Looking Back on the May 31^st Chapter Meeting and Southern Division Contest May 27-28

We all knew there was plenty to do in order to be totally prepared for the retreat this coming weekend with David Wright and Cindy Hansen (a recent addition to the coaching staff this weekend), so guys arrived early and filled the risers.

Good crowd of guys came to the presentation review with Chuck McKeever.  Set up crews had the room ready and the AC was working overtime that caused some folks to grab jackets (but no one complained).

Choreographer Carlos Barillo spent the opening part of the evening helping us get a handle on the emotions of the ballad.  He used a new exercise which included playing instrumental music and we suggested our thoughts as to the message of the song (this does not do justice as an explanation of the successful exercise – YeEd). 

Following this we worked on the contest songs with Director Joe Cerutti  – mostly as a follow up to the recent vocal studios that each member attended at Durant with Joe or associate director Tony Colosimo.

Carlos had another chunk of time teamed with Joe on the songs.

Executive director Terry Reynolds conducted the chapter meeting time: watch for an email from retreat chairman Chuck McKeever and be there for the 8 pm start on Friday June 3^rd at Mc Daniel College in Westminster MD.

Director Emeritus Scott Werner will be with us on Tuesday, June 7^th, to practice the 20-years-ago-today entrance in our package. 

The vocal studios mentioned above were useful, so there will be optional studios on Thursday June 9^th  at Convergence Church at 7, 8 or 9 pm  Stay tuned for details.

Casey Belzer, president of the Class of 2016, invited us all to attend his middle school choir concert on Wed. nite June 1^st at Washington Middle School at 7:30 pm.

Recent visitor and fan of the chapter, Rob Langston, is taking photos for us during these weeks leading up to International.

President Randall Eliason reported on the results of the Southern Division contest.

Thanks to Alan Wile and Dixie Kennett for gathering Harmonizer news at the M-AD Southern Division contest held in Reston at the Hyatt weekend of May 27-28.  The chapter did not have to sing this year as we have earned a bye as current district champ headed to International this summer.

But we did have some quartets in the contest with Harmo members. Third place quartet was HANDSOME REWARD with John Reese, Mike Edison, Vince Lynch and Michael Gilmore. MISFIRE was seventh in the contest with Jay Sorenson, Brian Ammerman, Litic Muirali and Matt Doniger.

Some of our guys sang in choruses on Saturday including John Santora, Bill Colosimo, Al Hannenbaum, Jim Lake and Austin Cotton. Division chorus champ is Anne Arundal chapter directed by TJ Barranger.  Fun to see so many former members in quartets, in the choruses and helping manage the contest and convention.

Chapter members helping operate the contest included judges Chuck Harner and Tony Colosimo; contest emcees Shawn Tallant and Dennis Ritchey; operations team members Carl Kauffmann and Mike Kelly; and M-AD board members Bill Colosimo, Dennis Ritchey, Bob Eckman, Keith Jones, Chuck Harner.

Thanks to our neighboring chapter, Fairfax, who served as hosts for the weekend.

During the chapter meeting on Tuesday, chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Tim Buell for 12 years and to Howard Nestlerode for 41 years.

Before our break, director of membership Rich Hewitt  introduced our guests and applicants present.  He also called for the Class of 2016 to come forward so we could do a bandana check – they passed with 100% of them showing their colors!!

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 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the May 21st Armed Forces Show and May 24^th Chapter Meeting

Our third Armed Forces show was held Saturday afternoon at 2 pm at Fort Meyer Memorial Chapel.  This event is held for and in honor of local service members, veterans and their families. Associate director Tony Colosimo was director and assistant director Terry Reynolds did the warm ups and helped with the concert. 

There were 55 singers there for the show for a good crowd of veterans, military folks and chorus family and friends. We sang our standard patriotic package.

Greg Tepe was package show producer (and this was his last time to perform that duty.  He has served in this capacity for ten years. Many thanks – Greg.)  He recognized Todd Ryktarsyk, Shawn Tallant, Ike Evans, Randall Eliason and Bruce Lauther for lots of behind-the-scenes preparation work.

Bill Colosimo was emcee. President Eliason welcome the guests. Mark Klostermeyer helped us line up and as chorus manager.  A crew of men moved risers, Doug White drove the truck and got the sound system working, Rich Hewitt produced  the slide show slides during the finale of our concert.

