FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rick Fisher
816.931.3338
hmc@hmckc.org
For Tickets: 816.931.3338 or hmckc.org
Heartland Men’s Chorus
Presents “Identify,”
An inspirational performance uniting voices against bullying,
Created to change hearts and minds.
Performances March 25 and 26, 2017 at the Folly Theater
- Featuring “Tyler’s Suite” by Stephen Schwartz et al,
- TED Talk Sensation Morgana Bailey,
- Soprano Nancy Nail, &
- Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus
KANSAS CITY, MO (Feb 20, 2017) — Dustin S. Cates, Artistic Director of Heartland Men’s Chorus (HMC), announced Monday their 31th season will continue in March with Identify! Part choral concert, part TED Talk; Identify celebrates living lives of authenticity. Heartland Men’s Chorus will present two completely different experiences in one special performance. They’ll be joined by special guests including 80 voices from Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, TED Talk sensation Morgana Bailey, soloist Nancy Nail, and Jane Clementi, mother of the late Tyler Clementi and chairman of the Tyler Clementi Foundation.
Heartland Men’s Chorus opens Identify with “Tyler’s Suite,” conceived by famed Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin). “Tyler’s Suite” is a nine-piece choral masterpiece dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi, a talented young musician who committed suicide after being cyber bullied by his college roommate.
An 18-year-old college student at Rutgers University, Clementi was sharing an intimate moment with another man as his roommate surreptitiously recorded it and put word of it on the internet. The resulting humiliation led Clementi to leap off the George Washington Bridge.
After hearing about the tragedy, Schwartz gathered a team of renowned composers to raise awareness about bullying. “Tyler’s Suite” is based upon hundreds of hours of interviews with the Clementi family, and explores the lives and experiences of Tyler and his family, shining a light of hope on such a devastating tragedy.
“The story of Tyler Clementi, who clearly had so much to offer the world, reminds us that every life lost because of bullying and bigotry is a specific individual tragedy,” said Schwartz. This is why I, and this group of gifted collaborators who have joined me, feel privileged to bring our time, energy and talents to the creation of ‘Tyler’s Suite.’”
Composed in 2016, “Tyler’s Suite” will make its Great Plains premier on the stage of the Folly Theater. It is the music of nine of today’s top composers including Mark Adamo, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carnelia, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Horne, and Stephen Schwartz. “This collection of songs shines a light of hope for a safer, kinder world in line with the mission of the Tyler Clementi Foundation,” according to the foundation website.
Jane Clementi, Tyler’s mother, will be on hand to further the work of the foundation that was founded to prevent bullying through inclusion, assertion of dignity and acceptance. “Curious and adventurous, creative, smart, articulate, cheerful, a wonderful easy going personality, Tyler always had a smile on his face . . . its how he hid himself from the world . . . behind a smile,” says Mrs. Clementi. “Tyler was a peacekeeper, private, didn’t seek attention . . . he was comfortable blending in, but he loved to perform, his true passion was music. He was a gifted violinist.”
Mrs. Clementi will take part in a pre-concert panel to listen and to share, “Conversations help illuminate and elevate issues, and help people to better understand. By bringing topics out into the light, it takes away the stigma of shame and embarrassment . . . and allows people to know that there’s nothing wrong with who they are or who they love.” One hour before each concert, there will be a panel discussion sponsored by GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) open to any concert ticketholder. Moderated by Kansas City Broadcast Journalist Mitch Weber, the panelists will be Jane Clementi, Morgana Bailey Bee, Andy Schuerman from the GLSEN Board, and Debi Jackson, mother of 9-year-old Avery Jackson, the first transgender person to appear on the cover of National Geographic Magazine.
“Tyler’s Suite” will be performed with local artist Nancy Nail as the voice of Jane Clementi. Each of the nine songs takes on the perspective of a different family member in Tyler’s life.
The second portion of “Identify” begins with the Twin Cities Gay men’s Chorus, an award-winning chorus that has built a solid reputation for musical excellence and dynamic programming. The Chorus is under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Ben Riggs. They join Heartland Men’s Chorus to celebrate diversity, using music as a way to transform, educate and heal, working toward the elimination of homophobia and intolerance through community outreach and song. TCGMG will be singing a series of songs about hope. They will be followed by HMC singing “The Music of Living,” by Dan Forrest, “You Have More Friends Than You Know,” by Warren & Marx, Arranged by HMC Artistic Director Dustin S. Cates, and “Cornerstone,” by Shawn Kirchner. “Following the emotional journey of ‘Tyler’s Suite,’ Act 2 of our concert will celebrate the hope found in living lives of authenticity.”
