Looking Back on the June 25^th Chapter Meeting and Send Off to Toronto

A huge crowd of friends, family members, other choruses, many former members, FRIENDS of HARMONY, ticket holders and show fans all turned out to fill the auditorium at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria on June 25^th. There were a lot of folks who had come a long distance to cheer and see us. 

 

The chorus came prepared to demonstrate the full package we will present next week at the 75^th International convention and contest.  We wore our complete costume/uniforms with new ties and shirts and all.  The Class of 2013 was all primed with their bandanas on display.  Six of our Special Forces guys were with us on the risers too.

 

International BHS board member and chapter member Gary Plaag was emcee and got the crowd primed to cheer and build up the excitement for the arrival of the chorus on stage.

 

We performed a complete set and then director Joe Cerutti explained how the evening would go, and then thanked a large list of members who make the Great Alexandria Chapter run!! He included all the admin guys, the music leaders, his musical team, the visual team and the folks who do the behind-the-scenes tasks each week.

 

President Alan Wile presented a gift of financial support to the two chapter quartets also going to the contest with Harmonizer members – DA CAPO and THROWBACK.  Also the FRIENDS group gave them each a gift.

 

Joe invited associate director Tony Colosimo, presentation judge Sean Devine and presentation coach Cindy Hansen to offer suggestions to the chorus with the audience listening too.  Then we did the package again.

 

We dismissed early so folks could be with friends and relatives. A good crowd went to the afterglow.  Thanks to all the hard workers who hauled risers and props into the school auditorium.  After the chorus had gotten dressed, Will Cox did the warm ups in the band room.  Producer Greg Tepe helped us prepare last minute uniform details.  Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer helped us with the plan to go on stage.

 

Ian Poulin was selling holiday show tickets in the lobby and did a brisk business.

 

This is the last Looking Back column until after the convention. Reminder: there is a rehearsal on Thursday nite June 27^th at Kena Temple on Arlington Blvd.  Bring the black suit coat!!

 

And then we meet again Tuesday nite, July 2, (7 pm for front row, 7:30 for chorus), in Toronto at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.  Travel safe all!!

 

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 Jefferson Awards Show and Extra Rehearsal June 20^th

For the second year in a row, the Harmonizers were asked to provide music for the annual Jefferson Awards for Public Service ceremony.  This year the chorus was back-drop for the award ceremony at Arena Stage in DC, Wednesday, June 19^th.  The emcee for the event was Chris Wallace from Network television.

 

The award ceremony official photo includes a great shot of the chorus in their tuxes and white tail.  The chorus had an early morning call and were finish early afternoon. 

 

At the Thursday nite rehearsal following the event, many men shared the emotional and inspirational stories from the ceremony.  Greg Tepe was show producer and Bruce Lauther was major contact for the show.

 

The extra rehearsal this past week was at Kena Temple on Arlington Blvd./ Rt. 50.  It was a perfect big hall to get used to selling to the large audience in Toronto.  After warm ups by associate director Tony Colosimo, director Joe Cerutti thanked operation vp Bob Rhome for getting us into the facility – just what we needed to experience.

 

Joe also thanked all the men who got to DC so early for the Jefferson Awards show, and he asked men to share their experiences and stories.

 

Then it was work, work, work in preparation for Toronto.  We used our props and new uniform pieces so we were used to coats and dressy clothes.  We drilled staging and worked on the musical precision we are getting used to.

 

Of course there were many of the usual announcements leading up to our trip to International again. One especially important was for men to see Tom Kern for any uniform parts and make up kit materials.

 

Next Tuesday nite is our dress rehearsal on the stage at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria. The chorus members were invited to continue efforts to bring friends and family and guests to that event to give us an excited audience to perform to.   Guests may come anytime and leave anytime, as we will warm up first, change into our full uniforms and then do several runs of the contest package.

 

There will be another Thursday nite rehearsal on the 27^th at Kena Temple again.

 

And then we all head to Toronto with our first rehearsal on Tuesday nite, 7:30-9:30 pm in the Ontario Ballroom of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.  Again, Joe has encouraged us to invite friends and supporters to the rehearsals during the week up there.

 

Until next time – editorjack!

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

Looking Back on the June 18^th Chapter Meeting

The Harmonizers continued the hard work in prep for their contest appearance on Friday eve, July 5^th in Toronto. No surprise then that the hall was full early as men came to attend the presentation review session, buy things, get uniform parts and help set up the room.

 

Chuck McKeever’s 6 o’clock session on the stage included a review of the enHANSENMENTS from last week.  And he helped new guys learn the moves for “Great Day” so they could sing it on Wednesday.

 

 Assistant director Will Cox did the warm ups.  Dick Hall gave one of his now-famous annual pep talks. And Chuck alerted all that, for the rest of the rehearsals before Toronto, visual questions should go to him or the row leaders; only very general visual suggestions like focal or facial reminders will come from out front; and if you are not up to snuff the visual team will invite you out to the lobby for a private session.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo and director Joe Cerutti then worked as a team of coach and director while the chorus performed both songs. They continued the plan of incorporating barbershop craft maxims all evening.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting and called president Alan Wile up first for announcements.  Alan reported on the successful Harmony College East in Salisbury this past weekend.  There were several members present as students and as instructors.  DE CAPO, YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT, SURPRISE!, GRAND OLDE TYME, and MONORAIL FOUR  quartets were there too.

 

While at HCE, Alan was given a check from the Mid Atlantic District for support of our chorus trip to Toronto.  He handed the check to treasurer Dave Welter, along with a check for monies earned from online contribution plans.

 

Show producer Greg Tepe announced final details for the Jefferson Awards performance on Wednesday June 19 at Arena Stage.  Chorus call time is 8:30 am; uniform is tux with white tie/vest/pocket stuffer.

 

Greg also invited all singers to get the new tie and stuffer that will be worn in Toronto from Tom Kern. 

 

Bob Rhome had Toronto info packets for each member going to International (the Harmo schedule for the week and a general info book about visiting the city). Jack Cameron is eager to get each man’s photo order form and payment this week for any chorus photos they want. Roger Day had the Toronto shirts for those who ordered them.  And many guys had to get more parts of uniforms from Tom for the contest uniform and for the tux outfit.

 

YeEd found out the props were painted their first coat by Doug White and TJ Donahue.  A second painting crew was solicited for this weekend.

 

Scipio Garling encouraged members to order tickets for the Holiday Show that they might want for family or friends – cause sales are going well and you won’t wanna miss out.

 

Rick Wagner thanked those who brought items to use in the Harmo Hideaway (hospitality room in Toronto on Friday nite and Saturday nite). The hours of the suite are included in the published schedule for our week. The room will also be open on Friday for any members who are staying at a different hotel than the Royal York, and will need a place to dress and make up.

 

The rehearsal this Thursday, June 20^th, is at Kena Temple on Arlington Blvd. at 7 pm. Riser crew is due there at 6:30. We will be in the main ballroom of the Shriner Temple (not the annex we have used other years). Address is 9001 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax, 22031.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Don Dillingham for 4 years; Edris Qarghah for 5 years; Tony Colosimo for 20 years; Ken Rub for 22 years; Ike Evans for 26 years; Martin Banks for 30 years; Al Herman for 30 years; Dave Welter for 37 years; and Dick Hall for 49 years.  Martin and Al will also receive a 30-year membership pin as is the custom in our chapter.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer with help from Ken White introduced and welcomed a group of guests including Bert Szabo; a college student in town as an intern; several applicants; and friends of Mark’s from Germany.

 

During the break, many guys continued conducting business matters. The front row worked on their amazing contest package in front of the risers so they had enough space.

 

After break we watched the Toronto Northern Lights contest package they used for the contest in Philly. 

 

And then we worked long and hard on the contest package.

 

Just before closing we sang thru the songs for the Wednesday show.

 

Also before closing, Bob Wachter announced his disappointing news that his health would not allow him to compete with us in Toronto!  There was a standing o in tribute! He recited his annual rendition of the poem he has lived by and served by in the military, government and barbershop leadership. Bob is a 61 year barbershopper.

 

The gang put all the equipment away, including the oh-so-welcome electric fans, onto the truck for Thursday nite.  We were asked to bring our black suit coats Thursday too.