We had assistance from the Sea Cadets who served as ushers, color guard and hosts for those veterans who needed assistance. There was a WWII re-enactor just outside the chapel for guests to see. 

Bruce Lauther, our chapter bookings man, worked hard to get guests to the concert and had invited folks from the Armed Forces Retirement Center in DC, The Fairfax at Belvoir Woods near Ft. Belvoir, Vincent Hall in McLean, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. Many thanks Bruce.

It was good to see Bob Wachter, Martin Banks and Don Johnson in the house.

On Tuesday nite the 24th, we found out director Joe Cerutti was home sick.  But we had a great workout and made lots of progress on the contest music.

Associate director Tony Colosimo was at the helm for warm ups and directing.  He worked a large part of the nite with choreographer Carlos Barillo on refining the presentation plan for the uptune.  It was great to have enough time to work on the whole song.

Great to see Frank Fedarko and Mike Kelly back with us.

Before the meeting started, the usual set up crews worked hard to get ready.  Chuck McKeever led a stage presence review at 6 pm and the front row used the space in front of the risers for their drill for the uptune with Carlos.

Chapter executive director Terry Reynolds conducted the chapter meeting.  He reminded guys about the vocal studios in the evenings this week (and pointed to the list of assignments posted on the wall). He acknowledged Bruce Minnick was accepting payment for the retreat in Westminster MD.

Terry announced that former director Scott Werner would be with us on June 7^th.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Craig Kujawa for 13 years; Ian Poulin for 16 years; Michael Gilmore for 24 years; Bob Wells for 25 years; Ike Evans for 29 years; and Al Herman for 33 years.  Bob also received a 25-year lapel pin.

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed a large group of guests including a French horn player from the Strathmore show orchestra.  Rich also introduced the Class of 2016 and their president Casey Belzer. The class includes tenors: Jay Sorenson and Masahasa Takahashi; leads: Casey Belzer. Jason Lee and Art Medici; baris: Jeff Burkey, Jim Kirkland and Antony Takahashi; basses: Tim Cash, Matt Doniger, Tom Jackson and Steve Spar.  The class was presented the traditional neck scarf to be worn and visible at every official chapter function until they are told to discard them during International week.

Earlier in the evening the class met to get some briefing about what international week would be like – Harmo schedule, what to expect for the contest and convention schedule, uniform matters.

President Randall Eliason presented monetary support to two quartets that have Harmonizer signers and will compete this weekend at the Southern Division contest in Reston:  MISFIRE and HANDSOME REWARD.  MISFIRE sang for the chapter earlier in the evening.  Good luck to 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 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the May 17^th Chapter Meeting

Everyone was excited this week to work with coach Cindy Hansen Ellis on the contest package. She did not disappoint and gave us a lot of suggestions, helped us understand the flow of the package and motivated us to excel.

She helped director Joe Cerutti with the warm up session with her remarks about our work and performance at Strathmore.  Then we worked on the uptune for the whole first half of the nite. Her work enhanced the already developed plan from our choreographer Carlos Barillo.

Executive director Terry Reynolds spoke about the Armed Forces Show this Saturday with emphasis on the method of entrance for us to Fort Meyer. The chorus call is 12:30.

Terry alerted all that volunteers are needed to take on some one-time jobs for our week in Nashville this summer.  Watch for the email – tasks like truck driver to and from Nashville, togetherness breakfast ticket sales, etc.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented a membership renewal card to Kellen Hertz for eight years.

Reminders were announced for all to pay their retreat fees to Bruce Minnick and to be sure to sign up on Groupanizer.

Vocal studio sign up sheets were in the hall for those who have not done so yet. 

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed two applicants and a couple guests. Always great to have new singers join us on the risers.

Before break, the chapter surprised Joe and presented him a huge framed poster that was used to promote the Harvey Milk performance at Strathmore.  Thanks to Clyde Crusenberry for asking the venue staff for the one existing poster.  And to Mark Klostermeyer for his usual great job as our official framing guy.

After break and many items of business, we worked more with our coach and combined the uptune with the ballad.

In other news, several members competed in the M-AD central division contest this past weekend n Harrisburg, PA. Tom Jackson and Kellen Hertz sang with the new Dundalk Baltimore Vocal Corps 17-man ensemble directed by Rick Taylor to win the chorus contest. Mike Fasano sang with Queen Anne’s County chorus that took third.  The new Philadelphia chorus was second.

