Progressive Singers

Yah der hey! Recently the singers and some friends got together for a progressive party to kick off our Spring 2013 season. Last year, a progressively awesome party with an Oscars theme culminated with a contest and the awarding of a treasured plastic gold Oscar. This year’s theme: states of the union.

First stop - Michigan, hosted by Michigander Mike Rowan. Mike provided attendees with such Michigan delicacies as Dominos Pizza, Kellogg’s cereal, and Jiffy corn bread. This was a very informative stop, as we learned (thanks to smartphone trivia) that Michigan is one of the country’s largest cherry producers, and their state animal is the painted turtle. Mike always had us convinced that it was a wolverine. Sorry, mom, I’m not referring to Hugh Jackman. Down girl! 

Even a geography lesson was included.

We didn’t have to travel far physically or geographically for our second stop, Wisconsin. In addition to cheese, brats, and beer, Sarah Koch supplied every partygoer with a Wisconsin-themed t-shirt or hat from her extensive collection. From one of the shirts, we learned that Yah der hay is “Scansin” for agreement, similar to “ya know hey,” and it became a rallying cry for the evening. I am still staggered by vastness of the Wisconsin-inspired wardrobe, though Sarah wisely made sure that no one absconded from “Scansin” with her gear. 

Get to know your local sayings.

Stop the third was Pennsylvania, or more accurately, Western PA, hosted by Kristen Kampetis. Kristen plied us with black and yellow cupcakes, pierogis, homemade tiropitas from her Greek family’s recipe, blow pops, and jello shots. While none of these things are indigenous to Pennsylvania, Kristen and Yuengling are—as well as the Terrible Towel that adorned living room. To be fair, they do speak to the cultural fabric of the Pittsburgh area, underscored by Wiz Khalifa’s beats.

Representing PA in audio form

The penultimate stop captured the glamour of Hollywood. Benjamin Wallace, California native, rolled out the red carpet for us and sported movie-themed decorations. As his excellent California playlist provided the soundtrack, we imbibed sparkling wine, grasshoppers, and margaritas, which further confused the issue of how we did not know that Machu Picchu, Jaipur, and Petra are all in California…

“Yeah, it’s just east of San Diego.”

The last stop was an eerie setting of Rhode Island at the domicile of musical director and spiritual guru, Ben Olinsky. Ben paid homage both to the nefarious Mafia presence in his home “state” and the more heartwarming television show Family Guy (set in the fictional Quahog, RI). I use quotes because I’m still not convinced that a parcel of land that small can presume to be anything grander than a county. In true Singers’ style, we closed down the evening with some calisthenics (aka dance party) and thea cappella equivalent of Kumbaya - piano-accompanied versions of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” [Sneak preview: the Singers will be performing “Hallelujah,” famously covered by John Cale, Jeff Buckley, and Rufus Wainwright, this upcoming season, thanks to a wonderful arrangement by tenor James Athey.]

An 18SS progressive party always ends with regression…to this.

Thanks to all of the hosts for a lovely evening. As a t-shirt once told me, “I laughed so hard the tears ran down my leg.” 

This post was written by our local facial hair artist and funny t-shirt specialist, tenor Dave Parker.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer…

…is singing loud for all to hear.  

With songs and holiday fun enough to make even the most determined of Grinch’s hearts grow, the 18th Street Singers took the Willard Intercontinental by storm this past Friday with an evening of carols. Just like the years before, the beautifully decked halls and donned Christmas tree of the Willard’s lobby served as the perfect backdrop for a few of our favorite traditional tunes, as well as a smattering of shameless promo numbers for our Winter concert. (January 25th and 26th at First Trinity Lutheran! Tickets on sale now!)

As a Willard first-timer, I was stunned to an awe-filled silence at the sight of the holiday hustle and bustle throughout its already stunning halls. How does Christmas garland wind so high? How do you make a scaled gingerbread replica of the Willard? How do so many Singers fit into one little alcove?

While the aforementioned questions will most likely remain among the mysteries of the season, this curious newbie did discover that the elaborate holiday scene is a long standing tradition at the Willard. Music has been filling the air every December evening for the last 11 years, and the famed Willard Christmas tree has given holiday guests an up close view of the entire White House Christmas Ornaments collection since 1981.

