A Cappella Group Fills Alexandria City Hall With Song For 75th Anniversary

ALEXANDRIA, VA — City Hall was alive with the sound of music as the Alexandria Harmonizers filled City Council Chambers Tuesday night for their 75th anniversary.

On behalf of City Council, Councilmember Sarah Bagley presented a proclamation to honor the Alexandria Harmonizers, a barbershop quartet-style singing group dating back to 1948. It started as the Alexandria chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, now the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Bagley noted in the proclamation the Alexandria Harmonizers have performed for thousands of people each year through concerts, veterans events, and other event performances while supporting other local nonprofits. They've also added new members, including the new sister chorus Metro Voices, and the soon-to-launch youth chorus, Capital Force.

"The Harmonizers have represented Alexandria while winning 20 medals and international competitions, including for first place gold medals, and performing at Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court and Carnegie Hall as well as in China, France, Germany and Canada," Bagley read from the proclamation.

As a display of gratitude, the Alexandria Harmonizers performed their four-part harmony for City Council and others in attendance.

"This is what you bring to our community all year long and around the world, really as ambassadors for the City of Alexandria," said Mayor Justin Wilson. "So thank you for the work that you do. I know it's a labor of love, clearly, I can see it in all of your faces."

WATCH: The Alexandria Harmonizers perform starting around 1:08:30 of City Council's meeting video.

Council members were more inclined to be in the audience for this performance, but the Alexandria Harmonizers' artistic director Joe Cerutti said there was always room for them.

"We have actually a long history of having council members singing in the chorus," Cerutti told City Council. "So if any of you happen to be interested, we would love to have you back at any time."

The mayor joked that the Harmonizers should stick around to provide a musical backdrop for a more mundane meeting item: the monthly financial report.

"We want musical accompaniment for all of our meetings now," Wilson said.

Stay tuned for more details about the Alexandria Harmonizers 75th Anniversary Show on Sept. 9 at Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria.