About Us
Who We Are
The Alexandria A Cappella Collective (AACC) is an arts organization including multiple choruses dedicated to one of choral music’s most demanding and rewarding genres: barbershop harmony. Founded in 2023 by the internationally acclaimed Alexandria Harmonizers, AACC builds on a legacy of excellence that began in 1948. For more than 75 years, The Harmonizers have been recognized as one of the premier barbershop choruses in the world.
Today, AACC builds on that tradition through multiple ensembles, including the Harmonizers, Metro Voices, and Capital Force. Together, these choruses advance artistic excellence, broaden community engagement, and create meaningful musical experiences for audiences and singers throughout the greater Washington, DC region.
The mission of the Alexandria A Cappella Collective (AACC) is to enrich lives throughout the greater Washington, DC region through the power of vocal harmony. We pursue the highest standards of musical excellence in a cappella four-part close harmony while fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and artistic growth.
Building on the storied legacy of the Alexandria Harmonizers, AACC supports multiple ensembles that provide meaningful performance opportunities for singers of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Through concerts, community appearances, educational outreach, and competitive performance, we strive to create inspiring musical experiences that connect people, strengthen community, and sustain the art form for future generations.
Learn more about our mission and the strategic plan that guides our work.
Founded in 1948 and led by artistic director Joe Cerutti since 2007, The Harmonizers is made up of over 100 volunteer singers ranging in age from their teens to their eighties. Recognized by Broadway World as offering “some of the best choral singing” in the D.C. area, The Harmonizers have won more than twenty medals at the annual Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Competition, including four championship gold medals. In 2018 they received the Greater Washington DC Area Choral Excellence “Ovation” Award for “Best a Cappella Ensemble.”
The Harmonizers perform throughout the year in concert, contest, and in collaboration with other performers. They have sung on multiple occasions at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, the White House and the Supreme Court, and regularly produce shows in various venues in the Alexandria area.
Recent collaborations with the Music Center at Strathmore include the 2016 DC area premiere of Andrew Lippa’s I Am Anne Hutchinson/I Am Harvey Milk, starring Lippa and Kristin Chenoweth, and the 2018 world premiere of Jeremy Schonfeld’s Iron and Coal – Survivor and Son.
The Harmonizers also have performed internationally. In 2012, the chorus toured China, performing at the Forbidden City Concert Hall and the Great Wall. In 2014 they were honored to perform in musical tributes at Normandy and elsewhere during events commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day. In 2019 they performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. Most recently, in 2025, The Harmonizers and Metro Voices traveled to Ireland, where they performed near Galway, Cork, and Dublin. Both ensembles plan to visit Japan in 2027 for a concert tour and to perform at the annual convention of the Japanese Barbershop Harmony Association.
Established in 2023, Metro Voices is a growing SSAA chorus that has already earned regional and international accolades, including the 2024 Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) International Chorus Festival Championship. Metro Voices will compete at the BHS International Chorus Competition for the first time in 2026, which—in a major feat—the chorus qualified for in its first attempt. In less than three years, the ensemble has nearly tripled in size, from 12 to over 30 singers.
Director Samantha Tramack, an accomplished vocalist, coach, and educator, has not only cultivated the musical excellence AACC ensembles are known for; she has fostered a supportive community where singers are excited to gather, develop friendships, and support one another. The chorus is made up of singers of all ages and music literacy levels, and Tramack provides thoughtful education to bolster the musical skills of every member.
Metro Voices is excited to be building its own legacy in AACC and the community while partnering with and performing alongside The Harmonizers.
Capital Force is AACC’s seasonal youth chorus for 7th-12th grade singers across Alexandria and the greater Washington, DC region. The program introduces young vocalists to the art of barbershop-style a cappella harmony while building musical skills, confidence, and community.
Director and high school educator Tessa Walker provides a welcoming and supportive environment where participants learn from experienced vocal leaders and perform together as part of AACC’s growing network of ensembles.