It was clear that the fun of the holidays was with all who took in the evening, or even just a few minutes to listen and celebrate the season with us.

In true caroling fashion, crowd participation was not only encouraged, but was required. Our fearless leader, Ben, led the fearless audience in several of the classics, and the ever-exuberant Sarah coaxed even more of the lobby to break out their keys and play the part of the bells for Jingle Bells. Together we filled the halls with the soundtrack of the most wonderful time of the year.

This post was written by North Pole Correspondent and 18th Street Singers Librarian, Em Skow.

How to Plan a Strategic Retreat

Step 1: Gather your essential supplies and personnel

Tim wonders if the food will all fit

Retreat would not be complete without mass quantities of Nutella and microwave lasagna! Each retreat we rely on a generous member who possesses a vehicle that we can stuff full of bagels, chips, and everything else a singer uses for fuel. Some cars are more full than others…but never fear! Five loaves of bread make an excellent pillow.

Step 2: Foster bonding amongst the troops

No retreat is successful if the troops aren’t united! Pre-and post-rehearsal bonding are crucial to the overall success of the group.

Step 3: Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

You will never retreat properly if you don’t spend at least 10 hours rehearsing. It may sound difficult, but look: you get breaks! Nothing like a weekend in the woods to bring out your inner lumberjack, eh Mark? 

Looks like it brings out Mike’s inner psychopath. 

Step 4: Feed the troops

Rebellion will break out if the troops don’t get their food! With a slight oven mishap, we rely on the microwave to deliver sustenance.

Step 5: Celebrate victory!

If you followed this five-step plan, your retreat was a success! Settle down for some well-deserved libations and begin planning for the next battle season.

This post was written by one of our fearless leaders, Managing Director Martha Keller.

Old Roots

Choir member Dave Parker seems like a calm and easy-going guy when you first meet him. But his affable exterior hides the soul of a lucha libre wrestler, as I discovered on October 6, when, before my very eyes, he tore a stump from the earth with his bare hands.

 

Admittedly, he had some help. Nine other members of the 18th Street Singers had joined him that Saturday to dig up the lawn in front of First Trinity Lutheran Church. We’d been hard at work all morning, loosening the soil with our shovels and pick-axes.

The church, which sits on the corner of 4th and E St. NW, has long been our choir’s home. Stroll by on a Monday evening, and you’ll probably hear our songs wafting out from its main hall. It’s the site of our rehearsals and our annual winter concert.

For almost a decade, pastors Wendy and Tom have lent their space to us. But that’s just business-as-usual for this institution, which emphasizes community and public service. Aside from feeding and clothing the homeless, the church also runs a restaurant next door that helps to get people on their feet by training them in food service.

Hoping to be of service ourselves, we signed up for the church’s latest project: preparing the grounds for a new rain-fed garden of indigenous plants. Before the plants could be installed, someone needed to uproot the old bushes and trees. That’s where we came in.

Fred Hall and John Stassen arrived early at 9 a.m. and helped members of the congregation smite the smaller plants. By 10 a.m., a bunch of us were wreaking havoc on a long row of hedges. Ben Olinsky and Ben Wallace demonstrated their prowess with the clippers, while Meredith Ewer-Speck dirtied her neon pink shoes and Pastor Tom hacked everything to bits with a chainsaw. Our bellies stuffed with donuts and bagels, we sang a South African tune as we worked, a folk song that we’ll sing at the church again before long when we return for our winter concert.

While some jumped up and down in a dumpster to pack down severed branches and leaves, others repainted fences. Rasika Teredesai sanded down the old paint while Mark Hays tripped out on the fumes of new paint. Michelle Luke ended up with more paint on her shirt than on her brush.  

By noon, only a patch of bare ground remained. And a folk saying came to mind: “old roots run deep.” Our aching arms testified both to its literal truth and to the strengthening of the old roots that have long nourished both the choir and the church.

This post was written by horticultural chronicler and 18th Street Singers social chair Devin Powell.