Looking Back on the May 18^th – 19^th Southern Division Contest Participation 

The Southern Division contest was at the Mark Center in Alexandria VA, on Seminary Road.  This was a new contest location for a M-AD convention. 

While the Harmonizers’ Chorus was not competing/performing we did have several Alexandria Harmonizers’ competing in quartets. 

There were seven Alexandria Harmonizers’ competing in the quartet competition on Friday. It was a long contest starting at 2:57 pm since this was a combined southern and central division contest with a total of 40 entries.

POTOMAC SOUND took first place in the southern division with a score of 1327 or 73.7%.  Quartet members are Tim Cobb, Tim Peterson, Mike Pinto, and Dale Bird.

CAPITAL CITY CLOSE HARMONY CLUB placed second with a score of 1321 or 73.4%. Quartet members are Mario Sengco, Jordan Haedtler, Chuck Hunter, and Ken White.

YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT placed fourth with a score of 1215 or 67.5%. Quartet members are Mike Wallen, Roger Tarpey, Hardman Jones, and Vice Owen. 

VOICES IN MY HEAD placed 12^th with a score of 1153 or 64.1%.  Quartet members are Cavan Potee, Tim Buell, Joe Chilcoat and Alex Burval. 

SILVER ALERT with Rick Savage, Mike Edison, Will Cox, and Steve Murane had to scratch Friday morning because of sickness. 

There were a lot of Harmonizers and family members (and former members) around for the contest all weekend. Saturday morning there was a chorus contest for the two divisions. The Virginians from Richmond won the Southern Division title. Mike Wallen is their director and Jim McConnell, Bob Wilson, and Mike Geipel sang on the risers.

 As always there were a number of Harmonizers singing in other choruses.  The mic tester chorus was Harmony Heritage Singers from Mt. Vernon which Drew Fuller directing and Bob Wachter, Bruce Minnick, and Mike Everard on the risers. 

Mike Fasano sang with the Queen Anne’s County, DE, Chorus. John Santora and Tim Buell sang with Patapsco Valley, MD Chorus.  Sam McFarland and Art Medici sang with Fairfax, VA Chorus. Al Hannenbaum and Bill Colosimo sang with the Washington, DC Chorus. 

Two guys from the chapter were emcee’s for the weekend – John Santora for the quartet contest and Terry Reynolds for the chorus contest.  A number of guys volunteered to help as members of the behind-the-scenes production team to run the contest or help with ushering. 

District president Dennis Ritchey and executive vice president Bob Eckman also helped with award presentations. Videographer/photographer Mike Kelly was working all the contest sessions making recording of contestants and taking official contest photos.

There was a show of champions on Saturday nite featuring all those who had earned top marks during the weekend. 

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

Looking Back on the May 15^th Chapter Meeting 

This week’s meeting concentrated on contest preparation.  We were at Durant so we could use the risers.  We welcomed our coach Cindy Hansen Ellis.  It was a workout session in a hot hall without air conditioning!!

Director Joe Cerutti was just back from Germany and had stories about animals that had gotten onto the Audubon and delayed his trip to the airport in order to get home.

There was a new riser line up for the contest in use this week.  Non-contest guests and members will be invited onto the risers for some sessions.

Joe welcomed Cindy and she worked hard with the chorus to bring the new ballad into focus and helped the men “own” this wonderful song.

For the chapter meeting, Steve Murane was in charge.  The big news is that for our meeting on Tues. May 22^nd we will try out a possible new meeting space at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1430 Braddock Rd., Alexandria 22302, with risers. Many members will recognize that location as the place where we have often parked when going on extended bus trips.

On Tues May 29^th we are back at Durant to work on contest and also welcome the Kingsmen from BABS.

There was another reminder about the chorus retreat. Terry reminded guys to turn in their payment for the chorus retreat to Howard Nestlerode. The retreat will be June 8-9-10 at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, (about 70 miles from Springfield).  Friday June 8^th will be mandatory for front row and optional for all others with special sessions for the small groups to be coached. There are many good restaurants in town and it is a good social time on Friday nite. Fees include lodging; three meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday; plus linens and a Saturday evening party. There are three price levels – Friday-Sunday attendees ($114); Saturday-Sunday attendees ($83); and commuters who won’t be staying any nite ($78). Non-competing members are welcome to attend. Many members are behind in getting in their payments.  All requests for roommate assignments are due to retreat master, Chuck McKeever, immediately.

Uniform chairman Robyn Murane presented information about the distribution plan for the new chorus uniform and about the collection of the black chorus suits.  She passed out specific instructions which included the word to bring your payment of $100 on May 29^th.  She also asks for members to have the black suits cleaned before bringing them in; plus there were instructions on how to mark the sizes and such with tags she provided. (There is an option to buy your suit for quartet uses or such for $50.) We will be selling the suits. BTW – it will help the uniform folks if you arrange for payment and pick up by another member on your behalf if you won’t be at the May 29^th meeting.

Ian Poulin asked for helpers to set up stage and signage at the Southern Division contest this weekend.