TED Talk sensation Morgana Bailey had been hiding her true self for 16 years. Coming out in front of an audience of her co-workers, Morgana became a human resources and human rights activist. In her brave TED Talk, she utters four words that had been paralyzing her, realizing her silence had personal, professional and societal consequences. “I am in human resources, a profession that works to welcome, connect and encourage the development of employees,” says Morgana, clearly understanding the irony of her fear. At State Street, she directs the Global Human Resources data management team, maintaining records for approximately 29,000 employees. Now married to wife, Cicely Bee, Morgana will join Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus and Heartland Men’s Chorus in the powerful conclusion to “Identify,” reflecting on what it means to fear the judgment of others, how it makes us judge ourselves and encourage all of us to live lives of authenticity.
Artistic Director Cates concluded, “We close our concert with the combined voices of TCGMC and HMC singing Craig Hella Johnson’s arrangement of ‘I Love You/What a Wonderful World’ and ‘Give ‘Em Hope,’ a piece based on the words of the late gay rights activist Harvey Milk.” Identify will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 25th and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26th at the historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Panel discussions begin one hour prior to each concert in the theater.
Tickets to both performances are available online at https://hmckc.org/tickets/ or by calling 816-931-3338. Prices range from $18 to $43 with special student pricing at $7 (some ticket fees apply). Come as you are, dress is casual, but visit hmckc.org today!
ABOUT HEARTLAND MEN’S CHORUS – Heartland Men’s Chorus (www.hmckc.org) is Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, now in its 31st season. Founded in 1986 with 30 singers to make music, HMC quickly became a safe oasis for a community scarred by fear and hatred, while plagued by a virus. Now with 120 singers, HMC is a vital part of Kansas City’s robust arts and cultural scene, making the historic Folly Theater its performance home for 24 years. HMC also presents regional outreach concerts in a five-state area and has performed nationally and internationally in joint concerts with other GALA choruses. They regularly perform at GALA Choruses International festivals. In 2009, HMC was featured at the national convention of The American Choral Director Association in Oklahoma City, and in 2003 at the national conference of Chorus America in Kansas City. In 2011, the Chorus received the OUTMusic Award for OUTStanding Male Chorus and in 1998 the GLAAD Leadership Award. The Kansas City Star has called Heartland Men’s Chorus “one of the most beloved arts institutions in Kansas City.”
Visit www.hmckc.org for more information about Heartland Men’s Chorus 2016-2017 season. High-resolution photos of the 2016-2017 Season can be obtained by contacting the chorus office at 816-816-931-3338.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Tyler Clementi Foundation website: http://tylerclementi.org
Morgana Bailey Bee’s TED Talk can be found at: http://www.ted.com/talks/morgana_bailey_the_danger_of_hiding_who_you_are
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Parking
Information for Folly Theater parking can be found online at www.follytheater.org. The parking garage, immediately west of the Folly Theater, is the primary parking garage for Heartland Men’s Chorus patrons. Event parking is $8 per car and may be purchased upon arrival (cash only at the gate).
Sponsors
HMC’s 31st Season is underwritten by Hotel Phillips. Other sponsors include the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation; Missouri Arts Council; Hall Family Foundation, Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, Arts Council of Greater Kansas City, and the Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF).
Student Discounts
Student tickets are available for $7 (with valid ID, one ticket per ID). They may be purchased in advance by calling the HMC box office at 816-931-3338 or at the door prior to the performances based on availability. The Box Office opens one hour prior to all performances.
Social Media
Receive updates by joining Heartland Men’s Chorus’ Page at www.facebook.com/hmckc and following @hmchorus on Twitter.
Heartland Men’s Chorus
2016-2017 Full Season at a Glance
Kansas City Christmas (HOLIDAY SHOW)
December 3-4, 2016 | Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO
Sat., Dec. 3, 8:00 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 4, 4:00 p.m.
December 10, 2016 | Yardley Hall, Carlsen Center, JCCC, OPKS
Sat., Dec. 10, 8:00 p.m.
Identify (SPRING SHOW)
March 25-26, 2017 | Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO
Sat., Mar. 25, 8:00 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 26, 4:00 p.m.
Part choral concert, part TED Talk, Identify celebrates living lives of authenticity. Joined by special guests, Twin Cities Gay men’s Chorus, TED Talk sensation Morgana Bailey, Soloist Nancy Nail, and Jane Clementi, mother of the late Tyler Clementi, we lift up the importance of being you. Single tickets available online beginning Monday, December 15, 2016.
