Looking Back on the Mar. 19^th Chapter Meeting and Recording Session

 Great that the chapter has found the choir room area at First Baptist Church on King St. available for our recording sessions.  And this week we managed to make two more clean sets for a future CD development. YeEd hears there are also plans to begin marketing single songs using the newer technologies.

 

Chuck McKeever was there early to provide some individual coaching of the uptune stage moves.  There was a good attendance of singers for the session.  Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups and merged that into his weekly barbershop craft session for the chorus.  This week’s lesson gave more emphasis to “tall in the back, small in the front” to improve sound.

 

Cameron Wiffenbach did the recording engineer work for our session again and Mike Kelly and Doug White helped with that. 

 

The music team conducted brief sectionals each time before we recorded “Summertime” and “ObLaDi” to give a little review and reminder of pointers.

 

After the recording times, Director Joe Cerutti went to work on the contest package for this summer.  While the front row worked in another room Carlos Barillo reviewed some riser moves and helped us drill them. Assistant director Terry Reynolds managed the self-eval sessions and listener sessions for those ready to have an evaluation. 

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting.  Announcements included details about this weekend’s coaching session with Tony DeRosa.  Joe shared Tony’s barbershop biography for those who were not with us when Tony worked with us before. We are due at Durant at 9 am and will be out at 5 pm, with a lunch break off-campus.  Plan to go to a variety of restaurants so all 120 of us don’t try to get lunch in the same place! 

 

Bob announced that chapter members can purchase one of the new books edited by Joe (VISIONS OF EXCELLANCE - being sold be the BHS) next week at our meeting.  They are $20 and you can avoid paying the shipping costs. See Jack Pitzer on Mar. 26^th  to get your copy.  

 

Bob and others reminded guys to get started right away on getting a passport if you don’t have one.

 

President Alan Wile recognized the success of our quartets at the M-AD prelims contest last weekend – DA CAPO, MAYHEM and HANDSOME REWARD.

 

Also he showed us a certificate he was given at the House of Delegates meeting last weekend recognizing our chapter with a gold award for per capita donation to Harmony Foundation.  We averaged $267.09 per member.

 

He also had checks for the chapter treasurer David Welter that came in from community service activities of quartets and the chorus in recent months.

 

There was a board meeting during the break.

 

Our chapter is hosting the southern/western division contest weekend in Reston on April 26-27.  We earn some money for this service to the district.  Chuck Harner has agreed to be weekend chairman (he has done that a few times!) and he needs about 30 job positions filled.  He had signup sheets for guys to volunteer. Jobs include things such as quartet and chorus hosting, ticket takers at the doors, hosting of judges and such, set up and take down, and more.  Nothing is too hard or too long. Great way for many of our newer members to get involved.

 

Related to that is the option for our chapter to also earn dollars based on the number of advertisements we sell for the printed program.  Carlos Correa is heading up that effort and has sent out an email to all.  Step up and help us make some money as a chapter.

 

Ian Poulin urged members to order scrip cards. First, everyone needs to buy enough to pay for their hotel rooms in Toronto.  Second you can get cards for Easter and family entertaining. PLESAE NOTE that Ian will be on travel the month of May, so we need to do it in April.

 

As a reminder, the music team stressed guys mark calendars for the retreat May 31-June 1 with coach David Wright.  It is a mandatory weekend.  It will be held a McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. Note too: this year’s first coaching session of the weekend will be on Friday nite (oldtimers take note of this change). Chuck McKeever is coordinator of this annual weekend.

 

Terry Reynolds mentioned dates for vocal and visual studios coming up.

 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented new members Duncan Woodbury and Harold Weinberger.  Phil Ferguson was also reinstated.

 

Then Chris had renewal membership cards for Joel Golden for 8 years; Joe Cerutti Jr. for 12 years; Sam McFarland for 26 years; Ken Ives for 28 years; Rick Wagner for 32 years; Will Cox for 35 years (he also got the lapel pin); and Bruce Minnick for 36 years.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer introduced Jeff Bowen and his Mom Doris, guests of Carlos Barillo, from Indiana.

 

After a brief break, Joe worked with us to introduce the musical interpretation plan for the ballad so that we could be prepared for this Saturday’s session.  We can expect an email to cover it too.