 

Joe did a shout out to Dave Hood who was married to Katie last weekend in NC. Congrats to them both!

 

There was a bandana check for the Class of 2013.  All passed!  AND yes, we did notice their class mascot, named LEAD, on display.

 

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 June 1 1^th Chapter Meeting

The Harmonizers were hot and sweaty last nite as we plowed hard into raising the bar on our performance package for Toronto.  Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal and rhythmic warm ups in the music suite of First Baptist Church.  Then director Joe Cerutti took the helm and helped us record our two contest songs – gettem while they are hot!!  The usual recording team was working hard to set up and take down the mics and other equipment. Thanks guys. The AC was off as well as the much of the lighting to keep down extra noise, but it was still mighty warm!!

 

Everyone was so glad to see Dennis Ritchey back for a visit with a new knee in the healing process.  Looking good Dennis!  There were a few other guests too – Dominic Hawkins and Peter, a former student of TJ Donahue’s from Denver. Both guests stopped in to hear and see our contest package. Legendary BHS arranger and coach Burt Szabo was with us again this year on his way to Harmony College East this weekend. (As a reminder, it is not too late to register and attend to take classes and meet lots of other barbershop singers.)

 

The chorus left the music suite and went down to the main hall of the church (where we have our holiday show) to work with Cindy Hansen, here from Denver to help us.  She was on fire too and helped push us as a chorus and as individuals in our personal performances.  It was great to be a part of it and feel the rising levels.  Tony and Joe worked to make sure we maintained the vocal performance levels from the retreat weekend.  Assistant director Terry Reynolds, choreographer Carlos Barillo, front row captain Craig Kujawa,  and riser coach Chuck McKeever were all busy with tasks to make the nite productive for all.

 

We did spend considerable time using our coats, so that would not be a surprise to us in Toronto. And the front row repeated and repeated their routines as we sang parts over and over.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome, of course, was on top of physical arrangements and conducted this week’s chapter meeting.  President Alan Wile saluted front row guy Ben Roberts who was named Best Actor in a Musical for hi school performers – the presentation was at the Kennedy Center this past weekend! Wow, Ben.

 

Alan, with comments from Scipio Garling, prompted us all to use the recently distributed show flyer to start getting holiday show ticket orders.  Scipio reminded the members that they should not wait too long for family and friend tickets, as the show is already 25% sold out.

 

Then Alan announced that he and community services vp Clyde Crusenberry had been to City Hall to receive the 2013 grant from the Alexandria Commission on the Arts for our chapter.  Many thanks for that support as well.

 

As a reminder of things on the calendar in the next two weeks:

 

Next Tues, June 18^th – we meet back at Durant.  That is our last chance to get uniform parts from chairman Tom Kern out of our storage closet there.

 

New folks also NOTE that you need to talk to Tom on the 18^th about make up kits if you don’t have one, and about the casual shirt uniform we will wear in Toronto.

 

 

Same thing for tux and vest and tie etc. for the Jefferson Awards show on June 19^th at Arena Stage.  Call time is now 8:30 am.  Best to take the Metro. Come with trousers and shoes and can bring vest and shirt and tie. We may be there until 1 or 1:30 pm.  You can change there if needed.

 

June 25^th is our big dress rehearsal nite at Bishop Ireton Hi School at 7 pm.  Bring friends and neighbors so we have an audience.  We will wear the contest uniform.

 

Two extra rehearsals before we go to Canada – Thrs. June 20 and 27 at Kena Annex on Arlington Blvd. Watch to correct report times. 

 

If you are a Metro rider, plan ahead now for rides on 20^th, 25^th and 27^th, as those locations are not near a Metro stop.

 

Also NOTE that all remaining rehearsals are mandatory attendance.

 

Before guys left there was the usual business matters such as paying for scrip to use at our hotel in Toronto, ordering contest pictures from Intl thru Jack Cameron, and paying deposits for Normandy to Mick Stamps.

 

The class of 2013 was readily apparent with their orange bandanas again this week!

 

As mentioned, we worked hard on the package until about 10:30, then everyone pitched in to reload the Harmo truck.

