Looking Back on the June 5^th Chapter Meeting

We met at the Scottish Rite Temple this week as we will every June meeting and extra rehearsal.  The old risers fit well across the auditorium space facing the theater seats.  Chapter leadership reports that they are working on negotiations for this to be our new regular meeting space with needs for storage and rehearsal spaces.

Our riser team had to get back some risers we rented to the DC Gay Men’s Chorus for their show that was this past weekend at Lincoln Theater.  They had about 150 singers on the stage.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and was in charge of the music this week.  He worked with choreographer Carlos Barillo and assistant director Chuck Hunter, who directed the ballad, for most of the evening on the contest set with the contest chorus. 

The beginning of the nite tho everyone was welcomed to the risers to work on music and stage presence for the anniversary show where we are bringing back 9 songs from the past that the chorus used on shows and contests during our 70 years. Craig Kujawa and Carlos helped teach the former performance plan for two of the songs

There have been some terrific video learning tools created by Carlos and Chuck McKeever for all singers to use in preparing themselves for the Sept. 8^th afternoon show. 

We did have sectionals for the contest songs. The front row worked on the uptune plan in the lobby before the meeting.  And there were a couple run-throughs of the set that guys used to make their recordings.

Chapter executive director Randall Eliason conducted our chapter meeting and presented the announcements.  First important one was for each singer to respond to the survey about a possible trip to England and Scotland in 2019.  

The new uniform situation is on hold as leadership works to rectify the situation since the suits were not the style and fit we wanted.  Sizing issues are also a problem.  Members should not alter their suits yet (or let leaders know if you have done so) and stay tuned for the next step.

All June meetings will be at Scottish Rite Temple including special rehearsals June 21th and 28^th, as well as the International send off on Tuesday June 26^th. This is an open event and all family, friends and other barbershoppers are welcome. 

There was another reminder about the chorus retreat. Payment for the chorus retreat goes 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. All requests for roommate assignments are due to retreat master, Chuck McKeever, immediately

Special notes for the retreat: 

* Be sure to arrive on Sat. morning in time for the breakfast – you paid for it and there won’t be a coffee break service.

* Good idea to wear any Harmo gear you have.  And comfortable shoes for standing!!

* There is a full kitchen in your suite so plan ahead!!!

* GPS address to use is 203 Pennsylvania Ave, Westminster MD 21157.

* Registration Fri. begins at 3 pm – 6:30 pm and Sat. 7 am to 8:15 am – look for the Harmo truck parked just off Pennsylvania Ave. Follow directions Chuck sent out.

* Class of 2018 – don’t forget your scarves. And know that we are all eager to see/hear your skit on Sat. nite.

During the time in Westminster, the chapter strategic planning committee will conduct focus groups to get member feedback for their work.  The first one is Fri eve at 7:30.  Dave Kohls is conducting these sessions.

In other news, this coming weekend while we are at retreat, the Alexandria Singers is performing at the GW Masonic Memorial Theater! Our own Bill Colosimo is their director.  Performances are Friday June 8 at 7:30, Saturday June 9 at 2:00, and Sunday June 10 at 7:30.  Tickets are $20 and $25, available at the door.

“American Pops!” is a terrific selection of pops favorites from the 1950’s to today, performed with full choreography and without a conductor.  Special solo and small ensemble acts are featured among the exciting full ensemble tunes.  This show is our preview presentation of the three concerts we’ll perform during our Ireland tour in July!

Also there is a call for wedding singers. Ninamarie Maragiolglio's daughter Joia (Kellen Hertz's sister), is getting married in September.  Ninamarie has asked if there are enough Harmonizer volunteers who would be willing to attend and sing Ave Marie for the service as we did sister Brielle's wedding in 2015.    The wedding is Saturday, September 29, at 2PM in Burke VA.   If enough volunteer, we will have a couple rehearsals early or late on Tuesdays in September and  meet at the church at 12:30 the day of the wedding.

 President Shawn Tallant announced that Bob Wachter is in Mt. Vernon Hospital for at least this week. He can have visitors.

Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer did a “bandana check” with the Class of 2018.  Everyone present was in compliance!!