Show Tune Showdown (SUMMER SHOW)
June 10-11, 2017 | Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO
Sat., June. 10, 8:00 p.m.
Sun., June 11, 4:00 p.m.
What happens when Broadway collides with Heartland Men’s Chorus? It’s the Show Tune Showdown! It’s literally part game show and part sing-a-long! Channel your best Ethel Merman as you sing with the guys to some of your favorite Broadway hits, then hop on stage and show off your knowledge of musical theatre trivia! Single tickets available online beginning Monday, March 27, 2017.
Visit www.hmckc.org/press for more info.
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Please direct all media inquiries to Rick Fisher, 816-931-3338 or hmc@hmckc.org.
The Spectacular “Garden Party” 2017
/in BlogAs the gates at Thundering Oaks swing open, your approach along the curving driveway is a preview of the beautiful estate just down the lane. Towering oaks, a waterfall along a wooded creek, a placid lake and lovely flowers are all part of the Garden Party tableau that you’ll experience on June 17th.
Our hosts Peter Sunderman and Curt Thomas moved from their home in Kansas City a couple years ago to take advantage of the natural beauty and solitude that surrounds their completely re-modeled home on 37 acres in Independence. Now they are opening their home and property to you, our loyal supporters of Heartland Men’s Chorus!
HMC’s Garden Party has become a late-spring tradition because you value the opportunity to visit with long-time friends and make new ones while getting an insider’s view to a significant home and property in the metro area.
You will enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres from the well-known restaurant “Vivilore” as you imbibe cocktails and soft drinks served by gentlemen bartenders while wandering the grounds, sitting poolside, or dangling your toes in the lake or creek.
As a Garden Party Patron, you will arrive early at 3:00 p.m. for a private tour of Thundering Oaks, a glass of bubbly and a lapel flower as our thanks.
As a Garden Party Guest, you will arrive at 4:30 p.m. for the main event when you take in all that Thundering Oaks has to offer.
As an added value to your experience, take advantage of our Designated Driver! HMC has arranged for a chartered motor coach to transport you from the Kauffman Gardens just east of the Country Club Plaza to Thundering Oaks. Departures are at 2:30 p.m. for Patrons, and 4:00 p.m. for Patrons and Guests. Return trips will be at 6:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The cost of the trip is included in Patron tickets, while guests will pay $25 per person for the round trip.
Tickets are selling fast, we already have 40 Patron couples attending, and that’s before the invitation has landed in everyone’s mailbox. You may purchase your tickets online at www.hmckc.org/garden-party or call Rick or Cliff at the Chorus office at 816-931-3338. Ticket prices are $300 per Patron couple, or $75 per guest.
See you and your friends at Garden Party!
HMC Presents “Show Tune Showdown”
/in BlogPerfect for the Broadway Show Junkie in All of Us!
A Broadway Mash Up of Game Show, Sing-A-Long and Show Tune Trivia, Show Tune Showdown will truly be THE HMC concert that you must see this season!
Over 100 years of Broadway’s biggest hits presented by Heartland Men’s Chorus . . . the two go together like Rogers and Hammerstein! Who better to perform pieces of more than 90 musical classics than Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus!
Under the baton of Artistic Director Dustin S. Cates, bright lights and jazz hands are just the start of the concert as we present the continuum of Broadway musicals from 1900 to today.
Starting off with tunes from “A Chorus Line,” “George M,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” and others just to get you in the mood, Show Tune Showdown leads us through the decades of Broadway favorites starting with the music of Tin Pan Alley. If you can “Button Up Your Overcoat,” you’ll sing “Hallelujah” to be able to “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody!”
We’ll visit the creations of Rogers and Hammerstein and their contemporaries from musicals like “Carousel,” “Oklahoma,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “South Pacific,” and “The Sound of Music.” Next we’ll stopover in the Golden Years of Hollywood with tunes from musicals like “Gypsy,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Peter Pan,” “Hello Dolly,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” and so many others.
The history of Broadway wouldn’t be complete without the music of Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Schwartz, and Kansas City native John Kander, to name just a few. And just when you think we can’t come up with another tune to sing, we’ll ramp up the “Showdown,” our game show portion of the evening where audience members get to show off their own musical theater chops.
During the “Showdown,” Game Show Host, Brian Ellison, will challenge participating audience members on their knowledge of musical theater trivia and history. Contestants will play iconic TV show games with lifeline assistance from the Chorus during musical interludes. Wild wacky fun will ensue as each contestant vies for the “Showdown Championship!” Brian Ellison is a host/contributor at KCUR 89.3, where he hosts the political podcast Statehouse Blend Missouri, and is substitute host for the station’s talk shows and newscasts. He is also executive director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, a national organization doing education and advocacy on LGBTQ issues in church and society. Brian previously narrated the Heartland Men’s Chorus’ Modern Families concert in 2015 and added, “With this concert, I am literally fulfilling my lifelong ambition of being a game show host!”
