to get the info via email (tkern@caci.com).
Bob Rhome insisted that those men he asked for credit card info for Philly reservations must take action to contact him.
Eric Wallen stressed that we need a crop of singers to fill the many requests we are getting for Singing Valentine gigs. This is a major fundraiser for the chapter and is as important as a big singout. We need about the same number of singers to contact Eric and help.
Terry Reynolds yielded to early closing and will get out more details about evaluation standards. He alerted us that there will be new self-evaluation forms for both singing and visual uses.
VP Klostermeyer closed the meeting about 8:45 or so. Since the roads were bad, we called 815 Southside and alerted them that we would not be there this week.
We sang “Keep The Whole World Singing” and packed things away. But the early closing did not stop some quarteting in the hall nor a group of guys from singing the new ballad.
Guest reporters Kennett and Buechler gave YeEd some info about the recent Mid Winter BHS convention in Tampa. This International event is “more fun and less hectic” they report. It features a Senior’s quartet contest and one of our members, Mike Wallen and his buddies in YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT, came in 9th; and Darryl Flinn was in the fifth place quartet, LIGHTLY SEASONED.
Alan Durick, John Adams and Scott Werner were there as past seniors quartet champs. Alan Wile and Chris Buechler were there for the Society Board meeting. Other Harmonizers noted among the attendees include Tom Gannon, Chuck Harner, Bob Hirsh, John Hohl, Ross Johnson, Keith Jones, Sam McFarland, Phil Stern and Bob Thames.
Some former members there were Dwain Chambers, Larry Deters, Joe Kane, Bill Ward, Paul Wietlisbach and Jim Gammon.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Looking Back on the January 26th Chapter Meeting
Tonite was another Harmonzer first – there was no heat in the Durant Center. So Bob Rhome, who makes arrangements with the city for the meeting space, sent out a late-afternoon email alerting the guys. Some didn’t get the word, but with all the excitement and fast-paced stage presence for the uptune, no one froze.
Also there was a lot of excitement about the getting tickets for the Presidents’ Ball – 120 signed up so far. And there are tickets left, so email editorjack@aol.com to get a space for yourself, and a guest if you wish. Just $15 each. You can settle up next Tuesday or that nite.
This year’s Ball, tho being held at the Rec Center, will feature several touches to make it special and still affordable. Guest speaker will be Mark Hale from the often-gold-medal Masters of Harmony in California. He is thrilled about coming to give us all a message of cheer, motivation and inspiration.
The main course will be catered. Other food items will be brought by members –
Last Name A-C bring hors d’oeuvers to go with the reception;
Last Name D-J bring salads/veggies;
Last Name K-P bring sides like vegetables or starches;
Last Name Q- Z bring desserts.
There will be a cash bar during a reception period from 6 – 6:30 pm in the lobby of Durant.
Then at 6:30 we will go into the banquet room (it won’t look anything like the usual meeting hall!). Member Pete Frank is coming down from PA to do the DJ honors for the last part of the evening. Mike Kelly’s new quartet, ENTOURAGE, sing for us as well.
This traditional event also will be our nite to honor men from our ranks and set the goals for next year’s team of chapter leaders. (Former members and chapter friends are also welcome to buy tickets, as well as our many brand new members.)
Tuesday nite’s meeting and rehearsal were packed. After a solid musical warm up led by Tony Colosimo, Terry Reynolds, music and performance vp, organized a Name The Singer Contest. Section leaders (Ives, Kelly, Colosimo, Savage) were seated facing a wall, then the chorus members lined up behind their section leader and like in a quartet push out event, four guys sang a line or two of the Valenine songs. The section leaders tried to identify the guys who sang. It was fun. Some did pretty well, others not so good. But it helped get guys to sing the Valentine songs in a quartet.
When Director Joe took the reigns, he had the singers review some of the songs in the repertoire like “Music of the Night’ and “Drunken Sailor” and such.
Terry Reynolds was back up to the mic to review the standards for attendance, taping, visual and vocal quality reviews and a new area – improvement from first tape or review to the second one.
Then back to some wonderful singing! The ballad is so special and Joe was able to get it out of the guys with every repetition. Joe Sawyer had the duties of running the computer to project the new music onto the screen. Next week the singers are supposed to be off the music. Many were last nite, YeEd noted. And those that were stumbling a little on notes, now know what to work on for themselves next week.
Before the mid-evening break, Dan O’Brien did guest introductions – all three this week have submitted applications!! There were 21 guests last week at our special guest nite event and Dan thanked all for their efforts. He asked the men not to let up and to take a supply of chorus business cards for their wallets so they can be used any time we meet prospects.
The coffee pot was drained last nite since it was cold. And there were a lot of goodies to put out.
The business meeting period after break included some important matters for all. Josh Roots and Eric Wallen gave many details about selling Singing Valentines. The chapter has organized the weekend into blocks when quartets are made available to customers - the time slots are Thursday - Sunday, 8:00am - 12:00pm (morning), 12:00pm - 4:00pm (afternoon) & 4:00pm - 8:00pm (evening). We need a lot more singers to step forward and contact Eric to volunteer to sing. Also it was mentioned that new guys who don’t have white tails and other uniform parts should contact Tom Kern to get what they need.
Noah Van Gilder plugged the Rahway Valley, NJ, Novice quartet contest. And promised an email with details.
Eric Wallen, chapter quartet chairman, also offered to help any guys who are looking to be in quartets for the Southern Division in Roanoke, VA, May 28-29. Great place for a new quartet to start their climb to success.
Chuck McKeever announced again the dates for two special stage presence review sessions for the new uptune that all members should plan to attend. They will be at the Lee Center in their dance studio there. Stage Right on Thurs., Feb. 4. Stage Left on Thurs. Feb. 11. The front row will have a separate session.
Committee chair Rick Savage, presented a preview of the new black 4-button suit for contest this summer. Everyone must get their sizes to Tom Kern – he is starting a new list as he reports there are “floating” waist sizes in the chapter!! Members should give Tom their current suit size, dress shirt neck and sleeve length, waist size. He would prefer to get the info via email (tkern@caci.com).
Ken Fess, chairman of the spectacular Westminster/Harmonizer Show, Sun. June 27th at 2 pm., announced that tickets are on sale. Go to alexandriaharmonizerspresent.com. Besides the two past gold medal choruses, Westminster, CA, and the Harmonizers, there are top ranked quartets signed on to sing such as OC TIMES, OLD SCHOOL, THE MUSICAL ISLAND BOYS, RINGMATERS, MAXX FACTOR, THE EDGE, and THE CRUSH. Tell your barbershop friends, your local DC area customers. Show will be at the George Mason University’s Center for the Arts.
President Dick Newton supported a couple of previous matters such as the need for singers to sign up and do the Singing Valentines. We need the income that is raised from the weekend! Especially with new uniforms coming!!
Then back to singing. The rest of the evening was spent on the contest uptune with some time on gestures and movement. A block of the singing work had Tony out front directing and Joe coaching – a great team!!! The high energy music session pushed right up to the 10 pm mark.
Everyone jumped in to help put things away. There was some singing and quartets around. YeEd noticed some of the applicants heading off to audition – rumor has it we will hear of some new members next week.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Also there was a lot of excitement about the getting tickets for the Presidents’ Ball – 120 signed up so far. And there are tickets left, so email editorjack@aol.com to get a space for yourself, and a guest if you wish. Just $15 each. You can settle up next Tuesday or that nite.
This year’s Ball, tho being held at the Rec Center, will feature several touches to make it special and still affordable. Guest speaker will be Mark Hale from the often-gold-medal Masters of Harmony in California. He is thrilled about coming to give us all a message of cheer, motivation and inspiration.
The main course will be catered. Other food items will be brought by members –
Last Name A-C bring hors d’oeuvers to go with the reception;
Last Name D-J bring salads/veggies;
Last Name K-P bring sides like vegetables or starches;
Last Name Q- Z bring desserts.
There will be a cash bar during a reception period from 6 – 6:30 pm in the lobby of Durant.
Then at 6:30 we will go into the banquet room (it won’t look anything like the usual meeting hall!). Member Pete Frank is coming down from PA to do the DJ honors for the last part of the evening. Mike Kelly’s new quartet, ENTOURAGE, sing for us as well.
This traditional event also will be our nite to honor men from our ranks and set the goals for next year’s team of chapter leaders. (Former members and chapter friends are also welcome to buy tickets, as well as our many brand new members.)
Tuesday nite’s meeting and rehearsal were packed. After a solid musical warm up led by Tony Colosimo, Terry Reynolds, music and performance vp, organized a Name The Singer Contest. Section leaders (Ives, Kelly, Colosimo, Savage) were seated facing a wall, then the chorus members lined up behind their section leader and like in a quartet push out event, four guys sang a line or two of the Valenine songs. The section leaders tried to identify the guys who sang. It was fun. Some did pretty well, others not so good. But it helped get guys to sing the Valentine songs in a quartet.
When Director Joe took the reigns, he had the singers review some of the songs in the repertoire like “Music of the Night’ and “Drunken Sailor” and such.
Terry Reynolds was back up to the mic to review the standards for attendance, taping, visual and vocal quality reviews and a new area – improvement from first tape or review to the second one.
Then back to some wonderful singing! The ballad is so special and Joe was able to get it out of the guys with every repetition. Joe Sawyer had the duties of running the computer to project the new music onto the screen. Next week the singers are supposed to be off the music. Many were last nite, YeEd noted. And those that were stumbling a little on notes, now know what to work on for themselves next week.
Before the mid-evening break, Dan O’Brien did guest introductions – all three this week have submitted applications!! There were 21 guests last week at our special guest nite event and Dan thanked all for their efforts. He asked the men not to let up and to take a supply of chorus business cards for their wallets so they can be used any time we meet prospects.
The coffee pot was drained last nite since it was cold. And there were a lot of goodies to put out.
The business meeting period after break included some important matters for all. Josh Roots and Eric Wallen gave many details about selling Singing Valentines. The chapter has organized the weekend into blocks when quartets are made available to customers - the time slots are Thursday - Sunday, 8:00am - 12:00pm (morning), 12:00pm - 4:00pm (afternoon) & 4:00pm - 8:00pm (evening). We need a lot more singers to step forward and contact Eric to volunteer to sing. Also it was mentioned that new guys who don’t have white tails and other uniform parts should contact Tom Kern to get what they need.
Noah Van Gilder plugged the Rahway Valley, NJ, Novice quartet contest. And promised an email with details.
Eric Wallen, chapter quartet chairman, also offered to help any guys who are looking to be in quartets for the Southern Division in Roanoke, VA, May 28-29. Great place for a new quartet to start their climb to success.
Chuck McKeever announced again the dates for two special stage presence review sessions for the new uptune that all members should plan to attend. They will be at the Lee Center in their dance studio there. Stage Right on Thurs., Feb. 4. Stage Left on Thurs. Feb. 11. The front row will have a separate session.
Committee chair Rick Savage, presented a preview of the new black 4-button suit for contest this summer. Everyone must get their sizes to Tom Kern – he is starting a new list as he reports there are “floating” waist sizes in the chapter!! Members should give Tom their current suit size, dress shirt neck and sleeve length, waist size. He would prefer to get the info via email (tkern@caci.com).
Ken Fess, chairman of the spectacular Westminster/Harmonizer Show, Sun. June 27th at 2 pm., announced that tickets are on sale. Go to alexandriaharmonizerspresent.com. Besides the two past gold medal choruses, Westminster, CA, and the Harmonizers, there are top ranked quartets signed on to sing such as OC TIMES, OLD SCHOOL, THE MUSICAL ISLAND BOYS, RINGMATERS, MAXX FACTOR, THE EDGE, and THE CRUSH. Tell your barbershop friends, your local DC area customers. Show will be at the George Mason University’s Center for the Arts.
President Dick Newton supported a couple of previous matters such as the need for singers to sign up and do the Singing Valentines. We need the income that is raised from the weekend! Especially with new uniforms coming!!
Then back to singing. The rest of the evening was spent on the contest uptune with some time on gestures and movement. A block of the singing work had Tony out front directing and Joe coaching – a great team!!! The high energy music session pushed right up to the 10 pm mark.
Everyone jumped in to help put things away. There was some singing and quartets around. YeEd noticed some of the applicants heading off to audition – rumor has it we will hear of some new members next week.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Friday, January 22, 2010
Looking Back on the January 19th Chapter Meeting
There was excitement AND anticipation in the air tonite!!
Everyone was curious as to how many guests we would have and how the evening would go as we worked more on the contest package.
The stage presence review conducted by Chuck McKeever drew another large crowd.
The 9 sections of risers were backed up to the stage and a guest gallery of chairs was set out for the many non-singing guests who attend a Harmonizer guest nite. They were full tonite too.
Will Cox did vocal exercises for warm up as well as some fast moves and hand clapping to get members and guests into the action. Tony Colosimo continued musical warm up and had guys sing the Valentine songs (as practice to get into shape for the Singing Valentine weekend and many quartet gigs).
When Director Joe took over, he got the guests and chorus right to work singing the new contest up tune and had them review and do the moves. All nite Joe was great about adding connecting language between segments of the meeting to explain why we do things, what we prepare for like contest and shows, venues the chorus has appeared in, what kinda commitment you need to be a Harmonizer. All good info for the 20-plus guests. YeEd thinks you could tell Joe was loosing his voice tonite, which he says was a result of his long weekend as guest conductor for a high school music festival in Maryland. Congrats for gaining the recognition for our art form in a non barbershop music arena. And thanks to Bob Mattes’ wife for making the contact.
The guests tonite were taken to a meeting room for briefing and introduction to our chapter and the Barbershop Harmony Society.
While they were out, the chapter conducted some of its business matters. Alan Wile thanked the chapter for support of the 50/50 each week. The chapter has turned in $657 for the last half of 2009 from just the chapter’s part to the Mid Atlantic District Endowment Fund.
Josh Roots asked for workers to help with the admin support of the huge Singing Valentine project. Eric Wallen asked for every man to consider doing some quartet gigs to help us fill the orders – which are already coming in via phone, and online.
Brad Jones invited all members to purchase their $15 ticket for the Presidents’ Ball, Feb. 6th right at Durant. Jack Pitzer is taking table reservations and selling the tickets. Talk to your buddies and get a table together. Each table has ten places. This year’s Ball, tho being held at the Rec Center, will feature several touches to make it special and still affordable. Guest speaker will be Mark Hale from the often-gold-medal Masters of Harmony in California. He is thrilled about coming to give us all a message of cheer, motivation and inspiration.
The main course will be catered. Other food items will be brought by members –
Last Name A-C bring hors d’oeuvers;
Last Name D-J bring salads/veggies;
Last Name K-P bring sides like vegetables or starches;
Last Name Q- Z bring desserts.
There will be a cash bar during a reception period from 6 – 6:30 pm in the lobby of Durant.
Then at 6:30 we will go into the banquet room (it won’t look anything like the usual meeting hall!). Member Pete Frank is coming down from PA to the DJ honors for the last part of the evening.