 

The evening adjourned with the traditional singing of KTWWS.  The hall was emptied and some of us went to an afterglow.

 

Until next time – editorjack!

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the 2013 Prelims in Parsippany NJ Mar. 15-16

Our chapter quartets represented us well at the M id-Atlantic District International Preliminary Quartet contest and convention in Parsippany, NJ, on a snowy weekend March 15-16.  Even tho it was a 4+ hour drive, there were also a good number of our chapter members there to cheer our chapter singers and many guys who helped make sure the weekend ran smoothly.

 

DA CAPO qualified to go to Toronto with Ryan Griffith, Tony Colosimo, Joe Sawyer and Wayne Adams with a great average score of 86.3.  The other qualifying quartet from our district was ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT.  Our friends in MAYHEM , Matt Fellows, Pookie Dingle, Mike Pinto and Ken White,  were just a couple tissue papers away from qualification with 75.8 average – just .2 below the qualifying level.  The audience gasped when the results were announced.

 

The contest began on Friday at 6 pm and then 10 quartets moved on to a finals session on Saturday nite. HANDSOME REWARD was the mic tester quartet, ranking 11^th, for the finals round with our Michael Gilmore on the bass.

 

 During the day on Saturday there was a Youth in Harmony quartet adjudication for high school and college quartets – both guys and girls.  Joe Sawyer was emcee for that contest and DA CAPO sang for the youth singers as the rankings were determined.  Also there was a senior quartet contest held in conjunction with the prelims event.  AMERICAN IDOL won that one – they are several gents with medals from the past.

 

Harmonizer men included several district board members who were having meetings also during the weekend. Bill Colosimo is president, Bob Eckman is treasurer, Keith Jones is secretary.  In addition to these leaders, Carl Kauffmann is events team treasurer.  Chris Buechler and Chuck Harmer were working as contest administrators with the judging panel.

 

Other Harmonizers present for the weekend were Carlos Barillo, Jack Pitzer, Bob Wachter, Dixie Kennett, Sam McFarland, Andrew Havens, Alan Wile and Terry Jordan.

 

Until next time – editorjack!

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Mar. 12^th  Chapter Meeting

(Many thanks to new reporter, Peter Hubbard, for taking notes and doing the write-up for this week’s meeting – YeEd.)

 

Once again there were many Harmonizers already gathered at Durant by 6:00. Chuck McKeever was busy leading approximately 25 guys in a review of the choreography for the uptune. The front row congregated in the lobby to drill the highly aerobic visual routine. Vince Cazenas and Sandy Stamps set up refreshments in the kitchen while Jack Pitzer was away for the week. Meanwhile, several guys pitched in to help set up the risers, tables, and other equipment by 6:30 for the rehearsal, including the now familiar cameras used by Chuck and TJ Jones for review and individual evaluation. This week also saw several guests, both new and old, join us in the audience and on the risers.

Associate Director Terry Reynolds played “Ob La Di” as the Harmonizers gathered on the risers.  Next, Assistant Director Will Cox did the vocal warm ups for this week. Will then handed the chorus over to Associate Director Tony Colosimo for an important lesson in “Your Voice Matters.” Tony re-emphasized concepts that we all need to be working on each week, including that the Harmonizer Standard for pitch is “two onion skins” above the pitch pipe. 

After Tony’s lesson, Director Joe Cerutti got to work right away with a review of a very important song to the Harmonizers, “A Place on the Risers for You.” This song was written and arranged by former members of the Harmonizers and is the traditional send-off for departing members, as we did last week with Ross Felker. We also reviewed ‘Ob La Di’ and ‘Summertime’ for the upcoming Recording Session next week, Tuesday, March 19, at the First Baptist Church (make note!).

The chorus then broke off into sectionals to work in smaller groups on the uptune. Yours truly was with the baritones where Chuck Hunter asked for volunteers to form a quintet, then had them sing the first minute or so of “Anything Goes.” Both the quintet and the other baris then offered helpful pointers on what they liked and what they would like improved. The baris agreed that the sectional really helped to improve unit sound, pitch, and technicality. No doubt the other sectionals were equally as productive.