Congrats to Noah Van Gilder who had his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday in DC; and congrats to Jeremy Richardson and Andy Woo who celebrated their wedding on Saturday in Luray. It was a pleasure for many fellow Harmonizers to share in these important life-events for our brothers.

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 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the May 10^th Chapter Meeting

Amidst the days and days of rain, the Harmonizers made their way to Durant ready to work on the new contest set.  A crowd of guys met with Chuck McKeever to review the presentation plan for the uptune.  The front row worked on the stage.  And the board met at 6 pm too.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups. Then director Joe Cerutti and his team of Tony and Carlos Barillo, choreographer, worked with us on the contest songs.  During the evening there was a 15-minute sectional time, and a major chunk of time for Carlos to help us expand our plan for the uptune.

At one point, executive director Terry Reynolds and membership director Rich Hewitt met with all men who plan to sing in Nashville but have never sung in an international contest with the Harmonizers before.  This was the start of the Class of 2016 and helps the men get a handle on what is expected, what will happen during convention week and what they need to do in advance.

The work sessions included time for self recordings of guys preparing for Nashville.

Chuck McKeever continued his great efforts to video us for our personal review and education.

Terry conducted the chapter meeting portion of the nite.

The call time for the Armed Forces Show is 12:30 pm. Word from Greg Tepe, package show producer, that the uniform for the Armed Forces Day performance on Saturday May 21 at the Memorial Chapel at Ft Myer will be black suit, white hidden button shirt, red/white/blue tie, black patent leather shoes, black socks, black belt. See Tom Kern if you are a new member and don’t have some of those uniform parts. 

There are also some specific requirements for admission onto the Fort.  Stay tuned and watch announcement email.

The M-AD Southern Division May 27-28 in Reston at the Hyatt.  Anyone can attend – you can buy tickets onsite.  Friday nite the quartet contest starts at 6:27 pm.  Saturday morning the chorus contest starts at 10:57 am. Looks like a couple quartets with Harmonizers will compete –HANDSOME REWARD and MISFIRE.

President Randall Eliason reported on health matters for some of our members.  Terry Jordan is home now still recovering. Rich Payton has pneumonia added to his back issues. And Ken Fess has come down with pneumonia.  Frank Fedarko is still fighting health complications. We wish them all speedy recovery.

Randall presented a Presidential Valor Award to Tom Kern for his eight years service and dedication as our uniform guy! Thanks Tom.

Randall also asked members to respond when the operations team sends out a list of jobs that need someone to do for the chapter.

Bob Wachter was in the house this week.  Great to see him.

The make-up session for vocal studios is Thursday nite May 12^th from 7-9 at Durant. Members should be getting in their $100 payment for the contest retreat, June 3-4-5, to Bruce Minnick. Vocal studio sign-ups will be conducted by Terry.

Mark your calendar for the fall show called Revolution at Schlesinger on Sat. Oct. 15^th.

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to David DesPortes for nine years; Noah Van Gilder for nine years; Steve Murane for fourteen years; Mike Fasano for 21 years; and Chris Buechler for 31 years.

Rich Hewitt welcomed applicants, new members and guests.  When we sang the ‘Harmonizer Welcome Song,’ it was taped for YouTube.

Before we went home, the chorus sang thru the songs for the Armed Forces 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 during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the May 3^rd Chapter Meeting

The AC was still not working at Durant, but we worked hard all nite anyway and made lots of progress on our contest package.

Riser set up was a little delayed as several guys worked on repairing some sections of the risers.  Thanks to that crew. The front row continued its intensive rehearsal on the stage at 6 pm.

Director Joe Cerutti did the warm ups while associate director Tony Colosimo revised the riser position chart for this contest season.  The new sound seemed to please all musical leaders.  Many of us are on different sides of the chorus and in different rows.

Joe used the tag to “Mary Had a Baby” for warm up exercises.  Then he went right to work on the uptune adding some interp and some reminders for end of phrases. This arrangement by David Harrington is fun but has lots of rhythm challenges. The ballad also arranged by David is coming along great too.

Executive director Terry Reynolds conducted the chapter meeting time.  He reminded us about the visual studios this Saturday. He reminded us that payment ($100) for the retreat at McDaniel College is Westminster MD on June 3-4-5 should go to Bruce Minnick ASAP. Coach David Wright will be there to help us polish the package.  Requests for roommates in the suites should go to Chuck McKeever.

Singers and their families and patrons should mark their calendars for the Armed Forces Day Show on Sat May 21 at Fort Meyer.

Congrats and thanks to TBD for their recent appearance and subsequent significant financial gift to the chapter.

Board member Steve White introduced a new chapter committee – Choral Affairs Committee – composed of guys who members can talk with confidentially about how it is going in the chapter(s).  The new committee members are Casey Belzer, Jeff Burkey, Randy Lazear, Rick Savage, Joel Golden, Jeremy Richardson and Steve.

Terry spoke about the status of the qualification process – the first phase is wrapping up. Absent forms are on Groupanizer for anyone who cannot attend any of the mandatory rehearsals between now and International. 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Dean Sherick for 4 years, John Oswald Green for 5 years, Tom Berkey for 19 years, Rick Savage for 42 years; and Dick Hall for 52 years.

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed and introduced new applicants, and guests, and we sang our Harmonizer Welcome Song to them all.

After refreshments during the break, it was promptly back to work on the risers. 

Tony started a new series of Craft Maxims – three new ones to move us on from the earlier era maxims we all know and love!

Then we used most of the rest of nite to learn the presentation plan from our choreographer Carlos Barillo.  It is fun.  Before we wrapped up, the front row joined the chorus to put it all together.  McKeever filmed Carlos’s instruction for us all to review.

In other news, this info from Dick Dangel: For many years now, POTOMAC RIVER RASCALS  quartet, (which includes Drew Fuller, tenor; Dick, lead; and two Harmony Heritage Singer members Bob Scarlet, bari; and Wes Kriebl, bass) have performed for the Washington DC annual salute to DC Centenarians. Office of Aging puts on a nice luncheon for them and their support people. So we get a free lunch, get paid, serenade arriving centenarians and perform for them on stage once a year. The oldest one in attendance today was born in 1909. The oldest one currently living in DC was born in 1906.  (Dick says they sometimes earn the name Rascals as they mix with the honorees.)  The quartet did meet the DC Mayor and were seen on local Ch. 7 evening news in the background of that news item.

Kudos to David Jarzen for his lead role in “Starlight Express” performed by students at West Potomac High School in Alexandria.  Instructor Peelee Clark performed the show himself for several years in Germany and was able to help the students with their skating and music.

Alan Wile reports: Last week Terry Jordan was disoriented a bit, wobbly on his feet, vision fuzzy, and just not doing well. Went to Loudoun INOVA Hospital in serious condition on Monday where he was diagnosed with kidney failure. He’s doing well now but expects to remain in the hospital for three days or so. The condition is treatable and he does NOT need dialysis treatment. To complicate things, he is suffering from shingles. Terry says all is under control and he’s feeling a lot better. Phone to the nursing station is 703-858-6770 (they will transfer calls to his room).

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 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the April 26^th Chapter Meeting

This week we launched our serious work on the contest package and celebrated our successful performances at Strathmore.  (There was no chapter meeting at Durant on April 19^th as we rehearsed at Strathmore that evening.)

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups with choreographer Carlos Barillo. Director Joe Cerutti did a wrap up from Strathmore and invited any members who wanted to comment to come to the mic.  Many guys poured out thoughts and reactions from the heart and it was another moving outcome from the “I Am Harvey Milk” experience.

Then we jumped right into working on the contest package and it included some times for different voice parts to go into sectional rehearsal for parts of the song.

Executive director Terry Reynolds made the announcements (and they were sent to all members): (1) our third Armed Forces Day Show will be Sat May 21^st (some earlier announcements that it was on Sunday were wrong) at Ft. Myer chapel. (2) Mark Klostermeyer is taking orders for Strathmore photos – both framed or unframed. (3) As a follow up to our Strathmore appearance and our support of the show there, we have been invited to their annual gala and its after party with a special Harmo rate. (4) Many details listed about contest rehearsals including the switch in on for them to become mandatory at this point, check the calendar for vocal and visual sessions, a form was provided for members to record their personal Valor points, and the reminder about the contest retreat – sign up for roommates and pay your retreat fee to Bruce Minnick.