This traditional event also will be our nite to honor men from our ranks and set the goals for next year’s team of chapter leaders. (Former members and chapter friends are also welcome to buy tickets.)
Secretary Buechler gave Eric Hughes his 3-year membership renewal card and gave Keith Jones his 32-year card.
President Dick Newton read a thank you note from the Poulin family expressing appreciation for the guys who came and sang with Ian at his brother’s service. The family made a contribution to our chapter as well. There was also a letter alerting the chapter that widow of Rick Loveland, Terri, had passed away last year.
Dick also received a check and thank you note from a chorus fan that had seen Will Cox do his familiar “Night Before Christmas” routine and asked Will to come do it for their party.
After the meeting, the guests sang a tag for us. Membership VP Dan introduced all the guests by name and gave First Timer pins to many. It was also good to see several former members back on the risers and here to sing again.
The chorus sang three songs for the guests – each song directed by one of our assistant directors. Joe was mc and asked Will, Tony and Mike Kelly to direct.
Thanks to all the guys who brought goodies to share for break time. Lots of guys helped guests sing tags, helped them meet other members and talked about the chapter.
Joe used another large block of time on the contest songs and involved the guests right on the risers with the men. This was our first time to sing and hear the ballad all the way thru. WOW.
At 10, Joe did a wrap up. Eric Hughes won almost all the prizes in the 50/50 and directed the final song. All were invited to the afterglow.
It was another great Harmonizer nite. If you are not a regular on Tuesday, come out and sing in the peanut gallery, or get up on the risers. We miss you.
YeEd forgot to tell you he heard about four of guys who went out last week before chapter meeting and sang a couple songs for our Rec Center manager’s birthday. There is always something happening special among our chapter and its 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. —Ye Ed.)
Everyone was curious as to how many guests we would have and how the evening would go as we worked more on the contest package.
The stage presence review conducted by Chuck McKeever drew another large crowd.
The 9 sections of risers were backed up to the stage and a guest gallery of chairs was set out for the many non-singing guests who attend a Harmonizer guest nite. They were full tonite too.
Will Cox did vocal exercises for warm up as well as some fast moves and hand clapping to get members and guests into the action. Tony Colosimo continued musical warm up and had guys sing the Valentine songs (as practice to get into shape for the Singing Valentine weekend and many quartet gigs).
When Director Joe took over, he got the guests and chorus right to work singing the new contest up tune and had them review and do the moves. All nite Joe was great about adding connecting language between segments of the meeting to explain why we do things, what we prepare for like contest and shows, venues the chorus has appeared in, what kinda commitment you need to be a Harmonizer. All good info for the 20-plus guests. YeEd thinks you could tell Joe was loosing his voice tonite, which he says was a result of his long weekend as guest conductor for a high school music festival in Maryland. Congrats for gaining the recognition for our art form in a non barbershop music arena. And thanks to Bob Mattes’ wife for making the contact.
The guests tonite were taken to a meeting room for briefing and introduction to our chapter and the Barbershop Harmony Society.
While they were out, the chapter conducted some of its business matters. Alan Wile thanked the chapter for support of the 50/50 each week. The chapter has turned in $657 for the last half of 2009 from just the chapter’s part to the Mid Atlantic District Endowment Fund.
Josh Roots asked for workers to help with the admin support of the huge Singing Valentine project. Eric Wallen asked for every man to consider doing some quartet gigs to help us fill the orders – which are already coming in via phone, and online.
Brad Jones invited all members to purchase their $15 ticket for the Presidents’ Ball, Feb. 6th right at Durant. Jack Pitzer is taking table reservations and selling the tickets. Talk to your buddies and get a table together. Each table has ten places. This year’s Ball, tho being held at the Rec Center, will feature several touches to make it special and still affordable. Guest speaker will be Mark Hale from the often-gold-medal Masters of Harmony in California. He is thrilled about coming to give us all a message of cheer, motivation and inspiration.
The main course will be catered. Other food items will be brought by members –
Last Name A-C bring hors d’oeuvers;
Last Name D-J bring salads/veggies;
Last Name K-P bring sides like vegetables or starches;
Last Name Q- Z bring desserts.
There will be a cash bar during a reception period from 6 – 6:30 pm in the lobby of Durant.
Then at 6:30 we will go into the banquet room (it won’t look anything like the usual meeting hall!). Member Pete Frank is coming down from PA to the DJ honors for the last part of the evening.
This traditional event also will be our nite to honor men from our ranks and set the goals for next year’s team of chapter leaders. (Former members and chapter friends are also welcome to buy tickets.)
Secretary Buechler gave Eric Hughes his 3-year membership renewal card and gave Keith Jones his 32-year card.
President Dick Newton read a thank you note from the Poulin family expressing appreciation for the guys who came and sang with Ian at his brother’s service. The family made a contribution to our chapter as well. There was also a letter alerting the chapter that widow of Rick Loveland, Terri, had passed away last year.
Dick also received a check and thank you note from a chorus fan that had seen Will Cox do his familiar “Night Before Christmas” routine and asked Will to come do it for their party.
After the meeting, the guests sang a tag for us. Membership VP Dan introduced all the guests by name and gave First Timer pins to many. It was also good to see several former members back on the risers and here to sing again.
The chorus sang three songs for the guests – each song directed by one of our assistant directors. Joe was mc and asked Will, Tony and Mike Kelly to direct.
Thanks to all the guys who brought goodies to share for break time. Lots of guys helped guests sing tags, helped them meet other members and talked about the chapter.
Joe used another large block of time on the contest songs and involved the guests right on the risers with the men. This was our first time to sing and hear the ballad all the way thru. WOW.
At 10, Joe did a wrap up. Eric Hughes won almost all the prizes in the 50/50 and directed the final song. All were invited to the afterglow.
It was another great Harmonizer nite. If you are not a regular on Tuesday, come out and sing in the peanut gallery, or get up on the risers. We miss you.
YeEd forgot to tell you he heard about four of guys who went out last week before chapter meeting and sang a couple songs for our Rec Center manager’s birthday. There is always something happening special among our chapter and its 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. —Ye Ed.)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Looking Back on the January 12th Chapter Meeting
That excitement was still in the air tonite!!
Fun thing YeEd noted was that black hats were appearing everywhere – guys wearing them, piled on tables, being tossed to each other. Found out they were gonna be used as training hats for the front row’s work on the new uptune. Ken White had put out a call for guys to bring in a supply of the “Happy Feet” hats for the guys to use.
Treasurer Howard Nestlerode arrived with a handful of paperwork and checks or receipts to deliver. Another important Harmonizer job that is done outside chapter meeting.
Mark Klostermeyer alerted early arrivals to check for the new riser line up (on the nifty magnet chart he has made) so everyone could be set in place for the 7 pm kick off.
Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and worked the singers hard to be prepared for good singing. Right away at 7, the front row went to the lobby of Durant to work with Cindy Hansen who was in town to teach the chorus the uptune staging plan. (YeEd heard that she also worked with the Pride of Baltimore chorus on Monday.)
During the warm up period, Tony used “Heart of My Heart” so that guys would get some review in preparing quartets for the Singing Valentine program. Before the 7 pm start, Chuck McKeever had another large class of guys on hand for stage presence review up on the stage at Durant.
Director Joe stepped up to direct and used his time for a review of “Great Day” and “New York New York” that will be sung at the Guest Nite on Jan. 19th. Joe made a heartfelt plea for every guy to bring someone and spread the word -- not just to depend on the membership team to do the work. We are all on the team including those members who have joined in recent months, or those who have been members for a long time. Members who are not active are certainly welcome to visit and/or bring a friend or neighbor who likes to sing.
Then Joe welcomed Cindy to great cheers from the chapter. She set the stage about the dual team of her and Geri working on a first class contest package. She and the chorus worked hard until 10 pm!!! It was awesome. What a plan. And the guys were able to dig in and learn it and perform it pretty darn well. Cindy had met with chapter visual team leaders over the weekend to brief them, so they could help with the training. Director Joe also was in on the visual planning and so he made sure it all worked well with the music. He particularly made certain that the rehearsal of moves was done at a tempo close to his plan for performance.
At 10, we had our chapter meeting period. Secretary Buechler gave new member materials to Andrew Plocher and renewal member materials to Myles Glancy. He gave a 13-year renewal card to Brian Miller and a 36-year card to Rick Savage.
Steve White, assisted by other Harmonizers who are members of the DELA honor club, welcome newest DELA member from our chapter, Joe Cerutti. Congrats to Joe. BTW, Steve is 2010 president of DELA.
Terry Reynolds reminded front row that they would be having practice at 6 pm next week. He also reminded vocal evaluators of their duties. This group has worked to be certain of consistency in their work.
Membership guy, Dan O’Brien, reminded all of the Jan. 19th guest nite and the useful promotional tools for guys to use. Then he welcomed several guests and new applicants Jeremy Richardson and Bruce Roehm.
Josh Roots is chair of the Singing Valentine program this year. He announced his needs for staffing help, and especially pushed all to consider forming a quartet. The chapter can handle the marketing and paperwork well, but we need a lot of quartets!
Before closing for the nite, Cindy thanked all the men for their hard work, dedication and support. She also reminded us of the Cruise she and Director Joe are organizing for July 18-25, 2010. It will be on Holland America. Sam McFarland will be a contact person for t his event.
So—after a long nite of hard, fun, work, we sang our closing song and packed things up and headed to the after glow at 815 South Washington.
Many guys stopped by to buy their tickets for the Presidents Ball event, Feb. 6, 2010, at Durant this year. Happy hour starts at 6 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm. Tickets are only $15 per person. Tables of 10 are available to arrange, so ask your pals about sitting together and see YeEd next week.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Fun thing YeEd noted was that black hats were appearing everywhere – guys wearing them, piled on tables, being tossed to each other. Found out they were gonna be used as training hats for the front row’s work on the new uptune. Ken White had put out a call for guys to bring in a supply of the “Happy Feet” hats for the guys to use.
Treasurer Howard Nestlerode arrived with a handful of paperwork and checks or receipts to deliver. Another important Harmonizer job that is done outside chapter meeting.
Mark Klostermeyer alerted early arrivals to check for the new riser line up (on the nifty magnet chart he has made) so everyone could be set in place for the 7 pm kick off.
Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and worked the singers hard to be prepared for good singing. Right away at 7, the front row went to the lobby of Durant to work with Cindy Hansen who was in town to teach the chorus the uptune staging plan. (YeEd heard that she also worked with the Pride of Baltimore chorus on Monday.)
During the warm up period, Tony used “Heart of My Heart” so that guys would get some review in preparing quartets for the Singing Valentine program. Before the 7 pm start, Chuck McKeever had another large class of guys on hand for stage presence review up on the stage at Durant.
Director Joe stepped up to direct and used his time for a review of “Great Day” and “New York New York” that will be sung at the Guest Nite on Jan. 19th. Joe made a heartfelt plea for every guy to bring someone and spread the word -- not just to depend on the membership team to do the work. We are all on the team including those members who have joined in recent months, or those who have been members for a long time. Members who are not active are certainly welcome to visit and/or bring a friend or neighbor who likes to sing.
Then Joe welcomed Cindy to great cheers from the chapter. She set the stage about the dual team of her and Geri working on a first class contest package. She and the chorus worked hard until 10 pm!!! It was awesome. What a plan. And the guys were able to dig in and learn it and perform it pretty darn well. Cindy had met with chapter visual team leaders over the weekend to brief them, so they could help with the training. Director Joe also was in on the visual planning and so he made sure it all worked well with the music. He particularly made certain that the rehearsal of moves was done at a tempo close to his plan for performance.
At 10, we had our chapter meeting period. Secretary Buechler gave new member materials to Andrew Plocher and renewal member materials to Myles Glancy. He gave a 13-year renewal card to Brian Miller and a 36-year card to Rick Savage.
Steve White, assisted by other Harmonizers who are members of the DELA honor club, welcome newest DELA member from our chapter, Joe Cerutti. Congrats to Joe. BTW, Steve is 2010 president of DELA.
Terry Reynolds reminded front row that they would be having practice at 6 pm next week. He also reminded vocal evaluators of their duties. This group has worked to be certain of consistency in their work.
Membership guy, Dan O’Brien, reminded all of the Jan. 19th guest nite and the useful promotional tools for guys to use. Then he welcomed several guests and new applicants Jeremy Richardson and Bruce Roehm.
Josh Roots is chair of the Singing Valentine program this year. He announced his needs for staffing help, and especially pushed all to consider forming a quartet. The chapter can handle the marketing and paperwork well, but we need a lot of quartets!
Before closing for the nite, Cindy thanked all the men for their hard work, dedication and support. She also reminded us of the Cruise she and Director Joe are organizing for July 18-25, 2010. It will be on Holland America. Sam McFarland will be a contact person for t his event.
So—after a long nite of hard, fun, work, we sang our closing song and packed things up and headed to the after glow at 815 South Washington.
Many guys stopped by to buy their tickets for the Presidents Ball event, Feb. 6, 2010, at Durant this year. Happy hour starts at 6 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm. Tickets are only $15 per person. Tables of 10 are available to arrange, so ask your pals about sitting together and see YeEd next week.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Looking Back on the January 5th Chapter Meeting
There was excitement in the air tonite!!
The stage was packed with guys trying to learn the stage moves for “Meeting Tonight” and YeEd hears that Chuck McKeever has a new Bose sound system for providing music to practice with during his stage presence review classes.
And before I forget about it, YeEd got an email from George Azzam in response to the Looking Back column we wrote after the recent Put Together contest. George wrote. “What a hoot! So glad to know I’m remembered and I am honored that an award has been created in my name. One of these years, I’ll come visit on the nite of the contest. Not sure I’ll be able to throw together enough quartets to win my own award, but it would be fun to try.”
YeEd also reports that he heard from John Hohl in FL that former director Scott Werner was in the hospital for six days during the holidays. Some sort of heart issue but he is out now and adjusting blood thinner meds and is at home.
Tuesday nite’s huge crowd was crammed on 9 risers cause the risers were set up facing the stage (so video cameras could be used to capture the who performance – there is work going on to make SP training tapes for new guys to learn sp for the songs). The usual 11 sections won’t fit across the hall, so only 9 were set.
And there were coats everywhere – it was freezing cold outside tonite.
YeEd also noticed new chapter music librarian, Bob Mattes, at work before the meeting getting more guests books ready as well as updating others.
First singing of the chorus was to rekindle interest in the Singing Valentine operation for the chapter. Director Joe plugged it hard and asked guys in all the recent put-together quartets to sign up to help. Chorus sang thru “Heart of My Heart” and did a quartet-push-out thing on “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”
Joe then launched a few remarks about the goals and kick off for 2010 and welcomed so many members, guests and former members. He was particularly proud of the big crowd of our guys who went to the Beer Blast in Dundalk.
Then he introduced and sincerely welcomed Geri and Royal Geis. Royal is a past chapter president and major chorus sales agent. Geri was artistic director. She will be our coach for the new ballad and used her first visit to rekindle attitude and skills of chorus members in delivering artistry on stage and in performances. She demonstrated and spoke and helped the newer generation of chorus members discover how things can work in the presentation arena.
When she had finished, the guys gave Geri a Harmonize cheer and thanked her for helping us. Joe used the moment to ask for the same rapt attention guys gave Geri at all of our meetings in 2010.
Mark Klostermeyer plugged the Heat Glo that is Sat. Jan. 9th at Jack and Pat Pitzer’s. 7:30 pm. Bring snacks to share. Bring significant other. Casual dress. (This is a continuation of a 40-plus year chapter tradition.)
Secretary Buechler gave a 21-year renewal card to Matt Kahn and announced that Skip Coburn had also earned a 21-year card.
Membership VP Dan O’Brien explained plans for the Jan. 19th guest nite that is coming up fast. He asked us all to use the flyers and invite cards he provided . (YeEd noticed that the supply was pretty much gone when we ended the nite!! Hurray.)
Another group of guests were on hand as well as several former members who were back to rejoin and get back involved with the chapter. Hurray again.
The break was busy as many guys wanted some warm coffee. And there were a lot of goodies that came in from guys who wanted to share leftovers from the Holidays.
After-break-announcements included details about the Presidents’ Ball on Feb. 6th. It will be a banquet with the chapter catering the main course and members bring sides, dessert or hors d’oeuvers. The event with start with a cash bar cocktail hour. DJ Pete Frank will be back to join us, and guest speaker, Mark Hale, director of the Masters of Harmony in CA, will install our officer team!!! This is the nite we give out the major chapter awards. Price is only $15 each and we are hoping for ALL members and their significant other to come. Stay tuned for sign up details and table reservations (table of 10). Big thanks to immediate past president Brad Jones who had done all the work on making this great event take on a new look.
Jack Cameron has fall contest pixs for those guys who ordered them.
Craig Kujawa reported on the chapter’s weight loss program. Team B headed by Mark Klostermeyer is in third place. Team A headed by Joe Cerutti and Team D headed by Phil Ferguson are tied for second. Team C headed by Ken Fess is in first place.
Music VP Terry Reynolds reviewed the qualification process and asked all to watch for copy in the mail. A new aspect of the plan this year is for all to show improvement. Terry also suggested that the music team is hoping everyone can get rid of tapes and move over to newer methods.
Chapter President Dick Newton, in office at his first chapter meeting, supported the goals shared by Joe earlier. He reported that Jed Casey had a hip replacement today and is reportedly doing well. Dick also read a thank you note from Marjorie Beatley, wife of former Alexandria mayor, thanking us for the great holiday performance. Her husband was an avid fan and supporter of the chapter (YeEd thinks that would have been in the 70s).
Then it was back to work on the risers with a solid work session on the “Meeting Here Tonight” visual plan.
And finally we got to sing the new up tune!! Wow – what a great start and successful first-time thru. The chorus worked then for 15 minutes or so in sectionals to extend the learning curve. Then when everyone was back, Joe was able to drill and coach and instruct. It was fast and high energy and fun.
As he has done a few times before, Joe had the men sing though the melody of the ballad. But first he invited a member to read the lyrics and recite them as the member would feel the story. Scott Kahler was first to volunteer.
We sang right up until 10, plugged the Heat Glo one more time, and had the 50/50 drawings (a couple pounds of coffee were given first and then the cash). The other half of the cash goes to the Mid Atlantic District Endowment Fund.
Craig Kujawa is taking a temporary duty assignment out of the country for 8-12 weeks, so he was invited to take us out and direct “Whole World.”
The excitement and fun continued at the afterglow at 815 South Washington.
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. —Ye Ed.)
The stage was packed with guys trying to learn the stage moves for “Meeting Tonight” and YeEd hears that Chuck McKeever has a new Bose sound system for providing music to practice with during his stage presence review classes.
And before I forget about it, YeEd got an email from George Azzam in response to the Looking Back column we wrote after the recent Put Together contest. George wrote. “What a hoot! So glad to know I’m remembered and I am honored that an award has been created in my name. One of these years, I’ll come visit on the nite of the contest. Not sure I’ll be able to throw together enough quartets to win my own award, but it would be fun to try.”
YeEd also reports that he heard from John Hohl in FL that former director Scott Werner was in the hospital for six days during the holidays. Some sort of heart issue but he is out now and adjusting blood thinner meds and is at home.
Tuesday nite’s huge crowd was crammed on 9 risers cause the risers were set up facing the stage (so video cameras could be used to capture the who performance – there is work going on to make SP training tapes for new guys to learn sp for the songs). The usual 11 sections won’t fit across the hall, so only 9 were set.
And there were coats everywhere – it was freezing cold outside tonite.
YeEd also noticed new chapter music librarian, Bob Mattes, at work before the meeting getting more guests books ready as well as updating others.
First singing of the chorus was to rekindle interest in the Singing Valentine operation for the chapter. Director Joe plugged it hard and asked guys in all the recent put-together quartets to sign up to help. Chorus sang thru “Heart of My Heart” and did a quartet-push-out thing on “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”
Joe then launched a few remarks about the goals and kick off for 2010 and welcomed so many members, guests and former members. He was particularly proud of the big crowd of our guys who went to the Beer Blast in Dundalk.
Then he introduced and sincerely welcomed Geri and Royal Geis. Royal is a past chapter president and major chorus sales agent. Geri was artistic director. She will be our coach for the new ballad and used her first visit to rekindle attitude and skills of chorus members in delivering artistry on stage and in performances. She demonstrated and spoke and helped the newer generation of chorus members discover how things can work in the presentation arena.
When she had finished, the guys gave Geri a Harmonize cheer and thanked her for helping us. Joe used the moment to ask for the same rapt attention guys gave Geri at all of our meetings in 2010.
Mark Klostermeyer plugged the Heat Glo that is Sat. Jan. 9th at Jack and Pat Pitzer’s. 7:30 pm. Bring snacks to share. Bring significant other. Casual dress. (This is a continuation of a 40-plus year chapter tradition.)
Secretary Buechler gave a 21-year renewal card to Matt Kahn and announced that Skip Coburn had also earned a 21-year card.
Membership VP Dan O’Brien explained plans for the Jan. 19th guest nite that is coming up fast. He asked us all to use the flyers and invite cards he provided . (YeEd noticed that the supply was pretty much gone when we ended the nite!! Hurray.)
Another group of guests were on hand as well as several former members who were back to rejoin and get back involved with the chapter. Hurray again.
The break was busy as many guys wanted some warm coffee. And there were a lot of goodies that came in from guys who wanted to share leftovers from the Holidays.
After-break-announcements included details about the Presidents’ Ball on Feb. 6th. It will be a banquet with the chapter catering the main course and members bring sides, dessert or hors d’oeuvers. The event with start with a cash bar cocktail hour. DJ Pete Frank will be back to join us, and guest speaker, Mark Hale, director of the Masters of Harmony in CA, will install our officer team!!! This is the nite we give out the major chapter awards. Price is only $15 each and we are hoping for ALL members and their significant other to come. Stay tuned for sign up details and table reservations (table of 10). Big thanks to immediate past president Brad Jones who had done all the work on making this great event take on a new look.
Jack Cameron has fall contest pixs for those guys who ordered them.
Craig Kujawa reported on the chapter’s weight loss program. Team B headed by Mark Klostermeyer is in third place. Team A headed by Joe Cerutti and Team D headed by Phil Ferguson are tied for second. Team C headed by Ken Fess is in first place.
Music VP Terry Reynolds reviewed the qualification process and asked all to watch for copy in the mail. A new aspect of the plan this year is for all to show improvement. Terry also suggested that the music team is hoping everyone can get rid of tapes and move over to newer methods.
Chapter President Dick Newton, in office at his first chapter meeting, supported the goals shared by Joe earlier. He reported that Jed Casey had a hip replacement today and is reportedly doing well. Dick also read a thank you note from Marjorie Beatley, wife of former Alexandria mayor, thanking us for the great holiday performance. Her husband was an avid fan and supporter of the chapter (YeEd thinks that would have been in the 70s).
Then it was back to work on the risers with a solid work session on the “Meeting Here Tonight” visual plan.
And finally we got to sing the new up tune!! Wow – what a great start and successful first-time thru. The chorus worked then for 15 minutes or so in sectionals to extend the learning curve. Then when everyone was back, Joe was able to drill and coach and instruct. It was fast and high energy and fun.
As he has done a few times before, Joe had the men sing though the melody of the ballad. But first he invited a member to read the lyrics and recite them as the member would feel the story. Scott Kahler was first to volunteer.
We sang right up until 10, plugged the Heat Glo one more time, and had the 50/50 drawings (a couple pounds of coffee were given first and then the cash). The other half of the cash goes to the Mid Atlantic District Endowment Fund.
Craig Kujawa is taking a temporary duty assignment out of the country for 8-12 weeks, so he was invited to take us out and direct “Whole World.”
The excitement and fun continued at the afterglow at 815 South Washington.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Monday, January 4, 2010
Looking Back on the Dec. 22nd Hospital Sing; Dec. 29th BLAST at Dundalk
The chorus did the annual sing at Alexandria Hospital on Dec. 22nd. We have done this for many, many years. In the old days the chorus was so small that the Alexandria Rec Dept. provided a bus and we went to several hospitals in the area to sing.
This year we had a decent crowd despite the awful weather conditions, street conditions and traffic. This was just a couple days after the 15-20 inch snow that hit the DC area. Director Joe helped us do our part to cheer up those who had to be in the hospital this time of year. After the sing, the troops adjourned to 815 Southside for an afterglow.
On Dec. 29th, a huge number of Alexandria guys went to the BLAST hosted by the Dundalk Chapter in Glen Bernie. We had 28 members present. And ten of them sang in the quartet contest that was for pick up groups as well as registered quartets. Tony Colosimo sang five times beating out Dean Martin, Joe Sawyer and Ryan Griffith who were in four groups. One of Tony’s quartets, SHOULD BE LEGAL, included Wayne Adams, Joe Sawyer plus Erin Odell singing tenor. She got a prize for being brave!!
After the 25 or so quartets were all done, some of our guys got prizes. Director Joe was in the second place quartet with guys from around the district. And the winning quartet was called LEADLESS with four of our guys – Ryan Griffith, Dean Martin, Joe Sawyer and Mike Kelly.
Other Harmonizers not mentioned above who got up and sang with three other guys included Sam McFarland, Chris Yates, and Bob Mattes. Several former members were on stage during the evening too. (YeEd is afraid to start that list in case we forgot someone!) It was fun to create the list of guys who were arriving from our chapter – some had driven a long way to be there.
Judges for the contest were the ladies from CAPRI who have been so helpful at our Youth Harmony events each spring. Rick Taylor, who is a Harmonizer, was MC. Ryan Griffith who is active in both Dundalk and Alexandria was credited for heading up the BLAST event which was well attended. They had to bring in extra tables. There were guys from NY, PA, NJ as well as VA, MD, DC.
The evening included lots of beer and soda and hot dogs and chips – all included in the small entry fee. The evening concluded with a performance by MAXX FACTOR, fresh back from their gig in Hollywood. Wow they are great.
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. —Ye Ed.)
This year we had a decent crowd despite the awful weather conditions, street conditions and traffic. This was just a couple days after the 15-20 inch snow that hit the DC area. Director Joe helped us do our part to cheer up those who had to be in the hospital this time of year. After the sing, the troops adjourned to 815 Southside for an afterglow.
On Dec. 29th, a huge number of Alexandria guys went to the BLAST hosted by the Dundalk Chapter in Glen Bernie. We had 28 members present. And ten of them sang in the quartet contest that was for pick up groups as well as registered quartets. Tony Colosimo sang five times beating out Dean Martin, Joe Sawyer and Ryan Griffith who were in four groups. One of Tony’s quartets, SHOULD BE LEGAL, included Wayne Adams, Joe Sawyer plus Erin Odell singing tenor. She got a prize for being brave!!
After the 25 or so quartets were all done, some of our guys got prizes. Director Joe was in the second place quartet with guys from around the district. And the winning quartet was called LEADLESS with four of our guys – Ryan Griffith, Dean Martin, Joe Sawyer and Mike Kelly.
Other Harmonizers not mentioned above who got up and sang with three other guys included Sam McFarland, Chris Yates, and Bob Mattes. Several former members were on stage during the evening too. (YeEd is afraid to start that list in case we forgot someone!) It was fun to create the list of guys who were arriving from our chapter – some had driven a long way to be there.
Judges for the contest were the ladies from CAPRI who have been so helpful at our Youth Harmony events each spring. Rick Taylor, who is a Harmonizer, was MC. Ryan Griffith who is active in both Dundalk and Alexandria was credited for heading up the BLAST event which was well attended. They had to bring in extra tables. There were guys from NY, PA, NJ as well as VA, MD, DC.
The evening included lots of beer and soda and hot dogs and chips – all included in the small entry fee. The evening concluded with a performance by MAXX FACTOR, fresh back from their gig in Hollywood. Wow they are great.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Looking Back on the Dec.15th Chapter Meeting & Put Together Contest
Another nite without risers! The set up crew was at work early to set up a theater setting facing the stage for the quartet contest.
Last minute sales of ornaments and scrip cards were conducted. Special orders of scrip cards will be delivered at the Hospital Sing next Tuesday nite.
Many guys were trying to find the guys they were gonna sing with in the competition and checking the Order of Singing posted on the wall by the coffee table.
Will Cox did warm ups and got every one singing. Director Joe made some announcements to recap last week’s word about the busy January schedule with the contest package. He confirmed that guys had gotten the learning materials made available by the music team. He reminded all that Geri Geis will be in to work on the ballad and Cindy Hansen to work on the up tune early in January.
The Abe Lincoln painting made for the chorus during the holiday show dress rehearsal was put out as a silent auction item. It went for a heft sum and included a gift card to sue for framing. The artist made it for the chapter.
Membership VP Dan announced the next guest nite to be January 19th. Start lining up your guests who will want to join this exciting chapter.
Dan also welcomed several guests, several former members in for the contest, as well as some members we don’t see too often who were also singing in the contest. He also welcomed our judges – YOUTH RECLAMATOIN PROJECT, Hardman Jones, Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Vic Owen. They are current district senior’s quartet champs and will represent us at the mid winter convention in FL.
Everyone was glad to hear that Maxx Factor did well the first nite on the TV special. (Word came in at the afterglow that they had made the second cut.)
Secretary Buechler presented a Man of Note award to Dan O’Brien for sponsoring Andrew Plocher. Chris also gave out membership renewal cards to Scipio Garling for 14 years, Vince Cazenas for 23 years, Mark Klostermeyer for 29 years, Steve White for 33 years, and Chuck Harner for 42 years.
Then the gang took a half hour break. The coffee was ready, and thanks to Bob Blair who saved the nite by driving all the way over to the Harmonizer truck parking lot and getting the supply of goodies from the truck to go with the coffee.
At 8 pm, the bell rang and the guys all took seats. This year there was quartet on deck while a quartet sang. So there was always a nice crowd to cheer (and laugh). Lew Klinge kept us all laughing as mc and also kept things rolling. He also presented a lot of great history about the contest and its founder, Wilbur Sparks.
Dr. Put, or event chairman, Eric Wallen, did a great job in promoting to get the 20 entries, and all the behind the scene planning. Thanks also to the sound guys, photo guys listed in the report or score sheet printed here.
Congrats to all. There was some great singing, many great laughs and some good parodies. There were surprises like when a quartet set off a flash or spark and had not told the tenor! Also there were a couple quartets who got to laughing so hard that they almost had to toss in the towel. It was a great nite.
Results of winners are below. Eric instituted a new award to recognize a guy who sang all four parts in the contest. Since no one managed to copy that trend set in the past by George Azzam, we recognized the guys who sang in the most quartets. Joel Golden and Bob Mattes each sang in five! Bob will get his trophy next time.
December 29th there is no a Harmonizer meeting at Durant. BUT all of our chapter, and especially the quartets from our contest, are invited to go over to the annual BLAST hosted by Dundalk. 7 – 11 pm. At Michael’s 8th Avenue, 7220 Grayburn Drive, Glen Burnie, MD. More info from blast.dundalk.org. Let’s send at least our winning quartets there to compete. Food and brews included in the small entry fee. Joe gave it a plug last nite too.
To confirm, the chorus will sing carols next Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Alexandria Hospital on Seminary Road. Meet in the lobby at 7 pm. Wear a Santa hat or scarf. New members and guests are welcome, as well as old timers who have not been singing a lot lately. After we sing we will all go to 815 Southside for an afterglow.
Here is the report from last nite’s contest.
Contest Competitors and Scores (names listed tenor, lead, bari, bass):
1. Chopped Liver -- 274
(Colosimo, Grant, Mattes, Yates)
2. Audacity -- 258 Comedy
(Kousen, Dangel, Golden, Wachter)
3. Patapsco 4 -- 213 Comedy
(Cameron, Depuy, Ashford, Kelly)
4. PBQ (Paper Bag Quartet) – 223 Comedy
(Cerutti, Ferguson, Fess, Stamps)
5. Classic Crooners -- 264
(Kousen, Martin, Mattes, Yates)
6. Down Two Wholes -- 284
(Kelly, Caldwell, Cerutti, Ives)
7. Just In Time -- 293
(Savage, Colosimo, Ives, Dillingham)
8. Golden Oldies -- 269
(Kousen, Fedarko, Barnes, Golden)
9. Alien Autopsy Review Board -- 289
(Garling, Martin, Cerutti, Kelly)
10. La-La Land -- 255
(O’Brien, Ferguson, Mattes, McFarland)
11. Four Queens -- 310
(Garling, Van Gilder, Rub, Reynolds)
12. Prince (Formerly 50% Off Quartet) – 279 Comedy
(Berman, Smith, Stamps, Guy)
13. Last Note Singers -- 249
(Kieba, Kahler, Golden, Huber)
14. Atom Smashers -- 30
(O’Brien, Martin, Colosimo, Yates)
15. The Droids – 217 Comedy
(Ritchey, Ammerman, Golden, Wallen)
16. AWOL -- 244
(Fuller, Dangel, Mattes, McFarland)
17. Present Company – 277 Comedy
(Van Gilder, Knobel, Blomgren, Wallen)
18. Classic Connection – 256
(O’Brien, Fedarko, Mattes, Martin)
19. Mixed Nuts -- 232
(Miller, Dangel, Blomgren, Golden)
20. Superbad -- 267
(Sawyer, Ferguson, Cerutti, Wallen)
SPECIAL AWARD: The George Azzam Award -- there was a tie with Joel Golden and Bob Mattes both singing in 5 quartets!
WINNERS:
Comedy:
3rd -- Audacity
2nd -- Present Company
1st -- Prince
Traditional Category:
3rd -- Just In Time
2nd -- Atom Smashers
1st -- Four Queens
Judges: Youth Reclamation Project from Richmond (Hardman Jones, Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Vic Owen)
Master of Ceremonies: Lew Klinge
Sound: Dennis Richey, Scott Kahler
Photography: Ike Evans, TJ Jones
Contest Administrator: Jack Pitzer
Dr. Put: Eric Wallen
Refreshments: Bob Blair, Terry Jordan
We all headed over to the afterglow and there was another big crowd to continue the fun we had had at the chapter meeting.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Last minute sales of ornaments and scrip cards were conducted. Special orders of scrip cards will be delivered at the Hospital Sing next Tuesday nite.
Many guys were trying to find the guys they were gonna sing with in the competition and checking the Order of Singing posted on the wall by the coffee table.
Will Cox did warm ups and got every one singing. Director Joe made some announcements to recap last week’s word about the busy January schedule with the contest package. He confirmed that guys had gotten the learning materials made available by the music team. He reminded all that Geri Geis will be in to work on the ballad and Cindy Hansen to work on the up tune early in January.
The Abe Lincoln painting made for the chorus during the holiday show dress rehearsal was put out as a silent auction item. It went for a heft sum and included a gift card to sue for framing. The artist made it for the chapter.
Membership VP Dan announced the next guest nite to be January 19th. Start lining up your guests who will want to join this exciting chapter.
Dan also welcomed several guests, several former members in for the contest, as well as some members we don’t see too often who were also singing in the contest. He also welcomed our judges – YOUTH RECLAMATOIN PROJECT, Hardman Jones, Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Vic Owen. They are current district senior’s quartet champs and will represent us at the mid winter convention in FL.
Everyone was glad to hear that Maxx Factor did well the first nite on the TV special. (Word came in at the afterglow that they had made the second cut.)
Secretary Buechler presented a Man of Note award to Dan O’Brien for sponsoring Andrew Plocher. Chris also gave out membership renewal cards to Scipio Garling for 14 years, Vince Cazenas for 23 years, Mark Klostermeyer for 29 years, Steve White for 33 years, and Chuck Harner for 42 years.
Then the gang took a half hour break. The coffee was ready, and thanks to Bob Blair who saved the nite by driving all the way over to the Harmonizer truck parking lot and getting the supply of goodies from the truck to go with the coffee.
At 8 pm, the bell rang and the guys all took seats. This year there was quartet on deck while a quartet sang. So there was always a nice crowd to cheer (and laugh). Lew Klinge kept us all laughing as mc and also kept things rolling. He also presented a lot of great history about the contest and its founder, Wilbur Sparks.
Dr. Put, or event chairman, Eric Wallen, did a great job in promoting to get the 20 entries, and all the behind the scene planning. Thanks also to the sound guys, photo guys listed in the report or score sheet printed here.
Congrats to all. There was some great singing, many great laughs and some good parodies. There were surprises like when a quartet set off a flash or spark and had not told the tenor! Also there were a couple quartets who got to laughing so hard that they almost had to toss in the towel. It was a great nite.
Results of winners are below. Eric instituted a new award to recognize a guy who sang all four parts in the contest. Since no one managed to copy that trend set in the past by George Azzam, we recognized the guys who sang in the most quartets. Joel Golden and Bob Mattes each sang in five! Bob will get his trophy next time.
December 29th there is no a Harmonizer meeting at Durant. BUT all of our chapter, and especially the quartets from our contest, are invited to go over to the annual BLAST hosted by Dundalk. 7 – 11 pm. At Michael’s 8th Avenue, 7220 Grayburn Drive, Glen Burnie, MD. More info from blast.dundalk.org. Let’s send at least our winning quartets there to compete. Food and brews included in the small entry fee. Joe gave it a plug last nite too.
To confirm, the chorus will sing carols next Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Alexandria Hospital on Seminary Road. Meet in the lobby at 7 pm. Wear a Santa hat or scarf. New members and guests are welcome, as well as old timers who have not been singing a lot lately. After we sing we will all go to 815 Southside for an afterglow.
Here is the report from last nite’s contest.
Contest Competitors and Scores (names listed tenor, lead, bari, bass):
1. Chopped Liver -- 274
(Colosimo, Grant, Mattes, Yates)
2. Audacity -- 258 Comedy
(Kousen, Dangel, Golden, Wachter)
3. Patapsco 4 -- 213 Comedy
(Cameron, Depuy, Ashford, Kelly)
4. PBQ (Paper Bag Quartet) – 223 Comedy
(Cerutti, Ferguson, Fess, Stamps)
5. Classic Crooners -- 264
(Kousen, Martin, Mattes, Yates)
6. Down Two Wholes -- 284
(Kelly, Caldwell, Cerutti, Ives)
7. Just In Time -- 293
(Savage, Colosimo, Ives, Dillingham)
8. Golden Oldies -- 269
(Kousen, Fedarko, Barnes, Golden)
9. Alien Autopsy Review Board -- 289
(Garling, Martin, Cerutti, Kelly)
10. La-La Land -- 255
(O’Brien, Ferguson, Mattes, McFarland)
11. Four Queens -- 310
(Garling, Van Gilder, Rub, Reynolds)
12. Prince (Formerly 50% Off Quartet) – 279 Comedy
(Berman, Smith, Stamps, Guy)
13. Last Note Singers -- 249
(Kieba, Kahler, Golden, Huber)
14. Atom Smashers -- 30
(O’Brien, Martin, Colosimo, Yates)
15. The Droids – 217 Comedy
(Ritchey, Ammerman, Golden, Wallen)
16. AWOL -- 244
(Fuller, Dangel, Mattes, McFarland)
17. Present Company – 277 Comedy
(Van Gilder, Knobel, Blomgren, Wallen)
18. Classic Connection – 256
(O’Brien, Fedarko, Mattes, Martin)
19. Mixed Nuts -- 232
(Miller, Dangel, Blomgren, Golden)
20. Superbad -- 267
(Sawyer, Ferguson, Cerutti, Wallen)
SPECIAL AWARD: The George Azzam Award -- there was a tie with Joel Golden and Bob Mattes both singing in 5 quartets!
WINNERS:
Comedy:
3rd -- Audacity
2nd -- Present Company
1st -- Prince
Traditional Category:
3rd -- Just In Time
2nd -- Atom Smashers
1st -- Four Queens
Judges: Youth Reclamation Project from Richmond (Hardman Jones, Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Vic Owen)
Master of Ceremonies: Lew Klinge
Sound: Dennis Richey, Scott Kahler
Photography: Ike Evans, TJ Jones
Contest Administrator: Jack Pitzer
Dr. Put: Eric Wallen
Refreshments: Bob Blair, Terry Jordan
We all headed over to the afterglow and there was another big crowd to continue the fun we had had at the chapter meeting.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Looking Back on the December 8th Chapter Meeting
The lousy weather hit again on Tuesday but a good crowd of guys made it to Durant and at 7 pm Mark Kostermeyer called for guys to “take their seats” as chairs were set up for us. It was planned to be a short meeting to warm up, make announcements and take care of business including sales of ornaments and scrip, then head into Old Town to do some Christmas songs.
Tony Colosimo did the musical warm up. He noted that we will be working on new habits for the big goal in Philly. This plan is important since there are so many new singers in the chorus now.
Director Joe took the podium and first off thanked Jeremy Knobel for his hard work, dedication and success in producing and managing a great Holiday Show. Jeremy was organized right to the end including this list of people that he thanked publicly. The guys gave the traditional one-clap salute to each.
VP of shows – Ken
Food - Brad, Mick
Dessert - Jack
Kitchen - Bill S. and sons, Scott , Yaritza, Sofia (and staff)
Script - Scipio, Noah, JP
Actors/MCs - Terry, Tom, Joe, JP, Dennis
Sound - Scott, Dennis, Yaritza
Lights - Dixie, Chris Cunningham (assistant)
Truck - Bill D, Bob B
Props - Dennis, Bill S
Silent Auction - Phil, Mick
Decorations - Roger and Friday volunteers
Raffle and table sales - Sandy, FiH, Joe’s Mom
Video Cameras - Dan O, Mike, Joe Sr.
Photographer - Handan
Tickets - Steve Murane, Keith Jones
Marketing - Scipio, Nick Auito
Photos w/Santa- Ike, Tim Buell, Ken, Bill DePuy, Handan, Emily (Tom's wife)
Guest greeters - Ken, Scipio
Singing Vals - Joel, Ike, Bill Curtis, Randy, Gary
Guest performer - Will Cox
Waiter sign-ups - Ian
Santa and Mrs. Clause – Bruce and Ginny
Chorus management - K12
Maintenance - Archie and church staff
Auction item donors - K-12 for certificates and mats
Volunteers on Thurs, Fri for set-up
Waiters and captains
All the Harmonizers!
The word is that we will do well financially on this show too!!
Joe announced that learning tapes for the contest songs are out. And that on Jan. 12th, Cindy Hansen will be here to help us with the up tune.
Next Joe introduced a special guest for the evening, former Harmonizer and now staffer with the BHS Foundation, Ryan Killeen. Ryan thanked our chapter for being the leading chapter in the Society in gift giving to the Foundation. (There are many members and friends of our chapter who support the President’s Council.) He was also eager to have others of us know the need to support the Foundation and its work in providing support for youth activities in the nation.
Ryan was also eager to sing some tags and went with us to sing later.
Terry Reynolds conducted a contest as to how many songs guys thought were still in our repertoire. It was fun – many of us were wrong on some old songs. In short the list is ever-changing since as soon as some songs are ready to perform, other songs will be taken off the list. See the list on the web or see Terry.
The mic was back to Joe for more important announcements about our contest planning for Philly. He relayed again the plan to have Cindy work on the contest up tune. And he announced that he had met with Geri Geis and invited her to work on the ballad. She will be coming in early January to start the plan in helping us deliver the message of the song. His goal is to be “worthy of a medal” in the contest this summer.
Final announcements included the usual word of lost and found stuff from a show, and then instructions for meeting at 8 pm at Market Square. We sang at four restaurants, as we have the last three years, to cheers and smiling faces. Some places the crowd joined in our singing. The rain was not fun, but the comradeship was! It is a great tradition.
We all headed over to the afterglow and there was big crowd since we had finished singing early.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Tony Colosimo did the musical warm up. He noted that we will be working on new habits for the big goal in Philly. This plan is important since there are so many new singers in the chorus now.
Director Joe took the podium and first off thanked Jeremy Knobel for his hard work, dedication and success in producing and managing a great Holiday Show. Jeremy was organized right to the end including this list of people that he thanked publicly. The guys gave the traditional one-clap salute to each.
VP of shows – Ken
Food - Brad, Mick
Dessert - Jack
Kitchen - Bill S. and sons, Scott , Yaritza, Sofia (and staff)
Script - Scipio, Noah, JP
Actors/MCs - Terry, Tom, Joe, JP, Dennis
Sound - Scott, Dennis, Yaritza
Lights - Dixie, Chris Cunningham (assistant)
Truck - Bill D, Bob B
Props - Dennis, Bill S
Silent Auction - Phil, Mick
Decorations - Roger and Friday volunteers
Raffle and table sales - Sandy, FiH, Joe’s Mom
Video Cameras - Dan O, Mike, Joe Sr.