 

A good crowd came over to La Portas for 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 June 4^th Chapter Meeting

As you would imagine, all Harmonizers arrived at our meeting place full of excitement after the past weekend’s hugely successful retreat with David Wright.  And everyone was eager to demonstrate his retention from the weekend.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and director Joe Cerutti turned the chorus loose to demonstrate how they were doing on the fantastic package.

 

Before the 7 pm chimes to start, there was presentation review on the stage with Chuck McKeever including work on “Great Day” which is one of the songs for the Jefferson Awards show June 19.

 

Speaking of the weekend, there were some Special Forces guys who stayed over the weekend to be here for Tues. before returning to their homes in other states.  And the Mascot of the Class of 2013 was on display with candles on a yellow/orange scarf!  Some say it has been named “Lead” – you had to be at retreat to get the gag!

 

When Joe got the floor he also thanked Rich Hewitt for his leadership as class president for the 2013 gang.  And Joe recognized Dr. Brian Miller for his super efforts to perform and entertain without seeing the director or any other performers on stage!

 

The nifty sign, “It’s Showtime” was back in place to help all of us focus on 5^th row center!  Thanks Chuck.

 

We also sang thru other songs for the Jefferson Awards show.  And watched an Ambassadors of Harmony performance of “If You Loved Me” to see how another large chapter works on the risers with faces and eyes and bodies.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting period of the evening.  President Alan Wile thanked all the members for their efforts to make the retreat a success.  He congratulated new member Duncan Woodbury who graduated last week!  And Alan recognized Ben Roberts who was nominated as a lead actor in a musical for CAPPAs awards in DC.  Ben will perform one of his songs from “Young Frankenstein” at the awards event at the Kennedy Center.

 

Alan reminded all that he is accepting contributions for angel support that we can give to any member who needs financial assistance for the Toronto convention.  That might be money, hotel reservation, convention registrations, scrip to pay for hotel, or miles for flights.

 

We took an abbreviated break this week so we could get in more singing.  There was the usual opportunity for taking care of matters at break like uniform purchases and getting a button from the FRIENDS IN HARMONY who met this week.

 

After the break there were more announcements such as caring for the contest and show uniforms, and a reminder that next week we will meet at 6:30 at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St. for a recording session until 7:30 and then a coaching session with Cindy Hansen in the church hall til 10:30.  A riser crew was recruited for then too.

 

And just as a teaser, the tickets are already on sale for the holiday shows in early Dec.!  Ian Poulin has them for sale along with the scrip cards to use in paying for hotel rooms at the Royal York in Toronto.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented new member materials from the BHS to Joe Krzysko and a Man of Note pin to Sam McFarland for his 23^rd member!!  Way to go Sam. And welcome Joe. Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer with help from Jeremy Richardson welcomed each of our guests for the evening including a couple applicants, some family and friends of members visiting and some former members in to see the package.

 

When we went back to work on the package, Joe invited Sean Devine, a certified presentation judge, to offer comments and to help the front row.  Great to have one of our guys up front to work with us.

 

Before the end of the evening we did several reps of the package. Joe put out a 15-minute-per- day challenge – for each guy to spend that much time on the music and personal commitment.

 

After singing KTWSS, the guys loaded av equipment and props onto the Harmo truck for next week at the church.  The risers were returned to their nifty storage spot under the stage in Durant.

 

A good crowd came over to La Portas for 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 Pre International Chorus Retreat

There has already been a lot chatter about the weekend – likely one of the most powerful retreats in Harmonizer history.  (And how appropriate during our 65^th year – which we celebrated Saturday nite with cake and a reflection of Harmonizer tradition.)

 

The change to start on Friday nite worked great – probably now a Harmo tradition!  The music and admin teams were well organized.  Coach David Wright was ready to teach, inspire, motivate and cajole from the first minute.  It was so good to have him back with our Harmo family – he knows a lot of the guys by name and has fun with our chapter.  And the 25 or so guys who had never worked with him were blown away too.

 

For sure, assistant director Terry Reynolds had every minute of rehearsal planned and well organized (And he took notes all weekend to share with the directors and the singers in follow-up. No surprise.  YeEd discovered that the clip board Terry was using had all the words of each song on them and space for notes and suggestions. Thanks Terry!!)

 

Retreat chairman Chuck McKeever, and his team, were perfect hosts and also well organized so no details needed attention.  Bob Blair and Gary Fuller drove the Harmo truck up and college students helped haul in the risers, front row props and av equipment so our guys could set them up in the rehearsal hall.  Keith Jones, TJ Jones, Jack Cameron, Len Dornberger helped register our guys, pass out keys, take notes during the weekend, and assist Chuck with video work.  Doug White was the sound guy for the weekend and was plenty busy with all the mics needed for coaches and musical leaders. Gotta add Jim Lake to the list as he was a mighty busy pitch-pipe man for the whole weekend. Phil  Ashford was busy taking pixs all weekend too.

 

John Pence prepared the weekend’s printed agenda and retreat booklet. Thanks JP.

 

As usual the facility and staff at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, were great for us.  Just a little over two hours away, the suites were clean and ready. The main hall for rehearsal was cool and comfortable and spacious, and convenient to all of our meals too.  A good crowd of guys got to Westminster Fri. nite in time to get some chow on the local main street. All modes of transportation got over 100 guys there – cars, pickups, motorcycles, car pools, and one guy via rental car cause his car wouldn’t start after work in DC.

 

We had several visitors from the Pride of Baltimore SAI chorus and some family friends who came to watch our rehearsals.

 

And yes, the gold/orange bandanas of the Class of 2013 were everywhere with all 27 guys present and accounted for with bandanas!

Carlos Barillo
Lou Bergner
Dave Branstetter
David DesPortes

Josh DesPortes

Sean Devine

TJ Donahue
Randall Eliason

Dave Ellis
Tom Frederick
Gary Fuller
John Greene
Bob Griesemer
Rich Hewitt
David Hood
Peter Hubbard
Kevin McKenzie
Stan Quick
Ben Roberts
Calvin Schnure
Dean Sherick
Steve Szyszka
Shawn Tallant
Mike Vlcej
Harold Weinberger
Doug White
Duncan Woodbury

 

The risers we full at 6:50 pm when the chimes rang out for the start Friday! Assistant director Will Cox did the vocal warm ups. There was a sign on the wall to indicate front row center – “It’s Showtime!” Obviously the work of ever-driving McKeever to help us get the focals correct!!

 

Director Joe Cerutti took over up front and first off welcomed all the guys to the “Anything Goes Retreat Weekend” and quickly welcomed and presented our coach David Wright.

 

We sang the set one time thru and turned David loose to help us. And help he did!  We worked totally on the ballad Fri. nite. Mid evening, there was a break with brownies and cookies and sodas for all with time to sit and relax a bit.

 

As usual, there were announcements and other details for guys to take care of such as paying $32 for and picking up the new white shirt for Toronto from our hard-working uniform chair Tom Kern.  Also guys could see Nick Murane to buy tickets for any family members and friends who will be in Toronto and attending the chapter Togetherness Meal (actually a luncheon this year, not the traditional breakfast, since we sing so late in the afternoon).

 

Breakfast on Sat. started at 7:30 am and we were on the risers for warm up at 8:30.  There were a few sleepy eyes of guys who stayed up visiting, and some guys who came Sat. morning from DC because of work conflicts and such. Some of our guys worked in the rehearsal hall Fri. nite to modify the front row props, and they too got to bed late. YeEd heard that crew included TJ Donahue, Doug White, Craig Kujawa and Mike Vlcej.

 

Assistant director Will Cox did warm ups for Saturday morning. Terry announced that we had 108 of the 111 guys present who are expected to sing in Toronto. Mid morning there was another break with goodies while the first and second rows stayed on the risers to coordinate some uniform change efforts.

 

Joe announced his travel plans for Sat evening to get to Nashville for Wayne Grimmer’s wedding with plans to be back at midnite.  Joe’s Dad, Joe Sr. was pressed into service to make the airport run Saturday noon.

 

When the chorus broke for lunch, the front row held one of the several extra rehearsals they had during the weekend for their visual routine. The hard working 15 men in the 2013 front row are Ben Roberts, Ken White, Scip Garling, Doug White, Randall Eliason, Peter Hubbard, Carlos Barillo, Steve White, Josh Roots, Ken Rub, Terry Reynolds, Chuck Hunter, Mike Vlcej, Craig Kujawa and Chris Clark

 

After lunch, the whole chorus was right back to work on the risers! David taught the “authorized” version of the “Friends” tag so we could all sing it on Sunday and then associate director Tony Colosimo took over director duties for the rest of Saturday.

 

We spent the rest of the day and evening rehearsal sessions on the uptune! That included many reps including huge amounts of dancing by the front row.  Our in-house choreography team, including visual row leaders, facial coach and the front row captain, worked to improve accuracy and facial expressions all during the singing time. David never let up on that aspect. In fact he spent a lot of the weekend giving emphasis to both left brain and right brain efforts to make the package complete.  He paid a special tribute to Carlos Barillo for the creative visual plan.

 

After dinner, we were issued the gold scarves for the uptune and Carlos helped us practice a few times at how to fold them and when to put them on.  Doug White was in charge of distribution (and YeEd found out Doug actually did a lot of the sewing on them as part of the team with FRIENDS IN HARMONY who had measured all of us and made the scarves).

 

When the evening’s rehearsal concluded, Jack Pitzer gave a tribute for the 65^th anniversary and we adjourned for a break from singing to relax in the hall with David presenting an abbreviated version of his now-famous “History of Barbershop” class from the BHS Harmony University. Then the spread of food and drinks arrived while we watched a video of the 5^th place comedy chorus routine from last year’s contest in Portland.

 

And then it was time for the presentation by the Class of 2013.  They had been challenged to show they could sing – so they helped us all prepare for our trip to Toronto and sang “O Canada” with class president Rick Hewitt as director.

 

Then for their skit, they created a stage for a Jeopardy game with contestants Tony Colosimo, chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer and Chuck McKeever.  It was wildly funny and we all got into the act as the contestants tried to answer the questions – such as “what precise measure of  tonal accuracy did David suggest during the weekend (answer – onion skins). They got worse after that!! And we all laughed when K12 couldn’t answer one of his questions about a substance that has the same name as a singing part – “lead” as in metal or paint! [Old timers suggest it will become the new “hark” that is yelled out each week and has been done so for many many years after Will forgot his line in a show – “hark”.] Good job by the 27 guys who will sing with us for the first time as a Harmonizer in an International chorus contest – the Class of 2013.

 

Sunday morning we were up early again and turned in our room keys to Chuck and his team as we entered the breakfast hall.  We got on the risers with two more of the 111 guys who had made it in. Tony did the vocal warm ups using the suggested technique David had shown us earlier in the weekend.

 

Joe was back on campus and had a little time to be briefed by Terry (including a video of the skit from the nite before). Joe thanked Chuck, Terry, David and Tony for keeping things flowing.

 

We worked a couple hours Sun. on the package, including a fun chance for the chorus to demonstrate to Joe what we had done with the uptune.  His facial expressions of pride and surprise were worth a million bucks to us singers on the risers.

 

At the end of our work session on Sun., Joe introduced and spoke a little about each of the seven 2013 Special Forces guys who are singing with us in Toronto and have made over-and-above efforts to be with us for preparation – Bruce Roehm, Sean Devine, Mike Wallen, Kevin McKenzie, Bob Wilson, Mike Geipel, and Dave Ellis.

 

Chuck thanked his team and the Class of 2013.  Jack Cameron and Bob Blair presented the class a mascot trophy which they get to name and keep until the next class is named. Chapter president Alan Wile thanked all the chapter members who worked to make this weekend so successful and he invited David up front so we could express our cheers and long and loud applause of thanks. Music and performance vp Brad Jones officially thanked David and gave him a Terracotta Warrior statue from our chorus trip to China – where we sang some of David’s arrangements.

 

As is our tradition, we ended the retreat after David’s farewell challenge when the chorus locked  arms on the risers and sang the “Friends” tag.

 

Everyone helped reload the Harmo truck and we all headed back to our homes, eager to get back at it on Tues. at Durant.

 

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