The M-AD "combined" Southern & Central Division contest is this weekend at the Mark Center in Alexandria VA.  While the Harmonizers’ chorus is not competing/performing, we do have several Alexandria Harmonizers’ competing in quartets.  The Friday night quartet competition actually starts at 2:57 pm on Friday.  The chorus contest starts at 8.57 am on Saturday morning, and the finals/Show of Champions starts at 7 pm.

There are eleven Alexandria Harmonizers’ competing in the Southern Division Quartet competition this Friday: 

·         YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT -  singing 8^th - Mike Wallen

·         SILVER ALERT -  singing 16^th - Rick Savage, Mike Edison, Will Cox, Steve Murane

·         POTOMAC SOUND– singing 23^rd - Mike Pinto

·         CAPITAL CITY CLOSE HARMONY CLUB– singing 25^th - Mario Sengco, Jordan Haedtler, Chuck Hunter, Ken White

·         VOICES IN MY HEAD– singing 28^th - Tim Buell

Ian also is ticket chair for the fall anniversary show on Sept 8^th.  He announced that he is issuing consignment tickets ($35 ea – open seating). Tickets are also on sale online.  Ian will also sell you or friends a $100 VIP seat – speak to him in person. 

President Shawn Tallant read a thank you note from the Dick Hall family for the chorus singing at the services for Dick.

Secretary Chris Buechler presented quartet registration credentials to members of THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (our section leaders every year form this quartet) – Brian Ammerman, Reed Livergood, Chuck Hunter, Andrew Havens.

Chris also presented membership renewals to Dean Sherick for 6 years; Kellen Hertz for 10 years; Steve Murane for 16 years; and Tom Frederick for 25 years.

Announcements of other events included the Loudon County show, and the contest organized by Casey Belzer’s school music department at 7 pm on May 31^st for 16 self-directed student ensembles seeking audience votes to choose the winner.  Related to this – the fall show team is asking for volunteers to go visit other barbershop singing groups in our area and promote ticket sales.

After the break, it was a long work session on the contest uptune. The chorus cheered and thanked our coach for a good session.

After the meeting, crews loaded all the risers onto the Harmo truck – in the rain!!!!

There was a good crowd at the afterglow too.

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

Looking Back on the May 8^th Chapter Meeting 

This week’s meeting was more traditional after the last several weeks of rehearsal sessions for our “Iron and Coal” performance.  We were at Convergence.

Director Joe Cerutti thanked all the men for their work ethic and professionalism during that whole event.  He shared some emails from outside the chapter including one from the CEO of Chorus America, and two from co-workers of Steve White.

Joe also shared that he was very proud watching the chorus perform as part of this major world premier.  He then invited the singers to offer responses.

From that point it was all work on our music, starting with the contest ballad. Then we worked to bring back the stage presence plan for “Great Day” for our anniversary show with instruction by Craig Kujawa, with Bruce Roehm helping to demonstrate.

Two of the recently formed small learning groups performed the contest uptune during this week’s meeting. Both worked with associate director Tony Colosimo before singing for the chorus. The first group included Ammerman, Belzer, Doniger and Poulin.  The second group included Kousen, Fedarko, Foil, and Kirkland.

At one point everyone had a chance to record the ballad and the uptune in order to submit to their section leaders.

Executive director Terry Reynolds conducted this week’s actual business meeting.  He reminded all about the location for upcoming meetings: Tues. May 15^th at Durant with Cindy Hansen; Tues. May 22^nd we will try out a possible new meeting space at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1430 Braddock Rd., Alexandria 22302, with risers. Many members will recognize that location as the place where we have often parked when going on extended bus trips.

Also, mark your calendar for the extra rehearsals the last two Thursdays in June.

There was another reminder about the chorus retreat. Terry reminded guys to turn in their payment for the chorus retreat to Howard Nestlerode. The retreat will be June 8-9-10 at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, (about 70 miles from Springfield).  Friday June 8^th will be mandatory for front row and optional for all others with special sessions for the small groups to be coached. There are many good restaurants in town and it is a good social time on Friday nite. Fees include lodging; three meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday; plus linens and a Saturday evening party. There are three price levels – Friday-Sunday attendees ($114); Saturday-Sunday attendees ($83); and commuters who won’t be staying any nite ($78). Non-competing members are welcome to attend. Many members are behind in getting in their payments.  All requests for roommate assignments are due to retreat master, Chuck McKeever, immediately.

Terry reported that the new chorus uniforms have been ordered. They will become the property of the member and thus each man owes $100.  Instructions about hemming and such will come later.

Jack Pitzer presented a “Moment In Harmonizer History” sharing that the chapter history committee has collected all barbershop memorabilia from the home of Dick Hall, thanks to help from Dick’s children and to Dean Sherick for making the pickup.  This was also a reminder for members to be sure to mark collections of “stuff” to go to the chapter whenever he or his family does not want it. 