Photographer - Handan
Tickets - Steve Murane, Keith Jones
Marketing - Scipio, Nick Auito
Photos w/Santa- Ike, Tim Buell, Ken, Bill DePuy, Handan, Emily (Tom's wife)
Guest greeters - Ken, Scipio
Singing Vals - Joel, Ike, Bill Curtis, Randy, Gary
Guest performer - Will Cox
Waiter sign-ups - Ian
Santa and Mrs. Clause – Bruce and Ginny
Chorus management - K12
Maintenance - Archie and church staff
Auction item donors - K-12 for certificates and mats
Volunteers on Thurs, Fri for set-up
Waiters and captains
All the Harmonizers!
The word is that we will do well financially on this show too!!
Joe announced that learning tapes for the contest songs are out. And that on Jan. 12th, Cindy Hansen will be here to help us with the up tune.
Next Joe introduced a special guest for the evening, former Harmonizer and now staffer with the BHS Foundation, Ryan Killeen. Ryan thanked our chapter for being the leading chapter in the Society in gift giving to the Foundation. (There are many members and friends of our chapter who support the President’s Council.) He was also eager to have others of us know the need to support the Foundation and its work in providing support for youth activities in the nation.
Ryan was also eager to sing some tags and went with us to sing later.
Terry Reynolds conducted a contest as to how many songs guys thought were still in our repertoire. It was fun – many of us were wrong on some old songs. In short the list is ever-changing since as soon as some songs are ready to perform, other songs will be taken off the list. See the list on the web or see Terry.
The mic was back to Joe for more important announcements about our contest planning for Philly. He relayed again the plan to have Cindy work on the contest up tune. And he announced that he had met with Geri Geis and invited her to work on the ballad. She will be coming in early January to start the plan in helping us deliver the message of the song. His goal is to be “worthy of a medal” in the contest this summer.
Final announcements included the usual word of lost and found stuff from a show, and then instructions for meeting at 8 pm at Market Square. We sang at four restaurants, as we have the last three years, to cheers and smiling faces. Some places the crowd joined in our singing. The rain was not fun, but the comradeship was! It is a great tradition.
We all headed over to the afterglow and there was big crowd since we had finished singing early.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Friday, December 4, 2009
Looking Back on the December 1st Chapter Meeting
When YeEd arrived at 5 til 7, the action was well underway at Durant. Everyone was fired up about last minute ticket sales for the show and getting a good supply of ornaments to sell.
Will Cox did warm ups and got the men ready to work hard on the show music.
Props were arriving right and left from those who had responded to Scipio’s email request. Funniest was seeing Dean Martin come in caring a box with women’s legs sticking out of the box! You will have to come to the show if you don’t know why!!
Characters were working their lines and helping the chorus with their timing too. Terry Reynolds in Jack-In-The-Box again. Director Joe is “Junior” and Tom Kraus is Jack’s nephew, “Charlie.”
Producer Jeremy Knobel was busy all evening helping the chorus know when to react and where to be during the package. And he was more than gentle in his nudge to SELL MORE TICKETS. There are some empty tables to fill.
In the midst of the fun, Chuck Hunter arrived to loud cheers from all!! He is back in the US for meetings at State and will head back to Damascus on Saturday. He will get to come to the Friday nite show.
Another part of the evening was coaching and instructions for table servers. And an effort to get a full set of waiters signed up. Before YeEd left the hall, it looked like a bunch of guys had stopped at the sign up table to help. Yeah.
Both of our chapter ensembles sang their show songs – TBD and CAMERON STATION.
There was a strong plug for guys to make certain they have elf or toy costumes for the first part of the show and then caroling outfits (sweater, scarf, etc.) for the last part.
Bob Rhome covered for K12 and ran the meeting. Secretary Buechler gave a 22-year renewal card to Tom Griffith who was back.
Dan O’Brien restated the earlier joyful announcement by Joe that we have 100 singers signed up for Philly!! Then Dan introduced 9 guests – a couple who have filled out applications.
He also welcomed member Roger Day who stopped by to check out things in prep for his annual Deck The Hall gig to turn the fellowship hall of First Baptist into Santa’s workshop.
Bob Rhome reminded all to pay for their Philly tickets right away. And to stay tuned for final details about housing at that convention.
President Brad thanked Mrs. Wilbur Sparks for her recent donation to the chapter and for her purchase of scrip cards for holiday giving. He also welcomed Dixie back after her recent operation.
Brad gave You Make A Difference pins to Tom Kraus for his leadership in forming TBD and for helping with the show. And to Phil Ferguson for his work in managing the silent auction at the show.
Jeremy Knobel ran down a list of important reminders about this weekend’s show. There is a rehearsal Thursday eve at the First Baptist Church on King Street. Singers should wear their elf or toy outfits to get used to them. They don’t need to bring their caroling outfits.
Every member needs to bring two boxes wrapped in shinny paper and four dozen good cookies. Bring them Thursday nite.
Chorus calls are 6 on Thursday; 6 on Friday eve; 10 am on Saturday.
Still some slots open for guys to fill as waiters. Sign up Thursday. Decorating crews are working on Friday – every member can help with this task including non singers and new guests and such. There was also need for a riser crew on Thursday at pm.
Then Director Joe took over again to drill and work on the show songs. But first he called up John Hohl to take the farewell chair and after Joe’s thanks to John for his service and help over the years; we sang “A Place on the Risers for You” as John is relocating to FL.
Then back to work including some visual drill on package show songs. Also the MC guys did their bits for practice, as did the many soloists.
It was hard work right up til time to go to the afterglow. But first the guys had to load the truck for this weekend and put everything away.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Will Cox did warm ups and got the men ready to work hard on the show music.
Props were arriving right and left from those who had responded to Scipio’s email request. Funniest was seeing Dean Martin come in caring a box with women’s legs sticking out of the box! You will have to come to the show if you don’t know why!!
Characters were working their lines and helping the chorus with their timing too. Terry Reynolds in Jack-In-The-Box again. Director Joe is “Junior” and Tom Kraus is Jack’s nephew, “Charlie.”
Producer Jeremy Knobel was busy all evening helping the chorus know when to react and where to be during the package. And he was more than gentle in his nudge to SELL MORE TICKETS. There are some empty tables to fill.
In the midst of the fun, Chuck Hunter arrived to loud cheers from all!! He is back in the US for meetings at State and will head back to Damascus on Saturday. He will get to come to the Friday nite show.
Another part of the evening was coaching and instructions for table servers. And an effort to get a full set of waiters signed up. Before YeEd left the hall, it looked like a bunch of guys had stopped at the sign up table to help. Yeah.
Both of our chapter ensembles sang their show songs – TBD and CAMERON STATION.
There was a strong plug for guys to make certain they have elf or toy costumes for the first part of the show and then caroling outfits (sweater, scarf, etc.) for the last part.
Bob Rhome covered for K12 and ran the meeting. Secretary Buechler gave a 22-year renewal card to Tom Griffith who was back.
Dan O’Brien restated the earlier joyful announcement by Joe that we have 100 singers signed up for Philly!! Then Dan introduced 9 guests – a couple who have filled out applications.
He also welcomed member Roger Day who stopped by to check out things in prep for his annual Deck The Hall gig to turn the fellowship hall of First Baptist into Santa’s workshop.
Bob Rhome reminded all to pay for their Philly tickets right away. And to stay tuned for final details about housing at that convention.
President Brad thanked Mrs. Wilbur Sparks for her recent donation to the chapter and for her purchase of scrip cards for holiday giving. He also welcomed Dixie back after her recent operation.
Brad gave You Make A Difference pins to Tom Kraus for his leadership in forming TBD and for helping with the show. And to Phil Ferguson for his work in managing the silent auction at the show.
Jeremy Knobel ran down a list of important reminders about this weekend’s show. There is a rehearsal Thursday eve at the First Baptist Church on King Street. Singers should wear their elf or toy outfits to get used to them. They don’t need to bring their caroling outfits.
Every member needs to bring two boxes wrapped in shinny paper and four dozen good cookies. Bring them Thursday nite.
Chorus calls are 6 on Thursday; 6 on Friday eve; 10 am on Saturday.
Still some slots open for guys to fill as waiters. Sign up Thursday. Decorating crews are working on Friday – every member can help with this task including non singers and new guests and such. There was also need for a riser crew on Thursday at pm.
Then Director Joe took over again to drill and work on the show songs. But first he called up John Hohl to take the farewell chair and after Joe’s thanks to John for his service and help over the years; we sang “A Place on the Risers for You” as John is relocating to FL.
Then back to work including some visual drill on package show songs. Also the MC guys did their bits for practice, as did the many soloists.
It was hard work right up til time to go to the afterglow. But first the guys had to load the truck for this weekend and put everything away.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Friday, November 27, 2009
Looking Back on the November 24th Chapter Meeting
More rainy weather made getting to chapter a little crazy. Plus it was the start of the Thanksgiving exit from DC so the roads were packed. But we had a good crowd again and there was lots going on prior to music.
Tony Colosimo did the warm ups for the chorus. As part of it, he introduced a new warm up drill to replace the long-used “may me my mow moo” that lots of us grew up on!
And “Oh my!” The non-durational doots were back.
The whole evening was used to prep the songs for the holiday show coming up fast – Dec. 4 and 5. The characters were worked into the practice. And the waiter operation while singing was rehearsed too. The guys already got into the fun of leading their tables to sing parts of “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
As promised in the pre-meeting memo sent to all members, Director Joe invited 8 guys to come out and sing one of the show songs. When they were finished, he asked them to return to the risers and choose someone to take their place. He did this for about 4 songs. As usual, the tenors got a work out in order to have enough groups have tenors.
Before the membership meeting, Mark Klostermeyer recognized this week’s birthdays. Then Dan O’Brien took the mic. He invited us all to get our supply of Harmonizer business cards. And he suggested to guests present (and to current members who might have guests standing near them on the risers), that if he were busy during a Tuesday nite and a guest wanted to get answers to some questions, they might also speak with Alan Kousen and Phil Ferguson.
There were 9 guests this week including some returning guests, some men from other nearby chapters, first timers, former members and fans. John Hohl was back from Florida after moving there a few weeks ago.
The 30 or so singers who did the show at National Harbor on Monday evening did us proud and helped raise a few bucks for the chapter. A similar gig is set for Thursday, Dec. 17th.
After coffee and snacks, it was back to the risers for our weekly chapter meeting. Chuck Harner alerted all that accounts for sales of Entertainment Books must be completed with him (turn in the unsold ones or you owe for them) by Dec. 8th.
Ever wonder about that big Campbell Soup can on the table in the hall? It is a place to deposit Campbell Soup labels you have collected and brought in. We turn them over to a local school that turns in the labels to earn points for school equipment. Everyone is encouraged to collect the labels.
IMPORTANT announcement: you needed to get a convention reservation and indicate your plans for housing in the Harmo hotel in Philly in July. If you missed that, call Carl Kauffmann. Not sure what can be done, but he will know.
Jeremy Knobel plugged holiday show ticket sales. And he asked guys to sign up for decorating crews for Friday, and for riser set up on Thursday. All singers should mark their calendars that we have a rehearsal on Thursday, Dec. 3 at First Baptist Church. Don’t forget to wrap two big boxes with shiny gift wrap (no bows) and to bring them to dress rehearsal. ALSO bring four dozen cookies at that time.
Eric Wallen invited guys to register a quartet for the Put Together Contest on Dec. 15th!!
Sandy Stamps suggested (a bit in jest) that you should get some White House ornaments in case there is someone you forget for holidays gifting. (Surely Eric would not forget Joe!)
President Brad reminded all to get in their items for the silent auction for the holiday shows. YeEd hears there is at least one tv coming in and a piano – or two.
Brad presented You Make a Difference pins to Bill Stewart for his willingness to take on the tough jobs like set construction and working in the kitchen at the show; and Noah Van Gilder for his creative contributions to the show scripts.
After the meeting time, the chorus worked in sectionals on some of the songs for the show.
CAMERON STATION sang another new song for us that they will do on the show featuring Steve White as soloist. Then we heard the debut performance of a new small ensemble within the chorus, called TBD. The group includes Tom Kraus, Scipio Garling, Eric Wallen, Noah Van Gilder, Myles Glancy and Phil Ferguson.
Soon it was back to the risers for work on the rest of the show songs with the assistant directors up front. It was fun to hear the old standby “Toyland” which Will Cox will direct again for the show..
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. —Ye Ed.)
Tony Colosimo did the warm ups for the chorus. As part of it, he introduced a new warm up drill to replace the long-used “may me my mow moo” that lots of us grew up on!
And “Oh my!” The non-durational doots were back.
The whole evening was used to prep the songs for the holiday show coming up fast – Dec. 4 and 5. The characters were worked into the practice. And the waiter operation while singing was rehearsed too. The guys already got into the fun of leading their tables to sing parts of “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
As promised in the pre-meeting memo sent to all members, Director Joe invited 8 guys to come out and sing one of the show songs. When they were finished, he asked them to return to the risers and choose someone to take their place. He did this for about 4 songs. As usual, the tenors got a work out in order to have enough groups have tenors.
Before the membership meeting, Mark Klostermeyer recognized this week’s birthdays. Then Dan O’Brien took the mic. He invited us all to get our supply of Harmonizer business cards. And he suggested to guests present (and to current members who might have guests standing near them on the risers), that if he were busy during a Tuesday nite and a guest wanted to get answers to some questions, they might also speak with Alan Kousen and Phil Ferguson.
There were 9 guests this week including some returning guests, some men from other nearby chapters, first timers, former members and fans. John Hohl was back from Florida after moving there a few weeks ago.
The 30 or so singers who did the show at National Harbor on Monday evening did us proud and helped raise a few bucks for the chapter. A similar gig is set for Thursday, Dec. 17th.
After coffee and snacks, it was back to the risers for our weekly chapter meeting. Chuck Harner alerted all that accounts for sales of Entertainment Books must be completed with him (turn in the unsold ones or you owe for them) by Dec. 8th.
Ever wonder about that big Campbell Soup can on the table in the hall? It is a place to deposit Campbell Soup labels you have collected and brought in. We turn them over to a local school that turns in the labels to earn points for school equipment. Everyone is encouraged to collect the labels.
IMPORTANT announcement: you needed to get a convention reservation and indicate your plans for housing in the Harmo hotel in Philly in July. If you missed that, call Carl Kauffmann. Not sure what can be done, but he will know.
Jeremy Knobel plugged holiday show ticket sales. And he asked guys to sign up for decorating crews for Friday, and for riser set up on Thursday. All singers should mark their calendars that we have a rehearsal on Thursday, Dec. 3 at First Baptist Church. Don’t forget to wrap two big boxes with shiny gift wrap (no bows) and to bring them to dress rehearsal. ALSO bring four dozen cookies at that time.
Eric Wallen invited guys to register a quartet for the Put Together Contest on Dec. 15th!!
Sandy Stamps suggested (a bit in jest) that you should get some White House ornaments in case there is someone you forget for holidays gifting. (Surely Eric would not forget Joe!)
President Brad reminded all to get in their items for the silent auction for the holiday shows. YeEd hears there is at least one tv coming in and a piano – or two.
Brad presented You Make a Difference pins to Bill Stewart for his willingness to take on the tough jobs like set construction and working in the kitchen at the show; and Noah Van Gilder for his creative contributions to the show scripts.
After the meeting time, the chorus worked in sectionals on some of the songs for the show.
CAMERON STATION sang another new song for us that they will do on the show featuring Steve White as soloist. Then we heard the debut performance of a new small ensemble within the chorus, called TBD. The group includes Tom Kraus, Scipio Garling, Eric Wallen, Noah Van Gilder, Myles Glancy and Phil Ferguson.
Soon it was back to the risers for work on the rest of the show songs with the assistant directors up front. It was fun to hear the old standby “Toyland” which Will Cox will direct again for the show..
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. —Ye Ed.)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Looking Back on the November 17th Chapter Meeting
Members of the chapter arrived early to take care of business matters before the singing started. As soon as Steve Murane sat down, there was a line of folks to take care of Holiday Show ticket sales. And the Halls had customers ready to buy scrip cards too and so they were eager for Bob Eckman to arrive with the new supply. Mick Stamps did a steady business of WHOs too. There was excitement in the hall as everyone was eager to get to work on their singing, help the new guys learn the show music and welcome all the visitors on the risers with the singers.
Director Joe took over after a good warm up and started right to work on the songs for the show. The guys were havin fun with “The Chipmunk Song” but as promised, Joe called several down to sing it in a quartet. There were some red faces but he did not yield. His point – consider this a lesson learned: that the pre-Tuesday nite memo sent from Steve White to all members is a preview of what will be expected at Durant.
Joe also used a lot of techniques to help the singers get into the spirit of these songs and to capture the desire to make them as important as any show songs.
Prior to break, Mark Klostermeyer did birthdays (actually only one – that old guy Terry Jordan) and announced that the board meeting was set for Wed. Nov. 18 at Durant at 6 pm. For some of the newer members, YeEd believes the chapter board meeting is still open to any and all members who wish to attend. Probably good to alert the president you are attending.
Secretary Buechler presented a 3-year renewal card to Jeremy Knobel and a 5-year card to Tim Buell. Dan OBrien invited each of us to stop by the membership station to get a stack of the new chapter business cards. They are not guest nite specific but can be used any time to give to someone you meet who likes to sing. Thanks to marketing vp Scipio Garling for the new supply.
Dan also introduced the two newest members of the chapter – Tim Buell and Kevin Roth. Dan reports there have been 17 new members this year!! Tonite’s guest line up included 8 men who came to sing with us. The list included former members, former guests, a couple first timers and some gents from other chapters.
After coffee and goodies and lots of visiting and business, the program continued. Phil Feguson reminded all guys to get some items to him for the silent auction at the show. And show producer Jeremy reminded everyone to work on an elf or toy costume, wrap two boxes for show decoration and to bring four dozen good holiday cookies. The boxes and cookies should be brought to First Baptist on King Street during the Thursday nite rehearsal, Dec. 3.
Music and Performance VP Terry Reynolds announced two changes in the musical team. Bob Mattes has stepped up to fill the librarian position which Dick Dangel has held for a long time. Thanks to Dick for his service. Terry also announced that Scipio Garling will become presentation leader. He fills the space left vacant when Gary Plaag asked to step out in order to spend more time on his business.
President Brad thanked those who had signed up for the small group gig at National Habor Place. He also presented a You Make A Difference pin to Howard Nestlerode for his detail work on chapter financials. And a pin to Will Cox for his service as a section leader and assistant director.
Then it was back to singing.
A tag or push out quartet fun time was first thing. Always fun to see the expressions of guys faces when they get tapped on the shoulder to move on!
Joe and team did another presentation of the new ballad. This time Joe used Nina Simone’s version for us to hear and enjoy and appreciate. Then there was some time to sing the melody and as a special treat, to hear the intro. Joe thanked the repertoire committee and the music committee for having this material ready now versus in March or something.
CAMERON STATION took the stage to sing two of their holiday songs for us. And then the assistant directors worked us thru more songs for the show.
We ended the rehearsal with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas: which is also the end of the show.
Guys had worked hard and were eager to put things away and head off to the afterglow.
More work next week, for sure.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Director Joe took over after a good warm up and started right to work on the songs for the show. The guys were havin fun with “The Chipmunk Song” but as promised, Joe called several down to sing it in a quartet. There were some red faces but he did not yield. His point – consider this a lesson learned: that the pre-Tuesday nite memo sent from Steve White to all members is a preview of what will be expected at Durant.
Joe also used a lot of techniques to help the singers get into the spirit of these songs and to capture the desire to make them as important as any show songs.
Prior to break, Mark Klostermeyer did birthdays (actually only one – that old guy Terry Jordan) and announced that the board meeting was set for Wed. Nov. 18 at Durant at 6 pm. For some of the newer members, YeEd believes the chapter board meeting is still open to any and all members who wish to attend. Probably good to alert the president you are attending.
Secretary Buechler presented a 3-year renewal card to Jeremy Knobel and a 5-year card to Tim Buell. Dan OBrien invited each of us to stop by the membership station to get a stack of the new chapter business cards. They are not guest nite specific but can be used any time to give to someone you meet who likes to sing. Thanks to marketing vp Scipio Garling for the new supply.
Dan also introduced the two newest members of the chapter – Tim Buell and Kevin Roth. Dan reports there have been 17 new members this year!! Tonite’s guest line up included 8 men who came to sing with us. The list included former members, former guests, a couple first timers and some gents from other chapters.
After coffee and goodies and lots of visiting and business, the program continued. Phil Feguson reminded all guys to get some items to him for the silent auction at the show. And show producer Jeremy reminded everyone to work on an elf or toy costume, wrap two boxes for show decoration and to bring four dozen good holiday cookies. The boxes and cookies should be brought to First Baptist on King Street during the Thursday nite rehearsal, Dec. 3.
Music and Performance VP Terry Reynolds announced two changes in the musical team. Bob Mattes has stepped up to fill the librarian position which Dick Dangel has held for a long time. Thanks to Dick for his service. Terry also announced that Scipio Garling will become presentation leader. He fills the space left vacant when Gary Plaag asked to step out in order to spend more time on his business.
President Brad thanked those who had signed up for the small group gig at National Habor Place. He also presented a You Make A Difference pin to Howard Nestlerode for his detail work on chapter financials. And a pin to Will Cox for his service as a section leader and assistant director.
Then it was back to singing.
A tag or push out quartet fun time was first thing. Always fun to see the expressions of guys faces when they get tapped on the shoulder to move on!
Joe and team did another presentation of the new ballad. This time Joe used Nina Simone’s version for us to hear and enjoy and appreciate. Then there was some time to sing the melody and as a special treat, to hear the intro. Joe thanked the repertoire committee and the music committee for having this material ready now versus in March or something.
CAMERON STATION took the stage to sing two of their holiday songs for us. And then the assistant directors worked us thru more songs for the show.
We ended the rehearsal with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas: which is also the end of the show.
Guys had worked hard and were eager to put things away and head off to the afterglow.
More work next week, for sure.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Friday, November 13, 2009
Looking Back on the November 10th Chapter Meeting
Another rainy nite in VA, but the Harmonizer spirits were high coming off the fantastic show on Sunday with Pride of Baltimore.
The usual scene was unfolding as men arrived to be early for the 7 pm start time. Sales were fairly strong of White House ornaments, Entertainment books and scrip cards for holiday purchases or gifts prior to the meeting.
After the warm up period, Director Joe praised and thanked the chorus and its many leaders for the hard work in making the show a huge success. He was impressed with the in-tune singing. He was glad the webcast reached out and delivered our product far and wide around the world.
The show was at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the U of MD College Park campus. A nice facility for singing and for watching! Theme of the show was “Take It From The Top” and included three songs sung by both the Harmonizers and Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline chorus. For the record, the songs were “All I Ask of You,” “Scarborough Fair,” and “Singing in Harmony.” About 160 singers were on the risers.
Guest quartet was MAXX FACTOR who recently achieved medalist status at the SAI convention. MC for the show was our own Rick Taylor.
Kudos to Brad Jones who did tons of tasks to make it a success and was the “believer” that it was a possibility. Ken Rub was officially producer. A quick run down of folks who did jobs to make it a success: JP for song board; K12 for chorus manager for both groups; TJ for visual cues; B Minnick for ticket sales for afterglow; Scott for sound; Mike K for webcast; Dean Martin for podcasts; K White for afterglow mc; Blair for truck and riser crew leadership; Dixie for lights; Scipio for marketing; FRIENDS for sales in lobby; a long list of soloists; CAMERON STATION for singing their new songs on the show.
Then it was on to work for the next big task in our calendar – the Holiday shows. Joe had his assistant directors work on the songs they will direct that weekend. (YeEd noted that we have so many new guys and guests on the risers we gotta put together more holiday music notebooks.)
After a healthy time for holiday show songs, Joe introduced us to our new contest ballad. He used some new techniques to do this. First we all read and talked about the meaning of the lyrics. Then we listened to a version of the song done by Frank Sinatra. Then we all sang the melody. Then since we were all fired up, Joe played the tag of the arrangement as sung by a demo tape. WOW. Song is “I Get Along Without You Just Like I Should.”
Joe turned things over to operations vp Klostermeyer who announced birthdays include the 234th for the Corps. Secretary Buechler presented a 6-year membership card to Ken Henderson, who is new to our chapter. Ken got the usual packet of neat things including the Harmo history book. [Last week, YeEd missed reporting that Josh Roots was given his 3-year renewal, and that Bill Clark and Neil Bibens, who are not living in this area, have renewed also.
K12 also brought out a huge pile of lost and found things from the show -- funny to see guys reclaim uniform parts and personal things.
Dan O’Brien welcomed Drew Dias back and then invited 12 guests up front for introduction. The group included some former members, guys from other chapters in our district and from afar, several first time guests, and a couple new applicants. As is our tradition, we sang our welcome song to them, directed by Will Cox. While we sing, the president, director and Dan shake each guest’s hand.
During the break, there were lots of goodies to go with the coffee – left overs from the goodies brought to the weekend show for the chorus dressing room and coordinated by one of our guests, Grant Leber.
YeEd also noted that the FRIENDS group was at Durant for one of their meetings. And he heard that Carl Kauffmann will be in Philly this weekend representing us on the BHS “fam” trip that lets each competing chorus send a rep to go to the site of the convention to check out housing options, practices spaces, the contest site, restaurants and transportation challenges. Craig Kuyawa is co-chair for Philly.
Ken Rub, our show vp, invited everyone to come sing on the Armed Forces daytime show at a local elementary school. (It turned out to be another great day and it was fun for the guys to sing for the students and many military vets present. Several of our guys were in uniform too for the event.)
Jeremy Knobel is heading up the Holiday Show and he asked five things from the men of the chapter: (1) sell tickets; (2) volunteer to help on Fri. morning the 4th; (3a) wrap two large boxes, like you buy reams of paper in, with shiny wrapping paper; (3b) bring four dozen good quality homemade or bakery holiday cookies with you; (4) contribute items of value for the silent auction – give them to Phil Ferguson; (5) get your costume ready to be an elf or toy.
President Brad acknowledged a generous gift from Shirley Bolstad to the chapter. And then Brad presented You Make A Difference pins to all the members of the FRIENDS group for their always-willing support of the chapter.
After the meeting portion of the nite, Joe had everyone get into a quartet push out line up for two holiday songs. Then he sent everyone to sectionals in other parts of the building to work on “There Will Always Be A Place on the Risers for You.” That work prompted a Moment In Harmo History about how that song came to be written by Bob Bates and arranged by John Hohl and sung at many important moments in the life of the chapter.
Joe and his musical team also had the singers work on the new “Chipmunk” song.
We adjourned a few minutes early, stashed the risers under the stage and prepared to head over to the afterglow. As usual there were quartets around the hall trying things and helping new guys get ready for their auditions.
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. —Ye Ed.)
The usual scene was unfolding as men arrived to be early for the 7 pm start time. Sales were fairly strong of White House ornaments, Entertainment books and scrip cards for holiday purchases or gifts prior to the meeting.
After the warm up period, Director Joe praised and thanked the chorus and its many leaders for the hard work in making the show a huge success. He was impressed with the in-tune singing. He was glad the webcast reached out and delivered our product far and wide around the world.
The show was at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the U of MD College Park campus. A nice facility for singing and for watching! Theme of the show was “Take It From The Top” and included three songs sung by both the Harmonizers and Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline chorus. For the record, the songs were “All I Ask of You,” “Scarborough Fair,” and “Singing in Harmony.” About 160 singers were on the risers.
Guest quartet was MAXX FACTOR who recently achieved medalist status at the SAI convention. MC for the show was our own Rick Taylor.
Kudos to Brad Jones who did tons of tasks to make it a success and was the “believer” that it was a possibility. Ken Rub was officially producer. A quick run down of folks who did jobs to make it a success: JP for song board; K12 for chorus manager for both groups; TJ for visual cues; B Minnick for ticket sales for afterglow; Scott for sound; Mike K for webcast; Dean Martin for podcasts; K White for afterglow mc; Blair for truck and riser crew leadership; Dixie for lights; Scipio for marketing; FRIENDS for sales in lobby; a long list of soloists; CAMERON STATION for singing their new songs on the show.
Then it was on to work for the next big task in our calendar – the Holiday shows. Joe had his assistant directors work on the songs they will direct that weekend. (YeEd noted that we have so many new guys and guests on the risers we gotta put together more holiday music notebooks.)
After a healthy time for holiday show songs, Joe introduced us to our new contest ballad. He used some new techniques to do this. First we all read and talked about the meaning of the lyrics. Then we listened to a version of the song done by Frank Sinatra. Then we all sang the melody. Then since we were all fired up, Joe played the tag of the arrangement as sung by a demo tape. WOW. Song is “I Get Along Without You Just Like I Should.”
Joe turned things over to operations vp Klostermeyer who announced birthdays include the 234th for the Corps. Secretary Buechler presented a 6-year membership card to Ken Henderson, who is new to our chapter. Ken got the usual packet of neat things including the Harmo history book. [Last week, YeEd missed reporting that Josh Roots was given his 3-year renewal, and that Bill Clark and Neil Bibens, who are not living in this area, have renewed also.
K12 also brought out a huge pile of lost and found things from the show -- funny to see guys reclaim uniform parts and personal things.
Dan O’Brien welcomed Drew Dias back and then invited 12 guests up front for introduction. The group included some former members, guys from other chapters in our district and from afar, several first time guests, and a couple new applicants. As is our tradition, we sang our welcome song to them, directed by Will Cox. While we sing, the president, director and Dan shake each guest’s hand.
During the break, there were lots of goodies to go with the coffee – left overs from the goodies brought to the weekend show for the chorus dressing room and coordinated by one of our guests, Grant Leber.
YeEd also noted that the FRIENDS group was at Durant for one of their meetings. And he heard that Carl Kauffmann will be in Philly this weekend representing us on the BHS “fam” trip that lets each competing chorus send a rep to go to the site of the convention to check out housing options, practices spaces, the contest site, restaurants and transportation challenges. Craig Kuyawa is co-chair for Philly.
Ken Rub, our show vp, invited everyone to come sing on the Armed Forces daytime show at a local elementary school. (It turned out to be another great day and it was fun for the guys to sing for the students and many military vets present. Several of our guys were in uniform too for the event.)
Jeremy Knobel is heading up the Holiday Show and he asked five things from the men of the chapter: (1) sell tickets; (2) volunteer to help on Fri. morning the 4th; (3a) wrap two large boxes, like you buy reams of paper in, with shiny wrapping paper; (3b) bring four dozen good quality homemade or bakery holiday cookies with you; (4) contribute items of value for the silent auction – give them to Phil Ferguson; (5) get your costume ready to be an elf or toy.
President Brad acknowledged a generous gift from Shirley Bolstad to the chapter. And then Brad presented You Make A Difference pins to all the members of the FRIENDS group for their always-willing support of the chapter.
After the meeting portion of the nite, Joe had everyone get into a quartet push out line up for two holiday songs. Then he sent everyone to sectionals in other parts of the building to work on “There Will Always Be A Place on the Risers for You.” That work prompted a Moment In Harmo History about how that song came to be written by Bob Bates and arranged by John Hohl and sung at many important moments in the life of the chapter.
Joe and his musical team also had the singers work on the new “Chipmunk” song.
We adjourned a few minutes early, stashed the risers under the stage and prepared to head over to the afterglow. As usual there were quartets around the hall trying things and helping new guys get ready for their auditions.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Looking Back on the November 3rd Chapter Meeting
Looking Back on the November 3rd Chapter Meeting
It was election nite in Virginia so the chapter meeting and rehearsal was in the adjoining Jeff Houston School. We are so lucky to have it next door, available thanks to our sponsoring group Alexandria Rec Dept., with free parking.
Seems like all the guests and new guys had no trouble finding the entrance around back. And there were a lot of guests again. We set up a guest sign in station and gathered a supply of guest books from next door since we were not in our regular chorus home.
As usual there were many things happening in the hall before the 7 pm singing start – CAMERON STATION practicing; stage presence review on the stage in the all purpose room; sale of holiday script cards for members to use in buying holiday turkeys or hams or gifts or groceries in general (plan ahead to make it easy for yourself this season and help the chapter raise funds); ticket matters for this weekend’s show and afterglow; quartets singing; and leaders taking care of the usual paperwork to keep things rolling.
Tony Colosimo took the leadership for the musical warm up session. Then Director Joe took over to launch work on songs for the show. He welcomed the many guests and applicants and former members, and invited them to sing on the ends of the risers so they didn’t get trampled with the up tune stage moves. He also cheered for the success of the web cast plan for Sunday’s show.
He ran the show from start to finish so production folks could time the songs and know how things will flow on stage. It also was a time for front row to adjust to the available space for their routines. (Speaking of the front row – YeEd noticed the knee pads are back for the many drops to the floor for our new opener!)
Show producer Ken Rub read the mc script for Rick Taylor who will do the honors on Sunday. Hard to read projected adlibs that Rick will likely use and make it funny. Nice try Ken. Great to have fellow Harmonizer Rick to be our mc for this important show.
CAMERON STATION sang a couple of new songs for us as part of the show run too.
Next the musical leaders took time to review and drill “Meeting Here Tonight” so guys could get more comfortable with the flow. There was also time for the front row to practice alone for awhile and then rejoin the riser singers for a final time on it.
Before break, Bob Rhome stepped in for Mark Klostermeyer who was not back from his meeting yet. Jack Cameron offered to get pictures for anyone who wants one and didn’t order one from the district contest – just see him.
Secretary Buechler presented Josh Roots with his 3-year renewal card. And Chris reported that two members we don’t see often had renewed – Bill Clark and Neil Bibbens.
Craig Kujawa reported on the 10 for 10 challenge including that we have lost a total of 188.8 pounds. Some guys lost 20 or more! Congrats to all. Phil Ferguson’s team is in the lead at this point.
Dan O’Brien, our membership guy, welcomed 10 guests!! Tom Hutton, who is leaving the area and moving to Seattle, brought two guests so as to help fill his space on the risers after he is gone.
After break, the chapter meeting included many announcements for the show. First was a reminder of the rehearsal Saturday from 1 – 4 pm at the same place the guys went last week for the combined rehearsal. Singers should see the Performer’s Guide Ken Rub emailed for other details for the show such as parking, meal plans, uniforms.
Then it was back to work on the fall show. Lots of review and work on the songs we sing with Pride of Baltimore chorus. Soloists were auditioned or invited to sing in various songs for that show as well. (Good to see many guys volunteer and give it a try.)
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. —Ye Ed.)
It was election nite in Virginia so the chapter meeting and rehearsal was in the adjoining Jeff Houston School. We are so lucky to have it next door, available thanks to our sponsoring group Alexandria Rec Dept., with free parking.
Seems like all the guests and new guys had no trouble finding the entrance around back. And there were a lot of guests again. We set up a guest sign in station and gathered a supply of guest books from next door since we were not in our regular chorus home.
As usual there were many things happening in the hall before the 7 pm singing start – CAMERON STATION practicing; stage presence review on the stage in the all purpose room; sale of holiday script cards for members to use in buying holiday turkeys or hams or gifts or groceries in general (plan ahead to make it easy for yourself this season and help the chapter raise funds); ticket matters for this weekend’s show and afterglow; quartets singing; and leaders taking care of the usual paperwork to keep things rolling.
Tony Colosimo took the leadership for the musical warm up session. Then Director Joe took over to launch work on songs for the show. He welcomed the many guests and applicants and former members, and invited them to sing on the ends of the risers so they didn’t get trampled with the up tune stage moves. He also cheered for the success of the web cast plan for Sunday’s show.
He ran the show from start to finish so production folks could time the songs and know how things will flow on stage. It also was a time for front row to adjust to the available space for their routines. (Speaking of the front row – YeEd noticed the knee pads are back for the many drops to the floor for our new opener!)
Show producer Ken Rub read the mc script for Rick Taylor who will do the honors on Sunday. Hard to read projected adlibs that Rick will likely use and make it funny. Nice try Ken. Great to have fellow Harmonizer Rick to be our mc for this important show.
CAMERON STATION sang a couple of new songs for us as part of the show run too.
Next the musical leaders took time to review and drill “Meeting Here Tonight” so guys could get more comfortable with the flow. There was also time for the front row to practice alone for awhile and then rejoin the riser singers for a final time on it.
Before break, Bob Rhome stepped in for Mark Klostermeyer who was not back from his meeting yet. Jack Cameron offered to get pictures for anyone who wants one and didn’t order one from the district contest – just see him.
Secretary Buechler presented Josh Roots with his 3-year renewal card. And Chris reported that two members we don’t see often had renewed – Bill Clark and Neil Bibbens.
Craig Kujawa reported on the 10 for 10 challenge including that we have lost a total of 188.8 pounds. Some guys lost 20 or more! Congrats to all. Phil Ferguson’s team is in the lead at this point.
Dan O’Brien, our membership guy, welcomed 10 guests!! Tom Hutton, who is leaving the area and moving to Seattle, brought two guests so as to help fill his space on the risers after he is gone.
After break, the chapter meeting included many announcements for the show. First was a reminder of the rehearsal Saturday from 1 – 4 pm at the same place the guys went last week for the combined rehearsal. Singers should see the Performer’s Guide Ken Rub emailed for other details for the show such as parking, meal plans, uniforms.
Then it was back to work on the fall show. Lots of review and work on the songs we sing with Pride of Baltimore chorus. Soloists were auditioned or invited to sing in various songs for that show as well. (Good to see many guys volunteer and give it a try.)
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. —Ye Ed.)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Looking Back on the October 27th Chapter Meeting
As is the case these days on a Harmonizer meeting nite, Durant was hoppin with action from 6 pm on. A good crowd on stage for SP review. The front row diggin in to polish their SP. Guests pouring in – many from the last couple weeks. There was even a “Where’s Waldo” character who came (actually a returning guest).
It was a rainy nite in Virginia and that combined with the usual rush hour mess caused a lot of guys to be late. (Everyone needs to make the effort to leave earlier for Tuesday nite rehearsal – especially when the weather is nasty.)
After a good musical warm up, Director Joe thanked the good number of guys who made it to the joint rehearsal last nite. (The following paragraph was prepared by Alan Wile to report on the joint rehearsal with the Pride of Baltimore chorus on Monday, Oct. 26th. YeEd.)The Harmonizers showed up in force at Pride of Baltimore's meeting venue in Baltimore, despite the competition with heavy commuter traffic (compounded by those hustling to get to the Redskins game). Initially, we gathered in the church social hall ... where a very large number of risers were set up. We talked with friends and made a few new ones while we waited for others to arrive. By 7:20 or so, we were dismissed to the other end of the building where Assistant Director Mike Kelly warmed us up. Precisely at 8:00 p.m. we joined 80 or so Pride of Baltimore members as they finished their warm-up. Director Joe asked us to take our normal positions on the stage left end of the risers. And then the fun began. We rehearsed each of the three joint songs, bit by bit, as Joe worked sound, vocal production, interpretation, and other issues. Before concluding we sang all three songs in succession, from start to finish. Joe announced that at our next joint rehearsal (on the Saturday before the show) the two choruses will be co-mingled and he'll decide which arrangement produces the best product out front. After the joint rehearsal was over, most Harmonizers headed home but a few remained behind to watch the balance of the Pride of Baltimore Chorus rehearsal (and to join them for the afterglow). They sang and performed five (or so) songs, all but one of which had some pretty energetic choreography. They are going to be fabulous on our show -- the audience will love 'em! And we have our work cut out for us!!
Joe also told us during the Tuesday nite meeting that the chorus is ranking 8th for the contest next summer in Philly based on the scores choruses earned in the International Preliminary Chorus Contests (which is what they officially call the contest we sang in up at Lancaster). Joe says we are within a point or less from 3rd or 4th – that is how close the scores are. So – his point was that we gotta start working and preparing now to make a major run for it in July, 2010.
During this first part of the singing nite, Joe worked with the guys to bring holiday show songs back up to par. He and his team also worked to remind guys of the simple SP things for these songs. Also during the nite, Joe helped the singers know more about using their vocal instruments for better quality and ensemble sound.
The next big singing period was used to continue the work on songs that we will sing with ladies from Pride of Baltimore on our fall show in MD. This week he invited two guys (usually a section leader and one other singer) for comments and suggestions on what needs work.
And then we went to work on review and polish of “Meeting Here Tonight” as our new show opener. Joe stressed the importance of the first notes since it will kick off our fall show; and be the first sounds the many viewers from around the world will hear when they tune in via web cast. (It costs $25 for the viewer and can be ordered via our website, YeEd was told.)
During this work period, the operations team raised the screen we had used for looking at holiday music, so the men could see the wall of mirrors to improve precision of their moves.
Before break, Mark Klostermeyer announced birthdays this week. Secretary Buechler presented a 25-year pin and card to John Pence. Dan O’Brien welcomed another long line of guests and told us of several who had filled out applications.
After the break, there were announcements – as usual. Everyone should know that next week we meet in Jeff Houston School which is adjacent to Durant. (For guests and new guys, drive around to the back of Durant and you will see the entrance to the school cafeteria.)
Jeremy Knobel asked guys to start working on getting out (or for the many new singers – find or make) your costumes for the Holiday show. Elves, toys, or similar characters. Also be looking for items you can contribute to the silent auction – small appliances, tickets to sports or concert events, hotel or resort accommodations, services like a meal prepared by you or a quartet gig or lawn care for a day or car wax. Also each guy is asked to wrap two good sized boxes with bright holiday wrap. They will be needed prior to the show, so get ready to buy the paper and locate the boxes you are gonna bring.
Gary Plaag announced that he is dropping back as visual chairman for the chorus. He has held the position for about 7 years and wants time to be a guy-on-the-risers (and to allow himself more time to concentrate on his business and many other barbershop duties including M-AD president). The chorus acknowledged his support with applause and thanks.
Carl Kauffmann has agreed to be chair for Harmonizer activities in Philly next July. He took a straw poll and determined there was strong interest in having the chapter place an order for convention tickets now, while the price is lower. We will all need to pay for them as soon as they arrive. Everyone was glad to also hear that Bob Rhome will honcho the reservation process for us.
Music VP Reynolds told the guys to be on the lookout for “The Chipmunk Song” to be released to the chorus. The goal is to learn it for the show, YeEd thinks.
President Brad thanked Mick Stamps for donating four Redskins tickets to the chapter which we sold and the money will go to support our musical program.
Brad also showed the nice Harmonizer coffee mugs that each guest will receive at the dessert show on Saturday nite of the Holiday show weekend.
Next Brad honored two guys with You Make a Difference pins – Austin Cotton for his faithful work in packaging and selling CDs at show and events; and Mark Klostermeyer for his many years of service as chorus manager as well as operations vice president and our resident picture or certificate framer.
Back to singing, Joe thanked the guys for accepting the challenge of riser discipline and he remarked how quiet it was when everyone worked at it. He also suggested we don’t all need to be funny and do a comedy routine every time someone up front says something that brings a laugh.
He worked with the chorus to revive our 2009 contest package and then a solid work out on the last song for the fall show. We worked right up til 10:05 pm so everyone had to help load the truck with risers and equipment for use at the school next week.
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. —Ye Ed.)
It was a rainy nite in Virginia and that combined with the usual rush hour mess caused a lot of guys to be late. (Everyone needs to make the effort to leave earlier for Tuesday nite rehearsal – especially when the weather is nasty.)
After a good musical warm up, Director Joe thanked the good number of guys who made it to the joint rehearsal last nite. (The following paragraph was prepared by Alan Wile to report on the joint rehearsal with the Pride of Baltimore chorus on Monday, Oct. 26th. YeEd.)The Harmonizers showed up in force at Pride of Baltimore's meeting venue in Baltimore, despite the competition with heavy commuter traffic (compounded by those hustling to get to the Redskins game). Initially, we gathered in the church social hall ... where a very large number of risers were set up. We talked with friends and made a few new ones while we waited for others to arrive. By 7:20 or so, we were dismissed to the other end of the building where Assistant Director Mike Kelly warmed us up. Precisely at 8:00 p.m. we joined 80 or so Pride of Baltimore members as they finished their warm-up. Director Joe asked us to take our normal positions on the stage left end of the risers. And then the fun began. We rehearsed each of the three joint songs, bit by bit, as Joe worked sound, vocal production, interpretation, and other issues. Before concluding we sang all three songs in succession, from start to finish. Joe announced that at our next joint rehearsal (on the Saturday before the show) the two choruses will be co-mingled and he'll decide which arrangement produces the best product out front. After the joint rehearsal was over, most Harmonizers headed home but a few remained behind to watch the balance of the Pride of Baltimore Chorus rehearsal (and to join them for the afterglow). They sang and performed five (or so) songs, all but one of which had some pretty energetic choreography. They are going to be fabulous on our show -- the audience will love 'em! And we have our work cut out for us!!
Joe also told us during the Tuesday nite meeting that the chorus is ranking 8th for the contest next summer in Philly based on the scores choruses earned in the International Preliminary Chorus Contests (which is what they officially call the contest we sang in up at Lancaster). Joe says we are within a point or less from 3rd or 4th – that is how close the scores are. So – his point was that we gotta start working and preparing now to make a major run for it in July, 2010.
During this first part of the singing nite, Joe worked with the guys to bring holiday show songs back up to par. He and his team also worked to remind guys of the simple SP things for these songs. Also during the nite, Joe helped the singers know more about using their vocal instruments for better quality and ensemble sound.
The next big singing period was used to continue the work on songs that we will sing with ladies from Pride of Baltimore on our fall show in MD. This week he invited two guys (usually a section leader and one other singer) for comments and suggestions on what needs work.
And then we went to work on review and polish of “Meeting Here Tonight” as our new show opener. Joe stressed the importance of the first notes since it will kick off our fall show; and be the first sounds the many viewers from around the world will hear when they tune in via web cast. (It costs $25 for the viewer and can be ordered via our website, YeEd was told.)
During this work period, the operations team raised the screen we had used for looking at holiday music, so the men could see the wall of mirrors to improve precision of their moves.
Before break, Mark Klostermeyer announced birthdays this week. Secretary Buechler presented a 25-year pin and card to John Pence. Dan O’Brien welcomed another long line of guests and told us of several who had filled out applications.
After the break, there were announcements – as usual. Everyone should know that next week we meet in Jeff Houston School which is adjacent to Durant. (For guests and new guys, drive around to the back of Durant and you will see the entrance to the school cafeteria.)
Jeremy Knobel asked guys to start working on getting out (or for the many new singers – find or make) your costumes for the Holiday show. Elves, toys, or similar characters. Also be looking for items you can contribute to the silent auction – small appliances, tickets to sports or concert events, hotel or resort accommodations, services like a meal prepared by you or a quartet gig or lawn care for a day or car wax. Also each guy is asked to wrap two good sized boxes with bright holiday wrap. They will be needed prior to the show, so get ready to buy the paper and locate the boxes you are gonna bring.
Gary Plaag announced that he is dropping back as visual chairman for the chorus. He has held the position for about 7 years and wants time to be a guy-on-the-risers (and to allow himself more time to concentrate on his business and many other barbershop duties including M-AD president). The chorus acknowledged his support with applause and thanks.
Carl Kauffmann has agreed to be chair for Harmonizer activities in Philly next July. He took a straw poll and determined there was strong interest in having the chapter place an order for convention tickets now, while the price is lower. We will all need to pay for them as soon as they arrive. Everyone was glad to also hear that Bob Rhome will honcho the reservation process for us.
Music VP Reynolds told the guys to be on the lookout for “The Chipmunk Song” to be released to the chorus. The goal is to learn it for the show, YeEd thinks.
President Brad thanked Mick Stamps for donating four Redskins tickets to the chapter which we sold and the money will go to support our musical program.
Brad also showed the nice Harmonizer coffee mugs that each guest will receive at the dessert show on Saturday nite of the Holiday show weekend.
Next Brad honored two guys with You Make a Difference pins – Austin Cotton for his faithful work in packaging and selling CDs at show and events; and Mark Klostermeyer for his many years of service as chorus manager as well as operations vice president and our resident picture or certificate framer.
Back to singing, Joe thanked the guys for accepting the challenge of riser discipline and he remarked how quiet it was when everyone worked at it. He also suggested we don’t all need to be funny and do a comedy routine every time someone up front says something that brings a laugh.
He worked with the chorus to revive our 2009 contest package and then a solid work out on the last song for the fall show. We worked right up til 10:05 pm so everyone had to help load the truck with risers and equipment for use at the school next week.
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. —Ye Ed.)
Monday, October 26, 2009
Looking Back on the October 20th Chapter Meeting
Looking Back on the October 20th Chapter Meeting
(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. —Ye Ed.)
One thing that was different about this week’s meeting was guests kept rolling in. Director Joe was thinking we might need to buy more risers!! And membership vp Dan was really busy signing in, making name tags, issuing guest books and blowing the pitch pipe when needed.
Director Joe thanked him for his good job as pitch man too.
Joe seemed back to good health and was ready for a good workout and rehearsal. It was that and more. He was happy to remind us all that we will have web casting for the fall show. He asked the guys to be sure to plan to attend the joint rehearsal next Monday nite in Baltimore with the ladies of POB. And finally he told the men on the risers that if they were not a guest, zip the lip and be ready to sing, not talk.
First work session after warm ups was for the Holiday show. Good to hear some of those annual songs again and to hear guys step up to do the various solos in the holiday show.
Then it was work on the songs for the join show in Nov. Joe announced we will drop “Summertime” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing” for that show but will do “Meetin Here Tonight” with the new visual plan. So the troops worked for about 35 minutes on that number. Front row worked in the lobby on their part of the plan. (They even planned a prank on Joe when they came in and added a crazy move near the tag.)
Before break during membership time, Secretary Buechler presented a six year renewal card to Dean Martin, and a 35-year pin and card to Randy Lazear.
Membership Dan O introduced all the guests and K12 helped him pass out the many First Time Guest pins.
YeEd was blown away by the birthday surprise for break. Thanks.
During the break there was a plug for all the usual sales. As a reminder, we should all plan ahead to use Script cards for holiday purchases like Honey Baked Hams, Book Stores, Bed Bath and Beyond, or gift cards for stocking stuffers.
Announcements included word that the M&P Committee was cancelled for Wednesday; the board retreat is this weekend; don’t forget to plan ahead and arrange to car pool for the joint rehearsal on Nov. 26th in Baltimore.
President Brad reported that former director Scott Werner was the first one to sign up for the web cast of the fall show. He then presented You Make a Difference pins to Jim Lucey for his dedication and years of service on our behalf in developing and supporting relationships with the Arts community in Alexandria; and to Terry Jordan for his coaching and support of chapter leaders.
Then it was back to work on the music for the fall show especially in preparation for the joint rehearsal.
Joe pleaded for a good crowd next Monday nite!
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. —Ye Ed.)
One thing that was different about this week’s meeting was guests kept rolling in. Director Joe was thinking we might need to buy more risers!! And membership vp Dan was really busy signing in, making name tags, issuing guest books and blowing the pitch pipe when needed.
Director Joe thanked him for his good job as pitch man too.
Joe seemed back to good health and was ready for a good workout and rehearsal. It was that and more. He was happy to remind us all that we will have web casting for the fall show. He asked the guys to be sure to plan to attend the joint rehearsal next Monday nite in Baltimore with the ladies of POB. And finally he told the men on the risers that if they were not a guest, zip the lip and be ready to sing, not talk.
First work session after warm ups was for the Holiday show. Good to hear some of those annual songs again and to hear guys step up to do the various solos in the holiday show.
Then it was work on the songs for the join show in Nov. Joe announced we will drop “Summertime” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing” for that show but will do “Meetin Here Tonight” with the new visual plan. So the troops worked for about 35 minutes on that number. Front row worked in the lobby on their part of the plan. (They even planned a prank on Joe when they came in and added a crazy move near the tag.)
Before break during membership time, Secretary Buechler presented a six year renewal card to Dean Martin, and a 35-year pin and card to Randy Lazear.
Membership Dan O introduced all the guests and K12 helped him pass out the many First Time Guest pins.
YeEd was blown away by the birthday surprise for break. Thanks.
During the break there was a plug for all the usual sales. As a reminder, we should all plan ahead to use Script cards for holiday purchases like Honey Baked Hams, Book Stores, Bed Bath and Beyond, or gift cards for stocking stuffers.
Announcements included word that the M&P Committee was cancelled for Wednesday; the board retreat is this weekend; don’t forget to plan ahead and arrange to car pool for the joint rehearsal on Nov. 26th in Baltimore.
President Brad reported that former director Scott Werner was the first one to sign up for the web cast of the fall show. He then presented You Make a Difference pins to Jim Lucey for his dedication and years of service on our behalf in developing and supporting relationships with the Arts community in Alexandria; and to Terry Jordan for his coaching and support of chapter leaders.
Then it was back to work on the music for the fall show especially in preparation for the joint rehearsal.
Joe pleaded for a good crowd next Monday nite!
Until next time – editorjack!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Looking Back on the October 13th Chapter Meeting
Looking Back on the October 13th Chapter Meeting
(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. —Ye Ed.)
This week’s chapter meeting will go down as another Harmonizer milestone – the joint rehearsal with Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline chorus. The hall was really full and all eleven sections of risers were packed too when both choruses sang together. It was awesome.
Both choruses used the first part of the evening for warm ups and preparation for the rehearsal. Many of the POB ladies had driven a long way to make this rehearsal – and it was not even their chapter meeting nite. (It is our turn on Monday, Oct. 26th to go up their rehearsal.)
The Harmonizers worked on “Meeting Here Tonight” new intro and reviewed and then learned the rest of the SP for it. Rachael was back to teach that. Chuck McKeever and TJ Jones were demonstrators, which really helps the guys see it as they try to execute the moves. The front row worked separately on it in the lobby and in fact had Rachael coach them from 6 – 7 pm on their very energetic plan for the song.
The crowd of singers brought a lot of visitors, so some of us added another section for guest seating up front on the right. Had to fit it all in around the screen, av equipment, keyboard and guest welcome kiosk. What a good problem to have!
Before the choruses came together, Ops VP K12 announced that break would be later. Secretary Buechler gave renewal cards to Ryan Griffith for 15 years and Roger Day for 21 years. (Great to see Roger in the hall – he will likely be pushing us to all get boxes wrapped for the holiday show which Jeremy Knobel is producing!!!) Len Dornberger was presented his 25-year pin and card and Jack Cameron was presented his 40-year pin and card.
President Brad announced that the chapter has gotten $1000 as our share of contributions given to the Harmony Foundation. He also plugged sales of the fall show tickets. And he presented two You Make a Difference pins: to Bob Rhome for the many things he does for the chapter including being diligent in scheduling meeting spaces for the chapter and all its many events and meetings; and to Dave Welter for his years of dedication to keeping the chapter calendar up-to-date and published for us all.
Chuck Harner announced that he has Baltimore entertainment books now. He also suggested that last years books are about to expire, so people might want to buy a new one right away.
Bruce Minnick has less that 30 afterglow tickets left for the fall show!
Dan O introduced all the singer guests from where they were on the risers. Another long list!!
Then Director Joe welcomed the ladies of the POB chapter to join us on the risers. He jumped right into three songs the two choruses will sing on the show. The eight-part harmony is something.
After a good solid session of mostly coaching the two groups so they were used to the sounds and volume levels needed with the ensemble, Joe took them on one last run of all three songs. The POB guests were invited to stay or head on back if they wished.
After break, the Harmonizers worked on their other show songs, took time for three holiday show songs and wrapped up a little after 10. A busy and historical nite for the chapter.
A huge crowd was at 815 Southside with many POB folks joining in the fellowship. There was celebration for Tony Colosimo’s recent engagement to Elizabeth! And Eric Wallen was encouraging guys to sign up their quartet for the Put Together Contest on Dec. 15th. (In-active members are welcome to join in this fun nite – get some buddies together and let Eric know you want to be in the contest.)
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. —Ye Ed.)
This week’s chapter meeting will go down as another Harmonizer milestone – the joint rehearsal with Pride of Baltimore Sweet Adeline chorus. The hall was really full and all eleven sections of risers were packed too when both choruses sang together. It was awesome.
Both choruses used the first part of the evening for warm ups and preparation for the rehearsal. Many of the POB ladies had driven a long way to make this rehearsal – and it was not even their chapter meeting nite. (It is our turn on Monday, Oct. 26th to go up their rehearsal.)
The Harmonizers worked on “Meeting Here Tonight” new intro and reviewed and then learned the rest of the SP for it. Rachael was back to teach that. Chuck McKeever and TJ Jones were demonstrators, which really helps the guys see it as they try to execute the moves. The front row worked separately on it in the lobby and in fact had Rachael coach them from 6 – 7 pm on their very energetic plan for the song.
The crowd of singers brought a lot of visitors, so some of us added another section for guest seating up front on the right. Had to fit it all in around the screen, av equipment, keyboard and guest welcome kiosk. What a good problem to have!
Before the choruses came together, Ops VP K12 announced that break would be later. Secretary Buechler gave renewal cards to Ryan Griffith for 15 years and Roger Day for 21 years. (Great to see Roger in the hall – he will likely be pushing us to all get boxes wrapped for the holiday show which Jeremy Knobel is producing!!!) Len Dornberger was presented his 25-year pin and card and Jack Cameron was presented his 40-year pin and card.
President Brad announced that the chapter has gotten $1000 as our share of contributions given to the Harmony Foundation. He also plugged sales of the fall show tickets. And he presented two You Make a Difference pins: to Bob Rhome for the many things he does for the chapter including being diligent in scheduling meeting spaces for the chapter and all its many events and meetings; and to Dave Welter for his years of dedication to keeping the chapter calendar up-to-date and published for us all.
Chuck Harner announced that he has Baltimore entertainment books now. He also suggested that last years books are about to expire, so people might want to buy a new one right away.
Bruce Minnick has less that 30 afterglow tickets left for the fall show!
Dan O introduced all the singer guests from where they were on the risers. Another long list!!
Then Director Joe welcomed the ladies of the POB chapter to join us on the risers. He jumped right into three songs the two choruses will sing on the show. The eight-part harmony is something.
After a good solid session of mostly coaching the two groups so they were used to the sounds and volume levels needed with the ensemble, Joe took them on one last run of all three songs. The POB guests were invited to stay or head on back if they wished.
After break, the Harmonizers worked on their other show songs, took time for three holiday show songs and wrapped up a little after 10. A busy and historical nite for the chapter.
A huge crowd was at 815 Southside with many POB folks joining in the fellowship. There was celebration for Tony Colosimo’s recent engagement to Elizabeth! And Eric Wallen was encouraging guys to sign up their quartet for the Put Together Contest on Dec. 15th. (In-active members are welcome to join in this fun nite – get some buddies together and let Eric know you want to be in the contest.)
Until next time – editorjack!
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