Artistic Director Cates summed it up best, “The curtain will be rising on ‘Show Tune Showdown’ in June to a mash-up of Broadway, sing-along and game show as we invite our loyal audience members to the stage. Our concerts have something for everyone and will always leave you with a message or a song in your heart. This time they can leave with prizes, too, as they compete with their knowledge of musical theater trivia. It will be a concert for all ages . . . anyone who loves Broadway musicals will love this concert!”
Show Tune Showdown will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 10th and 4 p.m. Sunday, June 11th at the historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
Tickets to both performances are available online at https://hmckc.org/tickets/ or by calling 816-931-3338. Prices range from $18 to $43 with special student pricing at $7. Come as you are, dress is casual, and visit hmckc.org today!
‘Identify’ with emotional purpose
/in ReviewsBy Anthony Rodgers March 27, 2017
This past weekend, the Heartland Men’s Chorus was joined by special guests the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, and speakers Morgana Bailey and Jane Clementi in their spring production at the Folly Theater titled “Identify,” featuring the Midwest premiere of “Tyler’s Suite,” and emotionally-charged themes of anti-bullying and acceptance.
In 2010, Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi took his life at the age of 18 after becoming the victim of cyberbullying regarding a private sexual encounter made public without his consent. This is, however, only a single example of cyberbullying within the LGBT community, which is committed by persons of various ages, races, sexual orientations, religious and political affiliations, etc. As a response and with efforts to raise awareness of bullying, composer Stephen Schwartz—known for his Broadway works including Pippin, Godspell, and Wicked—gathered a group of composers to create the nine-movement choral work Tyler’s Suite. In collaboration with the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, the Heartland Men’s Chorus gave the Midwest premiere of the large work this past weekend at the Folly Theater. For this concert event titled “Identify,” speakers Morgana Bailey and Jane Clementi were also present for a heartbreaking and inspirational production that addressed the concepts of bullying, identity, and love for all in an emotionally memorable way.
More commonly known for his classical output, Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg wrote the folk song “Brothers, Sing On!” which was first performed in 1883 and has since grown in popularity with glee clubs and men’s choruses. As the opening number, this song acted as a great demonstration of the combined choirs’ powerful and beautiful sound, greeting the audience “with glad and open hearts.” Tyler’s Suite followed, and brought with it an immediate shift in mood. A talented violinist, Tyler’s musical voice is represented by a solo violin in the opening of the work, performed this weekend by Dr. Michalis Koutsoupides. Although his sound was lovely, Koutsoupides played the opening material, composed by John Corigliano, in a manner that lacked a musical connection of phrases, often resulting in disjunct chunks of music that didn’t feel related to one another. The work continues to tell the story of Tyler growing up interested in the unicycle and leaving for college, including numbers based on numerous interviews with Tyler’s immediate family. Standout numbers include Craig Carnelia’s “The Unicycle Song,” which featured the youthful enthusiasm of soloist Daniel Alford and impressive juggling and balancing feats on an actual unicycle by another performer. Michael L. De Voe was resonant and emphatic as Tyler’s father in “Just A Boy” by John Bucchino, while Nancy Nail brought still emotion to the stage as Tyler’s mother in the 11 o’clock number “I Love You More” by Ann Hampton Callaway (arranged by Tim Sarsany). In the closing movement, “The Narrow Bridge” by Jake Heggie, soloist Michael Schnetzer sang with great ease and stunning beauty, and this reviewer wishes there were a bigger role for him in this production. After the performance, Jane Clementi, Tyler’s real-life mother, spoke of her son’s life and legacy through her personal work and the work of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, seeking an end to “online and offline bullying in schools, workplaces, and faith communities,” according to the organization’s website. While much of the music is forgettable after a first listen, this work packs an emotional punch that lasts long after the music ends while serving a valuable purpose in the fight for acceptance and equality.
As the guest chorus, members of TCGMC, under the direction of Dr. Ben Riggs and accompanied by Timothy De Prey, presented a short program of songs that highlighted their fantastic blending capabilities. Numbers for the full chorus, Kin by Timothy C. Takach and Our America by Ben Allaway, were simple and to the point with regard to the lyrics, fitting for the production’s overarching theme. The TCGMC Chamber Singers were wonderful, singing Shine by Timothy Snyder with enthusiasm and exceptional sensitivity to the music, great pitch accuracy, and beautiful uniformity within parts that combined for a marvelous chamber sound.
With Robert Lamar Sims at the piano, HMC and artistic director Dustin S. Cates began their portion of the program with sonic strength in Dan Forrest’s The Music of Living, though some of the nuanced dynamic changes could have been more pronounced for a greater effect. While their other pieces were performed well and with good musicality, the lyrics of You Have More Friends Than You Know were a little trite and forced, though appropriate for the program’s theme.
During transitions between choirs, Morgana Bailey spoke of her life and the struggle many feel to expose their true self in all aspects of one’s life. Based in Kansas City, she garnered international attention with her 2014 TED Talk “The Danger of Hiding Who You Are,” which has since been viewed almost 2.6 million times. Quoting Toni Morrison, Bailey agrees that “there are more scary things inside than outside,” and that vocalizing one’s individual differences may release a person from the power and fear held over them.
Joining forces again, the combined choir performed a mashup of Randy Stonehill’s “I Love You” and the beloved song “What A Wonderful World.” The pieces line-up rather nicely in this arrangement by Craig Hella Johnson, though the sheer numbers of performers took away from the sense of intimacy the arrangement was designed to have. To close the program, Joseph Marin’s Give ‘Em Hope was a rousing number based on the words of LGBT activist and politician Harvey Milk, during which uniform clapping began as soon as the gospel feel was officially established; this encouraged some members of the audience to join in on the night re
viewed before a more cheerful departure from the theater.
Tragedy often yields opportunity for great artistic output for both personal catharsis and larger subject awareness, and such is the case with the death of Tyler Clementi and those who have struggled with instances of bullying in the LGBT community. HMC and TCGMC both did wonderful work with Tyler’s Suite and their respective programming to bring musical attention to this topic and reminding us all, in the words of Harvey Milk, that “hope will never be silent.”
REVIEW:
Heartland Men’s Chorus
Identify
March 25 — 25 (Reviewed: Saturday, March 25, 2017)
Folly Theater
300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO
Copyright © 2017 KCMETROPOLIS.org Used by permission.
“Identify” Program Notes
/in BlogThe Program
ACT 1
Brothers, Sing On! (Edvard Grieg)
Tyler’s Suite
1. Meditation (John Corigliano)
2. I Have Songs You Haven’t Heard (Nolan Gasser) TYLER: DONALD CROWL
3. A Wish (Lance Horne)
4. The Unicycle Song (Craig Carnelia) TYLER: DANIEL ALFORD
5. Just A Boy (John Bucchino) TYLER’S FATHER: MICHAEL L. DE VOE
6. Brother, Because of You (Stephen Schwartz) TYLER’S BROTHERS: BOB KOHLER & BRANDON SHELTON
7. The Tyler Show (Stephen Flaherty)
8. I Love You More (Ann Hampton Callaway/arr. Tim Sarsany) TYLER’S MOTHER: NANCY NAIL
9. The Narrow Bridge (Jake Heggie) SOLO: MICHAEL SCHNETZER
Light (arr. Charles Beale) SOLOS: BENJAMIN L. DUBOIS, KEITH WIEDENKELLER, BRIAN SIXBURY, R. ELISE POINTER
INTERMISSION
ACT 2
TWIN CITIES GAY MEN’S CHORUS
Kin (Timothy C. Takach)
Shine (Timothy Snyder) FEATURING: TCGMC CHAMBER SINGERS
Our America (Ben Allaway)
HEARTLAND MEN’S CHORUS
The Music of Living (Dan Forrest)
You Have More Friends Than You Know (Warren & Marx) FEATURING: HMC CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Cornerstone (Shawn Kirchner) SOLOS: ADAM BROWN & TODD GREGORY-GIBBS
COMBINED CHORUSES
I Love You/What a Wonderful World (arr. Craig Hella Johnson) SOLO: STEVE THERRIEN
Give ‘Em Hope (Joseph Martin) SOLO: DAVID WOOD
From the Artistic Director – on the creation of “Identify” and the life of Tyler Clementi:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, cisgender, questioning, white, black, Hispanic, evangelical, Muslim, liberal, conservative … the terms that we use to identify ourselves and others is ever-growing. If you are anything like me, you may have to turn to Google to define each letter in: LGBTQIA. Despite the challenges with remembering terminology, the significance and weight of these words are undeniable. They are used to unite a community and divide a country.