Ian Poulin asked for a few helpers at the Southern Division contest (combined with a Central Division contest) at the Hilton Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Rd. in Alexandria May 18^th and 19^th.  Those who might want to attend can get tickets at the door.  The Friday quartet contest starts at 2:57 pm. The Saturday morning chorus contest starts at 8:57 am.  The quartet finals start at 7 pm that nite. There will be several quartets from the chapter competing!

Ticket sales for the fall 70^th anniversary show have begun.  Ian was issuing consignment tickets at the meeting.  Joe suggests that every member better get tickets for family and friends and personal ticket customers before the hall at Schleshinger is sold out!  Tickets are general admission for $35.  YeEd heard there will be some VIP seats for a higher price in the front rows.  Ask Ian about them.

Finally Terry announced he was resigning as executive director of the AH Inc.  He plans to continue his work as assistant director and music team support person for Joe.  The chorus gave Terry a loud and boisterous thank you and standing ovation for his work the last few years.

He also announced that Randall Eliason has agreed to be the new executive director.  That change means there will be some shifting of people serving as immediate past president, also.

President Shawn Tallant recapped the wild schedule we have had in April and May and thanked many men for their contributions. He also thanked Gerry Fuller for leading the effort to host the BABS chorus visit over Memorial Day weekend (they will visit our May 29^th chapter meeting); Ike Evans for tuning the piano at Convergence prior to the final rehearsals of “Iron and Coal,” and Ian for accepting leadership coordination for the division event. 

Shawn also announced that the chapter will not be raising dues!!!  The recent efforts of Spring2ACTion helped make that happen. And the board expects the members to sell all the tickets for the fall show.  Each man will also be paying all the costs of the retreat and the cost of his new uniform.

President Liz Birnbaum from the AH Inc. board also spoke to announce the results of strategic planning by that board, using a small group of men representing all ages and aspects of the chapter. They have finished their work and now Dave Kohls will do focus groups in the months ahead with the final plan to be rolled out this summer.

Reflecting on the 70^th anniversary, she thanked those who helped prompt the Proclamation from the Mayor and the Resolution from the State Legislature honoring our milestone year.

She announced that our fundraising goal for the anniversary is $70,000, and invited any members or family friends thinking of making a major gift to the chapter should contact her or Johan Westburg or Randall.  She also reminded those who are over 70 and a half of the option to donate to the chapter as part of their Required Minimum Distribution plan from 401K funds.

The success of the Spring2ACTion will help our cause.  Coordinator of that effort, Randall, reminded members to turn in their worksheets of email lists for the prize drawing for Orlando housing. (Finally tally from that one day fundraiser has gone over the $38,000 mark!)

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Jerry Jayjohn for 1 year; Art Medici for 8 years; Andrew Havens for 9 years; Joel Golden for 13 years; Johan Westberg for 13 years; Joe Cerutti for 17 years; Kevin McKenzie for 19 years, Tom Berkey for 21 years, and Sam McFarland for 31 years (Sam has earned 25 Men of  Note too for bringing men into the Society).

Mark Klostermeyer welcomed three men who visited us for the first time – Mike Weber, Adam Shepard, and Dale Bird.

After a short break, it was back to work on contest songs.  Choreographer Carlos Barillo worked on some upgraded moves for the uptune.  He invited Ben Roberts to help demonstrate the left side of the chorus.

Singers made additional recordings and we closed the nite with “Keep the Whole World Singing.”

Until next time – editorjack! 

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 70^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the May 3^rd and 4^th 2018 Performances at Strathmore 

In about December of 2017, director Joe Cerutti got a request from the staff at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD, to provide the major choir for an original work called “Iron and Coal. – Survivor, and Son.”

The rock music work was created by composer and lyricist Jeremy Schonfeld as a multimedia event to pay tribute to his father’s experiences leading up to and including his time in Auschwitz.

About 70 Harmonizers and about 40 women who auditioned with Joe to sing with us formed the choir.  The chapter members thanked the women for the serious efforts to help make the music great, and their dedication to attend rehearsals.

These singers met over the weeks leading up to the Thursday and Friday nite performances – including dress rehearsals and work sessions with the musical director and arranger David Bloom, show director Kevin Newbury, production choreographer Natalie Lomonte; as well as with all the other choir groups, including a youth choir is based at Strathmore, and an orchestra.

Schonfeld and Bloom both came to Alexandria for initial sessions with the choir on April 24^th.

For the performance, choir members wore grays and blacks of their choice and used music scores for the performances. Many of the songs were sung in Hebrew.

The work was inspired by the memoir of Schonfeld’s late father, Gustav.  He had been imprisoned at age 10 in Auschwitz. Many emotional moments were part of the performance including the “family” groupings of the singers, and the tender and honest story to share the memoirs of the father, Gustav, in his book and the son, Jeremy, in his musical work. Regardless of heritage, the singers and audience could not help but be moved by the performance.

The chorus received positive mentions in the theatrical reviews in the media. Joe was recognized during curtain calls as director of the choir.

This 90-minute world premier production was attended by many Harmonizer family and friends.

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