Everyone reconvened for three or four run-throughs of the uptune during which evaluators were busy assessing the learning progress of their assigned Harmonizers while individuals recorded themselves. Assistant Director Terry Reynolds has been our fearless leader, shepherding us through the review and qualification process for international. Joe reminded all of us of several important things to remember such as: (1) the chromatic scale in the uptune – “…now only use four letter words” – has to be clearly articulated for the effect to carry out to the judges and audience, (2) learn your cue sheets, and (3) make every syllable exciting and rounded.

At the break, Operations VP Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting. President Alan Wile and Calvin Schnure asked the quartets that will be participating in the upcoming M-AD Spring Prelims –DA CAPO in the 8^th slot, HANDSOME REWARD going 16^th, and MAYHEM at 19^th – to come forward so that they could announce that the Harmonizers will be providing financial assistance toward their participation. Chapter Secretary Chris Buechler had six renewals to announce for a total of 83 years barbershop experience.  Among the renewals were Bob Griesemer with 2 years, Nick Leiserson with 3 years, Doug White with 6 years, Kevin McKenzie with 13 years, Calvin Schnure with 18 years, and Chuck Hunter with 41 years. Ben Roberts invited everyone to a free and very funny improv event this Friday, March 15 at 7pm at West Potomac High School put on by his Theater Sports Team. Chuck McKeever reminded everyone that he still has black leather shoes from District – and then Steve White promptly claimed them (finally!).

Other announcements included:

·        see Dick Hall for 50/50 tickets;

·        see Ian Poulin for scrips (only $18k have been sold thus far);

·        see Mick Stamps and Ken Fess for questions about Normandy;

·        see Ike Evans to pick up your District competition photos;

·        Afterglow at La Porta on Duke Street;

·        there is a Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 7pm at Durant;

·        there is an All Day Coaching Session with Tony DeRosa on Saturday, March 23 at Durant;

·        we will be meeting at First Baptist Church for a Recording Session next week on Tuesday, March 19, upstairs in the choir rehearsal area; and

·        check Groupanizer and sign up now for the May 4 Visual Studio.

We had several guests in attendance this week, some new and some returning. Ken White and Membership VP Mark Kostermeyer introduced seven gentlemen to the group. Among the guests were Duncan Woodbury (applicant), Joseph Krzysko (applicant), Ross Orvik of the Tuscon-based Voices of Harmony, Leonardo August Robert all the way from Brazil (heck of a commute on Tuesdays!), Harold Wineberger (applicant), Samuel Glad who sings bass, and Harrison Priehle. We closed out the chapter meeting by singing to our guests in true Harmonizer fashion.

The second half of the rehearsal saw the front row split off to practice with Carlos Barillo on their choreography while the main chorus worked on their respective parts of the uptune. At the end of the evening, everyone came together for a run through of the whole uptune with choreography. By the end of the night, we had all worked up quite a sweat from the effort – keep up the good work! At 10:00, several guys pitched in to help get all the equipment squared away and the Durant Center back in shape. Another successful rehearsal!  Remember, keep working on your individual part!  Your voice matters!

Don’t forget as well – next week we meet at First Baptist Church!

(Now here are some other items YeEd wanted to get to you for-the-record.)

 

 

 

Many thanks to all the guys who are doing the vocal assessments as we prepare for contest:

Bass – Ike Evans, Jim Lake, Ken White, Steve White

Bari – Jack Cameron, Joel Golden, Chuck Hunter

Lead – Frank Fedarko, Phil Ferguson, Jacob George, Tony Colosimo, Dick Dangel

Tenor – Rick Savage, Dan O'Brien

 

And in case you missed it, there is the info that the BHS has published about Joe Cerutti’s new book being sold from the Harmony Market Place.  Congrats to Joe.  YeEd got his copy this week from Nashville: VISIONS OF EXCELLENCE – a dialog with the finest directors from the Barbershop Harmony Society This book goes beyond just choral conducting and rehearsal techniques and provides a practical resource for all directors in need of ideas and inspiration. It gathers together thoughts and insights from the minds of 25 of the Society's most accomplished directors. We believe that it can become a valuable resources from which to gain inspiration and motivation.

 

Visions of Excellence is more than just interviews with our most recent directing heroes, like Jim Clancy of the Vocal Majority, Jim Henry of the Ambassadors of Harmony and Justin Miller of the Westminster Chorus.