Our ability to embrace our true identity has lasting impacts. Tyler Clementi understood the importance of embracing one’s unique individual qualities. A music lover, Tyler began playing the violin in the third grade. He also loved riding his bike and eventually learned how to ride a unicycle. In a full demonstration of two of his unique talents, Tyler taught himself to ride the unicycle while playing the violin.
The summer after his high school graduation, Tyler began the process of coming out to his family and friends. In August 2010, Tyler began attending Rutgers University. He was excited to play the violin in the university’s top orchestra and to begin his college experience living as an openly gay man.
Just a few short weeks after starting school, Tyler was the victim of a horrible act of cyber-bullying. One night when Tyler had a date, he asked his dorm roommate for some privacy. His roommate agreed, but before leaving the dorm he secretly turned on his webcam and pointed it toward Tyler’s bed. The camera captured Tyler and his date in an intimate act, which the roommate wrote about on social media. Through his roommate’s Twitter feed, Tyler discovered that he had become the object of ridicule and harassment across campus. Days later, Tyler ended his life by jumping off New York City’s George Washington Bridge. He was 18 years old.
Tyler’s tragic story is a rallying cry. All of us, regardless of how we identify, deserve the opportunity to live authentic lives free from bullying, ridicule and fear. We must reject rhetoric that uses our differences to divide us. We must love.
“Though the bridge may seem narrow, if we walk it together, it is plenty wide.”
—Dustin Cates
About “Tyler’s Suite”
Tyler’s Suite, conceived by famed Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) is a nine movement choral masterpiece dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi, a talented young musician who committed suicide after being cyber-bullied by his college roommate.
After hearing about the tragedy, Schwartz gathered a team of renowned composers to raise awareness about bullying. Tyler’s Suite is based upon hundreds of hours of interviews with the Clementi family, and explores the lives and experiences of Tyler and his family, shining a light of hope on such a devastating tragedy.
“The story of Tyler Clementi, who clearly had so much to offer the world, reminds us that every life lost because of bullying and bigotry is a specific individual tragedy,” said Schwartz. This is why I, and this group of gifted collaborators who have joined me, feel privileged to bring our time, energy and talents to the creation of Tyler’s Suite.” Each of the nine songs takes on the perspective of a different family member in Tyler’s life.
Composed in 2014, Tyler’s Suite makes its Great Plains premiere here on the stage of the Folly Theater. It is the music of nine of today’s top composers including Mark Adamo, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carnelia, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Horne, and Stephen Schwartz. “This collection of songs shines a light of hope for a safer, kinder world in line with the mission of the Tyler Clementi Foundation,” according to the foundation website.
Jane Clementi, Tyler’s mother, will be on hand to further the work of the foundation that was founded to prevent bullying through inclusion, assertion of dignity and acceptance. “Curious and adventurous, creative, smart, articulate, cheerful, a wonderful easy going personality, Tyler always had a smile on his face … it’s how he hid himself from the world … behind a smile,” says Mrs. Clementi. “Tyler was a peacekeeper, private, didn’t seek attention … he was comfortable blending in, but he loved to perform, his true passion was music. He was a gifted violinist.”
This powerful collection of songs with lyrics by Pamela Stewart, moves audiences and singers alike and ultimately shines a light of hope for a safer, kinder world in line with the mission of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, which works to end all forms of online and offline bullying in schools, workplaces, and faith communities.
—Lisa Hickok
Heartland Men’s Chorus Presents “Identify!”
/in Press ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rick Fisher
816.931.3338
hmc@hmckc.org
For Tickets: 816.931.3338 or hmckc.org
Heartland Men’s Chorus
Presents “Identify,”
An inspirational performance uniting voices against bullying,
Created to change hearts and minds.
Performances March 25 and 26, 2017 at the Folly Theater
KANSAS CITY, MO (Feb 20, 2017) — Dustin S. Cates, Artistic Director of Heartland Men’s Chorus (HMC), announced Monday their 31th season will continue in March with Identify! Part choral concert, part TED Talk; Identify celebrates living lives of authenticity. Heartland Men’s Chorus will present two completely different experiences in one special performance. They’ll be joined by special guests including 80 voices from Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, TED Talk sensation Morgana Bailey, soloist Nancy Nail, and Jane Clementi, mother of the late Tyler Clementi and chairman of the Tyler Clementi Foundation.
Heartland Men’s Chorus opens Identify with “Tyler’s Suite,” conceived by famed Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin). “Tyler’s Suite” is a nine-piece choral masterpiece dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi, a talented young musician who committed suicide after being cyber bullied by his college roommate.
