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Whipple City Parade
Written by Pat
The Whipple City Parde was a great success for the Racing City Chorus. They sang patriotic tunes to the crowd and a great time was had by all.
One of our newest members, Joel Barnett was joined by two of his students from the young mens chorus at the Maple Ave Middle school, in Saratoga springs New York. The Racing City Chorus welcomes ALL young singers and strongly encourages them to become involved in the most harmonious hobby in the world; Barbershop Harmony singing!!
Eldely Brother-Jay Van Vranken Featured in News Article
Written by Pat
The Northeast Woodworkers Association published an article on Racing City Choruss member Jay Van Vranken this month. Jay, a long time member of the Racing City Chorus was spotlighted by the Woodworkers in recognition of his achievements in the various groups he is active with.
The Racing City Chorus is extremely proud of our three young members. From left to right they are: Cody Alvord, Mike Torres and John Turner. The three of them attend the Galway High School in Galway, NY. Cody and John are both 15 and Mike is 14 and are enthusiastic Barbershoppers already. All three have been in the front row off and on since they joined and Cody is now singing tenor in a new quartet which hasn’t even got a name yet.
These young men are not only enthusiastic in their barbershop participation but have also had singing roles in musicals in school. They just recently all appeared in a school production of “Guys and Dolls” and previously in two other productions as well including “Wizard of Oz” and “Seussical” both high school productions. In addition, John has just recently appeared in an adult community production of M*A*S*H. He has aspirations of making acting and performing as a career after school. All this in addition to their regular school studies where they all excel as well and private musical instrumental instructions and sports like soccer among others.
We older guys wonder how they cram all this together at their age. But they seem to do it with ease and professionalism. We’re just glad they chose our chapter to join and we are hoping that they will bring some of their friends along with them in future years. After all, they are the future of Barbershopping and frankly, we feel our future couldn’t be in better hands!!
Racing City Chorus wins "Top Spot"
Written by Pat
The Racing City Chorus grabbed the top spot at the Mountain division contest March 20th thru 21st held in Burlington VT.
The first convention weekend of the season is done and lots of fun was had.
In case you missed it Saratoga Springs is the 2009 Mountain Division
Chorus Champion, as well as the fastest growing chapter of 2008, CVQ is
the Mountain Division Quartet Champion, and Men In Black qualified to compete
at International.
Aside from that there were some great changes. Each
competing chorus received 30 minute coaching sessions, Saratoga Springs ran a
GREAT hospitality room, and the chorus mic testers were a bunch of
Joe Barbershoppers that wowed the audience with their rendition of Down Our
Way, and Story Of The Rose. Since these changes were so well received, we
will be implementing then again in just over a week at the Granite &
Pine Division contest.
Bravo will appear at the Racing city Chorus's annual show to be held in Burnt Hills NY May 16th, 2009
Officially formed in November of 007, Bravo! is the 2008 Seneca and
District Champion quartet. It unites international quartet competitors
from the Northeastern and Seneca Land
Districts. All quartet members belong to the Mohawk Valley Chapter in Seneca Land District.
Tenor Dan Driscoll joined the barbershop Harmony Society in 1986. He lives in Rhinebeck in
Dutchess County, New York, where e runs a home inspection business. Dan
is a three-time Northeastern District Champion: in 1993 with Riverside
Rascals, 1995 with Monkey Business, and 1998 with Sunday Morning News.
He competed in the international quartet contest in 1993 with Riverside
Rascals. Dan and his wife Jane have been married for 32 years. They
have two children: James, an architectural major at Pratt Institute in
New York City, and Kate, a communications disorders and speech
pathology major at SUNY New Paltz.
Don Drake sings lead and lives in West Winfield, New York. He and his wife Jody have eight
children: Katie, Sarah, Jolyn, Jason, James, Anna, Ashley, and Amanda
continue to be the focus of their lives. Don also sings lead in the
Seneca Land District finalist quartet Full Circle.