Chapter president Randall Eliason reported on the recent death of Mike Fultz, gave a wrap up report for Spring2Action, and did a wrap up report about the recent M-AD prelims where some quartets with Harmonizers qualified for the International contest in Nashville in July (DA CAPO and LAST MEN STANDING):

According to many sources, former Harmonizer Mike Fultz died April 14^th. Mike was the son-in-law of Linda and (Harmonizer Director Emeritus) Scott Werner. There are several accounts of the causes of his death in social media coverage but most comprehensive is that apparently Mike was hit by a car while biking; and although there were no obvious signs of injury at the time. a day or two or three later he died as a result of bleeding of the brain. Mike and Pam were well known and loved dearly by the Harmonizer family during their time in the area. Mike was a U.S. Park Police officer.

Congratulations on a truly outstanding effort during Spring2ACTion April 20^th. (We all certainly extend a huge congrats to chapter president Randall Eliason for his dedication to get us all involved to make this happen.) When we add in all donations (on and off the website) and the matching grant, our total will be more than $23,000!

 

This is a terrific result that will really help our bottom line this year. Thanks to those who sent out the e-mails, shared the Facebook posts, and otherwise helped spread the word -- and those who made their own contribution.

 

This was our first time participating in Spring2ACTion, and we earned an extra $1500 in prize money for being the first-time organization with the most donors. We also learned some lessons that will help us make next year even bigger and more successful.

 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented a membership renewal card to Alan Kousen for 49 years.

Membership director Rich Hewitt welcomed several guests, some new applicants and several men returning to the risers to work on the contest package.

For break, we celebrated a belated birthday for Dick Dangel with a great cake.  And peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from Peggy Wagner.

After the break we worked more on the contest package including a session on visual performance efforts for the ballad, and before we left, we did the whole package for filming (check out the videos posted by Chuck McKeever).

In other news, from Mike Everard comes this announcement:  the Mount Vernon VA Chapter, Harmony Heritage Singers, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary along with a salute to Bob Wachter with a luncheon on Thursday, June 23^rd at 11 am in the Mount Vernon Room of the Officers Club at Fort Belvoir. Reservations no later than June 1^st for $35 each to Lou Manfre, 7608 Elmore Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817.  Checks to Harmony Heritage Singers. For more info, contact Everard at smartalexme@aol.com.

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 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the April 23-24 Performances of “I Am Harvey Milk” at Strathmore

The performances were among the most successful and perhaps the most rewarding experiences we ever had as a chorus.  Audience reactions to our work was awesome!  For some of us who have been Harmonizers a long time, it ranks high on the list of “breathless moments;” and for new Harmonizers, it is likely the top of their list so far.

 

For months we have worked hard to prepare.  First off, thanks to director Joe Cerutti for having the faith (and courage) that we could do it.  Plus thank you for the hard work from associate director Tony Colosimo for helping teach us the music and preparing the learning materials; from Tom Jackson for our rehearsal piano accompaniment; and from Carlos Barillo for choreography coaching.

 

The faith and support from the folks at Stathmore in taking on the project and inviting us to be the chorus was a great thrill too.  We so much appreciated the help from executive producer Rolando Sanz in the weeks leading up to the performance; and the great team work we established with musical director and conductor Joel Fram; and the fun we had with choreographer Larry Keigwin. We also had camaraderie with the sixteen additional singers/dancers from NYC who joined us for the performances.

 

Certainly we must congratulate and thank Andrew Lippa for the words and music.  We have all been changed!

 

What a pleasure working with the other soloists Kristen Chenoweth (well known for her role in “Wicked”), and young Colin Wheeler who was the young boy Harvey Milk, and Andrew Lippa. Our portion of the performance was actually the second half of the nite following another oratorio titled “I Am Anne Hutchinson” which was also written by Andrew. All of the soloists were integrated into that music too.  This was the first-ever production of Anne Hutchinson.

 

For several months (the first learning tapes were posted for us in December of 2015) we have been having extra rehearsals and using half of our regular meeting nite time to work on this oratorio.  We also were joined by several men who auditioned to sing with us at Strathmore.  We affectionately called them “milkmen” and thank them for the extra hours to work on this with us.  They include Taylor Good, Nelson Robin, Aaron Watts, Larry Cohen, Masahisa Takahaski, Mario Sengco, Dan Hallada, Dan Kaufman, Mark Medrick, Ben Cherington, Joe Bremberg and Justin McCright. Some Harmonizers came back to sing with us too including Max Kieba and Geoff  Berman. There were 110 of us in black pants, shoes and a brilliant blue t-shirt we all wore. The chorus was in two rows on a balcony above the stage behind The National Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Last week there were rehearsals with the whole cast, a couple of dress rehearsals with the orchestra and then Saturday nite at 8 pm and Sunday afternoon at 4 the concerts began.

 

We were all pleased to see so many of our patrons and family members and personal friends at the performance.  Marty Monson (CEO of the Barbershop Harmony Society) and his family drove from Nashville to be with us on Saturday nite. He and his son Luke stopped in to say hello to the chorus and thank us for making this leap into another musical world.  And our coach and friend Cindy Hansen took a red-eye flight from CA to be there on Sunday.

 

Of course it took a lot of coordination for this weekend to be a success and we thank our chapter’s executive director, Terry Reynolds, for keeping us informed.

At each gathering we did the usual warm ups with Tony; and then Joe and Tony helped us with spots to refresh or to help us adjust to the changes/suggestions from the conductor. Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer kept us ready to be in the right place at the right time.

 

The Strathmore costume department helped us with our uniforms and prepared them between shows. The facility is a great venue and we all hope there will more opportunities to appear there.

 

After Sunday’s performance, we were honored to get a photo with Kristen Chenoweth.  Ken Rub took photos all weekend.  And of course almost every guy got a photo with his cell phone!

 

Thanks to chapter leaders including Clyde Crusenberry and Carl Kauffmann and many FRIENDS IN HARMONY for a fun afterglow nearby the venue after the Sunday show.  We were all plenty hungry and ate “a lot” of pizza! And we celebrated Joe’s birthday with cake and candles!

 

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 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

 

Looking Back on the M-AD Prelims in Reading, PA April 15-16, 2016

(Many thanks to Randall Eliason for his coverage of this year’s contest weekend.)

Quartets that include Harmonizers among their members made an outstanding showing at the Mid-Atlantic District Prelims on April 15 and 16. With the quality of the quartets in this District, attending Prelims is almost like going to a mini-International!

 

After the first round on Friday night, four quartets that include Harmonizers -- Da Capo, Last Men Standing, Warehouse Flats, and Forecast - had made it into the top ten and earned the right to compete in the finals on Saturday night.

 

Handsome Reward (Mike Edison, Michael Gilmore) just missed making it into the top ten and had the honor of being the mic testers for the Saturday night finals.

 

A relatively new quartet, Cabin Fever (Alan Kousen, Calvin Schnure, John Santora) competed in the Seniors competition on Friday night, and made a strong showing. In a Steve Harvey moment, the emcee announced from the podium that they had won the Seniors’ competition - but the scoresheets later revealed that they were actually second place! The quartet has announced they are considering changing their name to Miss Colombia.

 

Friday night also featured a Mixed Quartet (two male and two female singers) competition, and the second place award in that category went to Just 4 Fun, which many of us were surprised to see includes our own Kevin McKenzie.

 

In addition, Friday night included the Youth Quartet qualifying round, and two MAD Youth Quartets, Students of the Game and Brothers in Arms, qualified to compete in the Harmony Foundation Youth Quartet Contest in July.

 

Daytime on Saturday featured the District's Youth Adjudication, with about 10 high school quartets (both boys and girls) competing, including an excellent girl's quartet from Gaithersburg coached by our friend Sheryl Berlin.

 

During the quartet finals on Saturday night, Da Capo (Anthony Colosimo, Andrew Havens) came in first place with an overall score of 83.8.

 

Last Men Standing (Mike Kelly) came in 5th, with a 78.2.

 

Forecast (Dan Cook) came in 6th, with a 74.4, and

 

Warehouse Flats (Steve White) came in 8th, with a 72.2.

 

Five MAD quartets qualified to compete at International in Nashville this summer: Da Capo and Last Men Standing, along with Route 1, Gimme Four, and Frank the Dog.

 

Sunday morning was the House of Delegates meeting, which featured remarks by BHS CEO Marty Monson. Many Harmonizers are active in the District leadership, and we were well represented.

 

It was a great weekend, and all of the Harmonizers participating made us proud!

 

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 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd