Alexandria Harmonizers

Music Development: Trained, educated coached, and rehearsed a 90+ men's chorus and contemporary vocal music ensemble, and provided rehearsal space, costumes, sheet music and other learning materials. Chorus music development included coaching by four specialists in vocal technique, presentation, musical interpretation, and audience engagement.

Education and Outreach: Due to restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, Harmony Education activities for both Youth and Non-youth could not be conducted during this fiscal year.

Shows and Performances: For FY 2020 (September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020) our ability to reach audiences was curtailed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down all in-person rehearsals and performances from mid-March 2020 onward. Cancellations included unpaid community shows for the Youth Harmony Festival, the Spring2Action Fundraiser, the Alexandria Police Department, and for an annual gathering of barbershop choruses in northern Virginia. A scheduled education and performance opportunity in Nashville, Tennessee was also scrapped. However, prior to COVID-19 we had already performed for nearly 3800. In September, we traveled to Rochester, NY for a weekend of song and fellowship with about 200 barber shoppers, families and friends from New England and upstate New York. We held two successful paid shows at the Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. in the Fall and in December for an audience total of around 1200. Another 1200 attended our first-ever full show production at the Strathmore Music Center in late November. Three free community show appearances occurred in October at the Art on the Avenue Festival and the Alfred Street Baptist Church, and on Veterans Day at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Alexandria - with a combined audience of around 500. In February 2021, we serenaded about 400 on Valentine's Day at senior living facilities, recreation centers and schools while welcoming 300 to another hosting of the Yale Whiffenpoofs at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial.

Provided a grant of $17,796 to the Alexandria Virginia Chapter, SPEBSQSA, Inc for the purchase of a new truck, replacing the one used to transport choral risers, show props, and sound equipment for shows and other musical activities.

Developed a compilation of Harmonizer performance videos and mailed USB drives containing the video recordings to patrons and donors in order to maintain contact during the pandemic shutdown. Maintained the musical history of the Harmonizers by archiving the photos and videos of shows and performances.

Provided external Website for public access to information about shows and performances, ticket purchases and links for donations. Provided internal website for member access to music, reports and documents.

Renewed membership in arts organizations