An 18-year-old college student at Rutgers University, Clementi was sharing an intimate moment with another man as his roommate surreptitiously recorded it and put word of it on the internet. The resulting humiliation led Clementi to leap off the George Washington Bridge.
After hearing about the tragedy, Schwartz gathered a team of renowned composers to raise awareness about bullying. “Tyler’s Suite” is based upon hundreds of hours of interviews with the Clementi family, and explores the lives and experiences of Tyler and his family, shining a light of hope on such a devastating tragedy.
“The story of Tyler Clementi, who clearly had so much to offer the world, reminds us that every life lost because of bullying and bigotry is a specific individual tragedy,” said Schwartz. This is why I, and this group of gifted collaborators who have joined me, feel privileged to bring our time, energy and talents to the creation of ‘Tyler’s Suite.’”
Composed in 2016, “Tyler’s Suite” will make its Great Plains premier on the stage of the Folly Theater. It is the music of nine of today’s top composers including Mark Adamo, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carnelia, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Horne, and Stephen Schwartz. “This collection of songs shines a light of hope for a safer, kinder world in line with the mission of the Tyler Clementi Foundation,” according to the foundation website.
Jane Clementi, Tyler’s mother, will be on hand to further the work of the foundation that was founded to prevent bullying through inclusion, assertion of dignity and acceptance. “Curious and adventurous, creative, smart, articulate, cheerful, a wonderful easy going personality, Tyler always had a smile on his face . . . its how he hid himself from the world . . . behind a smile,” says Mrs. Clementi. “Tyler was a peacekeeper, private, didn’t seek attention . . . he was comfortable blending in, but he loved to perform, his true passion was music. He was a gifted violinist.”
Mrs. Clementi will take part in a pre-concert panel to listen and to share, “Conversations help illuminate and elevate issues, and help people to better understand. By bringing topics out into the light, it takes away the stigma of shame and embarrassment . . . and allows people to know that there’s nothing wrong with who they are or who they love.” One hour before each concert, there will be a panel discussion sponsored by GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) open to any concert ticketholder. Moderated by Kansas City Broadcast Journalist Mitch Weber, the panelists will be Jane Clementi, Morgana Bailey Bee, Andy Schuerman from the GLSEN Board, and Debi Jackson, mother of 9-year-old Avery Jackson, the first transgender person to appear on the cover of National Geographic Magazine.
“Tyler’s Suite” will be performed with local artist Nancy Nail as the voice of Jane Clementi. Each of the nine songs takes on the perspective of a different family member in Tyler’s life.
The second portion of “Identify” begins with the Twin Cities Gay men’s Chorus, an award-winning chorus that has built a solid reputation for musical excellence and dynamic programming. The Chorus is under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Ben Riggs. They join Heartland Men’s Chorus to celebrate diversity, using music as a way to transform, educate and heal, working toward the elimination of homophobia and intolerance through community outreach and song. TCGMG will be singing a series of songs about hope. They will be followed by HMC singing “The Music of Living,” by Dan Forrest, “You Have More Friends Than You Know,” by Warren & Marx, Arranged by HMC Artistic Director Dustin S. Cates, and “Cornerstone,” by Shawn Kirchner. “Following the emotional journey of ‘Tyler’s Suite,’ Act 2 of our concert will celebrate the hope found in living lives of authenticity.”
TED Talk sensation Morgana Bailey had been hiding her true self for 16 years. Coming out in front of an audience of her co-workers, Morgana became a human resources and human rights activist. In her brave TED Talk, she utters four words that had been paralyzing her, realizing her silence had personal, professional and societal consequences. “I am in human resources, a profession that works to welcome, connect and encourage the development of employees,” says Morgana, clearly understanding the irony of her fear. At State Street, she directs the Global Human Resources data management team, maintaining records for approximately 29,000 employees. Now married to wife, Cicely Bee, Morgana will join Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus and Heartland Men’s Chorus in the powerful conclusion to “Identify,” reflecting on what it means to fear the judgment of others, how it makes us judge ourselves and encourage all of us to live lives of authenticity.
Artistic Director Cates concluded, “We close our concert with the combined voices of TCGMC and HMC singing Craig Hella Johnson’s arrangement of ‘I Love You/What a Wonderful World’ and ‘Give ‘Em Hope,’ a piece based on the words of the late gay rights activist Harvey Milk.” Identify will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 25th and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26th at the historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Panel discussions begin one hour prior to each concert in the theater.
Tickets to both performances are available online at https://hmckc.org/tickets/ or by calling 816-931-3338. Prices range from $18 to $43 with special student pricing at $7 (some ticket fees apply). Come as you are, dress is casual, but visit hmckc.org today!