It was great having all the guests and former members at rehearsal last night.  There is a lot of interest in individuals wanting to move forward with auditions.  All potential candidates are being told this is a good window of opportunity for membership and to prepare for the Fall Show so prepare for numerous learning quartets and auditions. (Speaking of auditions, transfer candidate Dale Bird passed his audition Tues. night and will be put forward for Chapter membership).  Jack Pitzer welcomed the guests including former members Dave Vernon and Dave Ermlick, Other singing guests were Peter, Jordan, and Hunter,

After a break, it was back on the risers for contest work.  The guests worked on their audition piece in another 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 70^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

Looking Back on the May 29^th Chapter Meeting 

What a busy nite at Durant for the Harmonizers!

Chapter executive director Randall Eliason welcomed our visitors from the British Association of Barbershop Singers, The Kingsmen from Kingsbridge,  Their chorus was with us for the whole evening. 

They are spending about 10 days in the US visiting cities and choruses. They had been in the Lancaster PA area and sang with the Red Rose Chorus there.  After their visit in Alexandria, they left early on Wednesday for NY and a visit with the Westchester Chordsmen in Westchester, NY.  While they were in our area they toured DC. They stayed at a hotel on Eisenhower Ave. and walked to Durant as a group.  Our own Jim Kirkland was their walking guide. Gerry Fuller was coordinator with their leadership for this visit in Alexandria.

The founder of their chorus and current director, Roy Hann, and several of their leadership team met with our musical and chapter leaders at Theisman’s before coming to Durant.

The Kingsmen sang a couple songs for us; we all sang together on the risers; and then they were on hand for the musical work session with our music and performance team.  At the end of the nite, we all sang “Keep The Whole World Singing” together.

In addition to having our visitors, there was the usual set up work of risers and all the other equipment needed to operate a meeting.

AND the new chorus suits were issued by uniform chair Robyn Murane with a team of helpers who accepted payments, collected old suits being turned in and helped get info to the members such as the instruction sheet for altering the new suits.  Rick Savage was a key helper in checking the sizing questions. We did this on the stage.  Several members helped haul out the collected old suits for Robyn to sell.

At the start of the evening, the president of the Potomac Harmony SAI Chorus in Arlington, congratulated the chapter for the launch of its 70^th anniversary and presented the chapter with a gift card.

While the work progressed on issuing the uniforms, associate director Tony Colosimo taught our guests,  and those Harmonizers who had finished with their uniform, a tag or two.

Then all singers in the house were on the risers for a warm up session with Tony.

After our guests sang for us, we switched places and they watched while the Harmonizers’ contest chorus members did the two song set for recording and filming. This was after a brief review by choreographer Carlos Barillo.  Assistant director Chuck Hunter directed the ballad and Tony directed the uptune.

And after that, we launched a busy work nite on songs for the fall anniversary show. All singers were invited back to the risers who wished to do so.

We made progress on “Great Day” with visual review and instruction by Craig Kujawa.

Communications director Steve Murane conducts the chapter meeting sessions these days.  He clarified the correct name for our possible new meeting site as Scottish Rite Temple.  It is at 1430  Braddock Rd. in Alexandria.  We will be there for all of our meetings in June including the two special Thursday nite rehearsals June 21 and 28, AND for the June 26^th dress rehearsal and Send Off performance before going to Orlando.

ALSO NOTE: there will be pre-dress rehearsal at the June 19^th chapter meeting at Scottish Rite Temple so there are no surprises in Orlando.  That means there are 21 days to have alterations done!!!

Fall show ticket chairman Ian Poulin had consignment tickets available to members.  There are still some other choruses in the area that need a “Harmonizer salesperson” to go visit them with fall show ticket information. See Steve Murane.

The Brazil trip is off, but watch for an email from chapter leadership about another trip overseas in 2019.

There was another reminder about the chorus retreat. Steve 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.

Also note that the “Magic City Countdown” newsletters from our convention coordinator Craig Kujawa have resumed.  He sent one earlier in the week about transportation matters, and promises others to be coming our way soon.

Chorus manager Mark Klostermeyer announced the Class of 2018 and presented them their blue/green “bandana” to be worn at every Harmonizer event until walking on stage in Orlando.  The class includes Adam Afifi, Rob Barnovsky, Connor Goss, Jerry Jayjohn, Chris Leyen, Mickey Robertson, Mario Sengco, and Johan Westberg. They meet with Mark after chapter meeting on the stage for more instructions and to get their assignment to elect a class president. 

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler provided a Man of Note award pin for Jerry Jayjohn to give to his sponsor, Brian Miller.  Chris also presented membership renewals to John Greene for 7 years; Rob Barnovsky for 8 years; Nick Leiserson for 8 years; Chris Odell for 9 years; Ian Poulin for 18 years; and Howard Nestlerode for 43 years.

Dave Kohls was back in town and announced plans for focus group sessions at the retreat next weekend to get member input on the work done by the strategic planning committee.  Guys were asked to sign up for one of three sessions during the weekend. The first one is Friday nite at 7:30 pm.

Calvin Schnure welcomed our guests from England, and then specifically singers Dale, Nick and Jake.

For break we served a decorated cake for our chorus guests.  Thanks to Gerry Fuller for getting the cake and bottled water to the hall, and for Sandy and Aideen who cut the cake and served it for all to enjoy.

After break, it was back on the risers to work on fall show songs.

After the meeting, a crew of men loaded both sets of risers for relocation.

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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 22^nd  Chapter Meeting 

This week’s rehearsal and meeting were held at the Scottish Rite Temple on Braddock Road to consider it for a future regular meeting place.  We met in the 350 seat auditorium with risers on the floor and stage. The air conditioning worked great.  There is plenty of parking and extra meeting rooms if needed.

Assistant director Terry Reynolds shared details about the new building space and the location of rest rooms. He introduced our host Dave Norris, secretary of the Temple, who welcomed us this week.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups and was in charge of the music program since our director was out of town.

Before the meeting started, the front row guys met in the lobby to review their contest plan. Riser crews worked to haul in the equipment needed for the nite. There were no refreshments this week for break.

All singers (including those who are not going to contest) were invited to the risers for the first part of the evening while we worked on songs for our fall show and stage presence review for “Great Day” taught by Craig Kujawa. 

Note that next week we will concentrate nearly the entire rehearsal on the visual plans for the songs we will be bringing back for the fall show. That meeting will be back at Durant.

We will also be hosting the Kingsmen Chorus from the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) next week. Gerry Fuller has been their contact for this visit. 

The contest work session started with the ballad and assistant director Chuck Hunter directing and coaching. 

 

Choreographer Carlos Barillo and Chuck McKeever also worked as part of the team for the contest work for the evening. They stressed the importance of the chorus members reviewing and using the materials released by the team during the week.

Steve Murane conducted the chapter meeting with all the announcements

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There was another reminder about the chorus retreat. Steve 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.

Note that there will be some focus groups meeting during the weekend as a part of the strategic planning work being done by chapter leaders.  Dave Kohls will conduct the focus groups.

Uniform chairman Robyn Murane will be at Durant next week at 6 pm to accept the black uniform suits that guys are supposed to turn in (so that we can sell them to another group).  The suits should have been cleaned and appropriately marked with name and sizes.  See her recent emails about instructions.  Also members can pay their $100 and pick up their new uniform that nite. 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.

Spring2ACTion chairman Randall Eliason had a drawing for the winner of free housing in Orlando – contestants were those who turned in a worksheet of the emails that contacted for the fundraiser event.  Johan Westberg was the winner.

President Shawn Tallant recapped the quartet contest results from the Southern Division last weekend and offered congrats to all.  As is our tradition, the chapter presented a check to each quartet with a Harmonizer singer.  Treasurer Dave Welter made the presentations at the contest.

Shawn announced that the prospective trip to Brazil has been cancelled.  There is work continuing for an International destination however.

Finally, Shawn is eager to accept any donations to the chapter “angel” fund that is used to provide financial support for members going to contest and the like.  Contact Shawn privately.

The chapter is renting a set of risers on Friday nite and several guys stepped up to meet Matt Doniger to load them on the truck.

Speaking of the truck, Matt is seeking two men who might like to drive the Harmo truck to Orlando.  Of course it is a good way to save money on travel.

There were sign-up sheets out for guys to volunteer to go promote our fall show to other barbershop singing groups in the DC Metro area. 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Duncan Woodbury for 6 years; Calvin Schnure for 23 years; Chris Buechler for 33 years; and Paul Grimes for 35 years (he also got a lapel pin). 

The remainder of the nite was used for work on the contest uptune, and guys were able to make recordings to submit to their section leaders.

In other news, the front page article in the Mount Vernon Gazette this week reports that former member Peelee Clark has been honored by The Educational Theater Association for his work with students in the theater arts at West Potomac High School in Alexandria.  Congrats

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