Sixteen RCC members gathered at the Wilton Senior Home
complex on Thursday February 26th to give a mini-show for the
residents and a tribute to one of our original charter members Mario Izzo.
We performed a thirty five minute show and were warmly
received by the folks who also provided refreshments and great conversation
after the performance.We had a great
display of memorabilia with pictures and RCC show programs from years past.
During the show Wit Richmond presented Coochy a
Barbershopper Emeritus plaque, RCC logo shirt and some of the memorabilia that
Coochy loaned the chapter for the 50th Anniversary show.
We did three polecat numbers at the end with Cooch singing
along with us, interspersed with some funny stories involving Coochy from passed
experiences.
I noticed that Mario has lost none of his discipline as a
good chorus member as he was the only one who watched the director 100% of the
time…take note guys!
Mario Izzo, Thanks for all those years of dedicated service
to The Racing City Chorus!
The Racing City Chorus Valentine team consisting of (left to right) Roger Favreau, Mike Griffin, Lou Fisher, Guv Wallace and Dick Dears, delivered a Valentine to Millie at Amtrust mortgage. Her Beau, Mark Favalaro had arranged the Valentine after coming to a Racing City Chorus chapter rehearsal last Novemeber. Since Millie is a most "Special" lady, Mark thought we might be the guys to deliver what was needed.
"I couldn't beleive the deal I got here", Mark told us. A fantastic quartet, a pound of succulent Saratoga Sweets chocalates and a HUGE arrangement of roses from the Posie Peddler in Saratoga Springs, and all for only $119.95. Unbelievable Deal!!!
Mark wrote us a note yesterday that sums up the situation.
"Dear Racing City
Chorus,
Thank you so much for the incredible singing Valentine
that you recently delivered to my Girl Friend. The guys looked great and
sounded even better. Of course the icing on the cake was the enormous bouquet
of roses and the delicious box of Saratoga chocolates. She was totally
surprised and impressed that I arranged for such a thoughtful gift. In fact, I
have been receiving nightly back massages for the last 10
days!
Thanks again,
Mark Favaloro"
Racing City Chorus Wins Northeastern District Honors
Written by George Wallace
Saratoga Springs' Racing City Chorus traveled to Lowell, Massachusetts on Saturday, October 24th and 25th for the Northeastern District contest, and brought home 3rd place honors, among 18 competitors from all over the Northeastern US and Canada. A fifty-four man contingent of the local Barbershop Harmony Society, under the direction of Kathy Mendenhall, went to compete against the other members of the Society's Northeastern District contest against choruses from Montreal, Nova Scotia and all of the New England states - MA, CT, RI, VT, NH and ME
MIchael O'Connell and Kathy Mendenhall accept 3rd place award
Gentlemen, be prepared to hear
many new voices in the chorus. No, Andy Palmeri, membership chair, hasn’t hit
the “mother lode”, and it won’t mean many new faces either. Sorry, Pete, no
additional dues to report.
Sunday, actually right when
Andy was plowing out his car lot, (I waved as I went by), the Music and
Executive committees attended a “Vocal Retreat” at Andy’s church. Now, you
military guys know when they “sound retreat,” you figure it’s time to run for
cover, (or go to bed), but when Kathy sounds retreat, nobody’s losing or
sleeping… and there is no place to hide.
Admittedly, there were a
few of us who wanted to duck and cover, but we all “faced the music”, so to
speak. Two by two we were coached by the Director in our vocal production,
support and focus of tone, and, in retraining our bodies to expect singing to
feel a little different. The sound that came out was sure different, as anyone
who attended can attest. Listen for the new Gary and Fred for example. They
sound great.
The Whipple City Parde was a great success for the Racing City Chorus. They sang patriotic tunes to the crowd and a great time was had by all.
Sixteen RCC members gathered at the Wilton Senior Home
complex on Thursday February 26th to give a mini-show for the
residents and a tribute to one of our original charter members Mario Izzo.