This book serves as an inclusive reference to the history and evolution of the choral art of barbershop, featuring unique perspectives from some of the giants who paved the way, like Scott Werner of the Alexandria Harmonizers, Ray Danley of the Scarborough Dukes of Harmony, and the late Jim Miller of the Louisville Thoroughbreds, and many more.

 

Until next time – editorjack!

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Mar. 5^th  Chapter Meeting

There was another huge crowd at Durant this week all ready to go at 6pm. The stage was full of guys reviewing the moves for the contest uptune with Carl Kauffmann, filling for  Chuck McKeever who had to go to Indiana for a family funeral.  And like last week, our front row guys were hard at work in the lobby learning and drilling for the uptune package.

 

Guess we will get used to large crowds with a prospect of over 120 guys planning to sing in Toronto.  We also are having more and more non-singing guests in the “peanut gallery” each week.  Operations vp Bob Rhome has invited Keith Jones to be host for that section of Durant on Tuesday nites making sure there are enough chairs out, that visitors have signed in if needed, and are made welcome. 

 

Something else YeEd noticed this week – a printer on a table behind the risers.  The music and performance team is using it for reproducing the eval forms used by the evaluators.  And other details they need quickly at chapter.

 

The setup crew did a good job being ready for start time.  YeEd also noticed that the av crew had a speaker set up behind the risers to improve hearing of announcements and directors who use mics.  The Mylar “mirrors” are being put up at current chapter meetings too and they are a huge help in working on stage presence.

 

So at 7 pm when the music was played as a reminder to get on the risers, assistant director Will Cox did the vocal warm ups.  He was also busy during the evening doing vocal assessments for several first time guests.

 

He turned over the ready chorus to director Joe Cerutti who had associate director Tony Colosimo direct “Anything Goes” for us to sing and perform.  We did this several times with Joe coaching and our choreographer Carlos Barillo making notes for points to drill more.

 

Joe sent us to sectionals to smooth out points of interp and to distribute to each section a handout with dynamics, breaths, non breath points, and such prepared to get us all on the same page.  It was effective and immediate results were noted.  Assistant director Terry Reynolds reports that the chart will be posted soon.

 

Midway in the evening, operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting. He reminded all of the 9am-5pm coaching session and rehearsal on Sat. March 23^rd at Durant. Our coach will be gold-medal quartet guy and a coach we used before, Tony DeRosa.  Knowing Tony it will be fun, and we will get great advice on musical performance of the package.  Coffee and donuts will be ready for early arrivals that day.

 

Jeremy Richardson extended an invite to guys to come over to LaPorta for the weekly afterglow – at Duke and Payne Streets .  A growing crowd has been attending and there is good tag singing for those who wish to try it. Food prices are good and service is good. Parking is easy in a lot right next door.  Guys who ride the Metro are managing it well since the station is just a 5 minute walk away.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer, with help from Kenny White, introduced our guests this week. Several were first-time guests and there were a lot of good singing guests up on the risers!

 

Calendar items announced include the sixth annual Youth Harmony Festival at Durant on April 6^th.  Nick Leiserson is coordinator.  Special guest directors are Richard Lewellen for the boys and Karen Rourke for the girls.  The teaching quartets will be SHAMELESS for the boys and EPIC  for the girls.  Scipio Garling will be choreographer for the singers.

 

Everyone needs to get out their calendar and using the weekly, and very thorough, memo from Steve White, be sure you have all events posted.  Here are some:

 

March 15-16 – Prelims quartet contest in Parsippany, NY – (we have 3 quartets singing there)

March 19 – Recording session on Tuesday nite

April 6 – Youth Harmony Festival, Durant

April 16 – Another possible recording session

April 17 – Vocal Studios

April 20 – Show Event at Lincoln Theater in DC

April 26-27 – Southern Division Quartet and Chorus Contest, Reston. We are host chapter.

April 29 – Vocal Studios’

 

We had a 20-minute break for refreshments, tag singing, personal time to prepare for recording or self-evaluation sessions, meeting guests, and catching up with fellow members. NOTE:  with so many new guys in the chorus, it would be awesome if all of us would wear our name tags on Tuesday to rehearsal.  Put it in your car so you always have it, or in the bag you bring to chapter with music, pencil and such.

 

After the break, Tony conducted another of his very helpful barbershop craft sessions.  Then the chorus worked a chunk of time on “All The Things You Are” with special emphasis in learning the musical interp Joe has planned and with an emphasis on making it flow – now that many of us have gotten the music down. Chuck Hunter taught us the new tag to add to the ballad.

 

During the evening we did several runs of the uptune so more guys could sing “live” for their evaluator. That gave the whole chorus several chances to record themselves and/or make personal improvements on their personal breathing plans and dynamics.

 

Joe gave the chorus a chance to sing thru a couple of the songs we will be singing at the recording session on March 19^th at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St. (enter the social hall, and make an immediate left to the door that goes up to choir suite).

 

Before we left, the chorus sang our farewell, “A Place on the Risers,” to Ross Felker who is being deployed to Germany next week.  He will be missed in the bass section and is sad to have to miss Toronto.

 

Other Harmonizer news:  the current edition of Alexandria Visitors Guide has the Harmonizers listed in the Theater and Performance section. Copy blurb reads: Internationally recognized men’s a cappella chorus, electrifying audiences with tight harmonies and high-energy choreography from barbershop to Broadway. Public and private performances with youth programs keep the melody ringing for generations.

 

Currently we have nine men planning to sing with us in Toronto that we call “Special Forces.” All live a distance from Alexandria, are members of the chapter, sing in competing quartets, and have agreed to special attendance criteria to qualify.  They include tenors Mike Geipel, Bob Wilson and Dave Ellis; leads Pookie Dingle, Sean Devine and Kevin McKenzie; baris Pete Frank and Dan Cook; and bass Craig Odell. 

Until next time – editorjack!

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Feb. 26^th Chapter Meeting

There was a huge crowd at Durant early this week – like at 6. The stage was full of guys reviewing the moves for the contest uptune with our trainer Chuck McKeever.  The growing front row was hard at work in the lobby learning and drilling their very exciting uptune package. Guests were rolling in and many members offered a hand to set up the hall for our rehearsal and meeting including the cameras used by Chuck and TJ Jones to make the learning review materials we receive after the meeting .

 

Last week after the meeting, we all got the following note from operations vp Bob Rhome: There was an unfortunate incident at the Durant Center Tuesday evening in which someone apparently threw a brick through a parked car window and a cell phone was stolen. It didn't happen to a Harmonizer, but it has been a very long time since we have seen incidents of vandalism around our home at the Durant Center. Forewarned is forearmed. Please do not leave items of value in plain sight in your car while parked - - anywhere. If you see suspicious activity around the Durant Center on Tuesday nights, please notify me right away.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal and visual warm ups this week.  He turned the
“ready to go” chorus over to director Joe Cerutti.  And Joe was eager to welcome some SPECIAL FORCES guys with us this week – Bob Wilson, Mike Geipel, Kevin McKenzie, and David Ellis.  Joe also welcomed Geoff Berman back.

 

Next Joe welcomed Tom Lee, executive director of the National Theater in DC who was with us  to  evaluate the chorus for an exciting opportunity in the near future.

 

And finally, we welcomed with loud cheers and excitement Cindy Hansen who came to drill our uptune.  She also brought us David Ellis, her husband, to sing with us!

 

We went right to work on the uptune and sang and did as much visual as we had learned for Cindy. She quickly endorsed the work and creative plan we have gotten from our own member Carlos Barillo. She also complimented the work done by Chuck McKeever in teaching us the details of the plan.

 

When we broke from singing, operations vp Bob conducted the chapter meeting. President Alan Wile was first up. He welcomed Martin Banks as new chapter historian. Alan presented a framed photo of the chorus from the fall M-AD chorus contest to our director in appreciation for his hard work every week.

 

Alan presented checks to chapter treasurer David Welter that came from the Singing Valentine program – and especially from the work done by FOUR FROM THE HEART quartet.  Thanks Bruce Lauther and his fellow singers!!

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented Harmonizer history books to newer member who did not have one yet. And new member Josh DesPortes received his first nametag from his Dad, David.  Great to have them both onboard with us.   Membership renewal cards were presented to Clyde Crusenberry for 3 years and to Bob Watcher for 61 years!!  That earned him a standing O from his fellow Harmonizers.

 

Bob Rhome reported that we have two riser rentals this week – thanks to those guys who haul and lift them.  He thanked Martin for the Harmo History board display this week.  And Bob suggested that during the upcoming break, guys get their contest pixs, get some 50/50 tickets, or get in an order with Chris Buechler for Harmo logo clothing items.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer and Ken White welcomed and introduced the guests this week. 

 

After the break, we did several runs of the contest ballad.  Then back to work on reps of the uptune.  Part of the time the front row worked with Carlos and the chorus with Joe, Cindy and Chuck.  The drills were making a big difference as we all learned more of the details.

 

During the nite we also implemented the self evaluation and recording and review process with the help of assistant director Terry Reynolds. Seems to be working pretty well so far.

The Alexandria Harmonizers are proud to offer 2-3 scholarships for our members to Harmony University. This legendary experience in Harmony education will be held July 28- August 4, 2013. The University is held at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, MO. You can get more information at http://www.barbershop.org/harmony-college.html.

There is one month before the March 26th deadline for quartet registration for the Southern Division contest... there's still plenty of time to form a quartet and get two songs ready for the competition in April, but you should be starting NOW! We have some chapter members with GREAT quartet credentials who are volunteering to help coach any foursome that wants to get on stage--and that by itself is a good reason to consider singing! Let Calvin Schnure know if you are in a quartet planning to enter the contest, or are looking for the 4th man (or 3rd man... or 2nd man) for that quartet. If you are a new quartet and have questions about registering, song selection, or anything else, please ask--if I can't help you, there are plenty of men in the Harmonizers who can.

Until next time – editorjack!

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

 Looking Back on the Feb. 19^th Chapter Meeting

This week’s set up crew had to add the “mirror” panels to the wall facing the risers for our use during stage presence work.  And a huge crowd of guys came early to work with visual trainer Chuck McKeever on the stage in review of the new contest uptune.

 

Assistant director Will Cox did the warm up session.  Jim Lake was on duty, as always, was our pitch man.

 

Director Joe Cerutti got us right to work on the contest songs. Then he dismissed the sections to work with their section leaders in separate rooms.

 

After we all returned to the risers, we worked with our own Carlos Barillo to learn the rest of the choreo for the uptune.  The front row worked in the lobby of the building.  It was another great session. At some point we put the front row guys in and did a run thru a couple times.

 

Next week we will have Cindy Hansen with us to coach and offer help with polishing the choreo.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting. Jack Cameron has contest photos for those who ordered them. Secretary Chris Buechler is collecting orders for Harmonizer jacket for anyone who wishes one.  Chris also presented name tags to two new members Sean Devine and Mike Ibay.

 

Ike Evans was set up to take new or replacement photos for the display board of all members that is hung in Durant each week. See Ike if you pix doesn’t look like you on the board!!

 

Mark Klostermeyer, membership vp, with help from Ken White, welcomed this week’s good number of guests – some new applicants, some guys from other chapters and relatives and friends of members.

Word from music and performance vp Brad Jones: The Alexandria Harmonizers are proud to offer 2-3 scholarships for our members to Harmony University. This legendary experience in Harmony education will be held July 28- August 4, 2013. The University is held at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, MO. You can get more information at http://www.barbershop.org/harmony-college.html.

After our coffee break, the meeting continued. President Alan Wile reminded members of his desire to hear from any members willing to offer financial or travel or housing assistance for members who might need support to go with us to Toronto.  See Alan or Joe.

Alan also displayed an auction item (print with an Joanne Woodward autograph) given to the chapter and hinted that it is never too early to be on the lookout for items for our next auction.

Earlier in the evening, there was a boot camp session for the MANY members who have never sung with us at International – to help them prepare and know what to expect.  In the second half of the meeting, those members were reminded that if they don’t have a room reservation in Toronto, see Craig Kujawa.  If those members don’t have a convention registration, which they must have to sing, they should see Bob Rhome. Actually that applied to any member planning to sing in Toronto.

Calvin Schnure offered to help any members who want to sing in a quartet in the Southern Division contest in Reston, April 26-27 at the Reston Hyatt.  See Calvin right away.

Associate director Tony Colosimo presented another great barbershop craft session with major emphasis on body posture.

Then assistant director Terry Reynolds initiated a process for vocal evaluation, assigning singers to specific evaluators. We sang the uptune for each evaluator to listen to a singer in his group and try out the system. Everyone else was on the risers in those groups and most all were preparing their personal recording.

Back to regular riser positions for more training with Carlos. We ended the evening with a drill of “Hello My Baby” before putting everything away.

 

After the meeting a special note came out from operations vp Bob Rhome to all members: Forewarned is forearmed! Do not leave items of value in plain sight in your car while parked - - anywhere. If you see suspicious activity around the Durant Center on Tuesday nights, please notify me right 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 during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)

Looking Back on the Feb. 12^th Chapter Meeting and Recording Session

There was a good crowd of singers and even guests who found their way to First Baptist Church on King Street for this week’s recording session. We actually met in the third floor music department of the church and operations vp Bob Rhome had good signage posted for all to find the room.  We are fortunate to have found a great room with good sound qualities and a comfortable space. There was even room for some break outs for sectionals.

 

A number of guys offered a hand to haul in recording equipment for Cameron Wiffenbach who was our recording engineer again.  Mike Kelly and Doug White helped him set up the mics and such. (And YeEd noted that they carried everything back to Cam’s van, after recording and while the rest of us worked on the new contest stage presence.)

 

The front row came to the church early and used the social hall to drill their work for the new contest package.  And later in the evening, they worked with Carlos Barillo, our in-house choreographer, on the “Anything Goes” package.

 

After a warm-up session conducted by Will Cox, director Joe Cerutti went right to work on “Hello My Baby” to start the recording process. Guests and new members sat quietly.  We had about 90 singers on hand for this session.  We also recorded “Circle of Life” (without the patter, and without the quartet intro).  Both to be added later.

 

The chapter meeting included some important announcements.  President Alan Wile spoke about the need to support our tradition of providing “angel” support for members who might need financial support to go to Toronto in July.  He spoke particularly about guys who might be able or interested in providing some materials things for the cause such as an extra registration, a ride if you are driving, a room to share, money of course, scrip cards, or airfare using extra miles or points you have.  See Alan or Joe ASAP with any offers to help.  And if you might need such help, also speak to those two guys.

 

Alan also thanked Calvin Schnure and Bruce Lauther for their many extra efforts to fulfill a large number of Singing Valentine requests the chapter has received.

 

Alan reminded his board of directors of the meeting on Wed at 7 pm at Durant.  It is an open meeting so any member may attend.  Next year’s board designates are particularly welcome.

 

Craig Kujawa (on the mend after a little back problem last week) spoke about housing in Toronto. First, if you have a reservation that you might not need, don’t cancel it.  Let Craig know, because you likely have it at a lower rate and the chapter can change it to another member.

If you don’t have a reservation, the rates go up again on Fri., Feb. 15^th.

 

And finally, our Toronto planning committee with Carl Kauffmann as head are arranging for a hospitality room on Friday and Saturday nites in our hotel.  They need someone who might like to sleep in the bedrooms of that hospitality suite.  Speak to Carl or Craig.

 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to several guys present: Bob Rhome for 12 years; Tom Kern for 15 years; TJ Jones for 22 years; Matt Kahn for 24 years; and Dean Rust for 33 years.

 

Guests this week included guys who have been in the que for joining for a few weeks; some here to audition and prepare to sing in Toronto; and one who was in town on a job interview.  Cross your fingers for his success. As usual we had guests from other chapters, some first time guests and some guys who have been gone for a while due to the flu and other colds and sickness of late.

 

After the business meeting and a little stretch break to buy scrip cards and pick up chorus photos, we worked on a review of the moves for the uptune.  Chuck McKeever had studied them in detail and was able to teach us the finer points of execution.  When Carlos came in with the front row, he seemed tickled with our progress.  And the front row put on quite a show of their progress too!

 

At ten pm, everyone pitched in and helped put things back to where we found them.  And a crowd went over to Laporta’s for the afterglow.

 

YeEd noted that assistant director Terry Reynolds was not in the hall, something that rarely happens.  Turns out Terry went to a family reunion in New Orleans last weekend and decided to stay for Mardi Gras! 

 

Until next time – editorjack!

 (This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)