ABOUT HEARTLAND MEN’S CHORUS – Heartland Men’s Chorus (www.hmckc.org) is Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, now in its 31st season. Founded in 1986 with 30 singers to make music, HMC quickly became a safe oasis for a community scarred by fear and hatred, while plagued by a virus. Now with 120 singers, HMC is a vital part of Kansas City’s robust arts and cultural scene, making the historic Folly Theater its performance home for 24 years. HMC also presents regional outreach concerts in a five-state area and has performed nationally and internationally in joint concerts with other GALA choruses. They regularly perform at GALA Choruses International festivals. In 2009, HMC was featured at the national convention of The American Choral Director Association in Oklahoma City, and in 2003 at the national conference of Chorus America in Kansas City. In 2011, the Chorus received the OUTMusic Award for OUTStanding Male Chorus and in 1998 the GLAAD Leadership Award. The Kansas City Star has called Heartland Men’s Chorus “one of the most beloved arts institutions in Kansas City.”
Visit www.hmckc.org for more information about Heartland Men’s Chorus 2016-2017 season. High-resolution photos of the 2016-2017 Season can be obtained by contacting the chorus office at 816-816-931-3338.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Tyler Clementi Foundation website: http://tylerclementi.org
Morgana Bailey Bee’s TED Talk can be found at: http://www.ted.com/talks/morgana_bailey_the_danger_of_hiding_who_you_are
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Parking
Information for Folly Theater parking can be found online at www.follytheater.org. The parking garage, immediately west of the Folly Theater, is the primary parking garage for Heartland Men’s Chorus patrons. Event parking is $8 per car and may be purchased upon arrival (cash only at the gate).
Sponsors
HMC’s 31st Season is underwritten by Hotel Phillips. Other sponsors include the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation; Missouri Arts Council; Hall Family Foundation, Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, Arts Council of Greater Kansas City, and the Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF).
Student Discounts
Student tickets are available for $7 (with valid ID, one ticket per ID). They may be purchased in advance by calling the HMC box office at 816-931-3338 or at the door prior to the performances based on availability. The Box Office opens one hour prior to all performances.
Social Media
Receive updates by joining Heartland Men’s Chorus’ Page at www.facebook.com/hmckc and following @hmchorus on Twitter.
Heartland Men’s Chorus
2016-2017 Full Season at a Glance
Kansas City Christmas (HOLIDAY SHOW)
December 3-4, 2016 | Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO
Sat., Dec. 3, 8:00 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 4, 4:00 p.m.
December 10, 2016 | Yardley Hall, Carlsen Center, JCCC, OPKS
Sat., Dec. 10, 8:00 p.m.
Identify (SPRING SHOW)
March 25-26, 2017 | Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO
Sat., Mar. 25, 8:00 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 26, 4:00 p.m.
Part choral concert, part TED Talk, Identify celebrates living lives of authenticity. Joined by special guests, Twin Cities Gay men’s Chorus, TED Talk sensation Morgana Bailey, Soloist Nancy Nail, and Jane Clementi, mother of the late Tyler Clementi, we lift up the importance of being you. Single tickets available online beginning Monday, December 15, 2016.
Show Tune Showdown (SUMMER SHOW)
June 10-11, 2017 | Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO
Sat., June. 10, 8:00 p.m.
Sun., June 11, 4:00 p.m.
What happens when Broadway collides with Heartland Men’s Chorus? It’s the Show Tune Showdown! It’s literally part game show and part sing-a-long! Channel your best Ethel Merman as you sing with the guys to some of your favorite Broadway hits, then hop on stage and show off your knowledge of musical theatre trivia! Single tickets available online beginning Monday, March 27, 2017.
Visit www.hmckc.org/press for more info.
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Please direct all media inquiries to Rick Fisher, 816-931-3338 or hmc@hmckc.org.
“Tyler’s Suite” Explores Bullying & Bigotry Through the Talents of Stephen Schwartz
/in BlogIn our next performance, Identify, Heartland Men’s Chorus begins with “Tyler’s Suite,” the tragic story of Tyler Clementi. Conceived by famed Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), “Tyler’s Suite” is a nine-piece choral movement dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi. Clementi was a talented young musician who committed suicide after being bullied by his freshman roommate. An 18-year-old college student at Rutgers University, Clementi was having sex with another man when his roommate surreptitiously recorded it and put word of it on the Internet. The resulting humiliation led Clementi to kill himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. After hearing about the tragedy, Schwartz gathered a team of renowned composers to raise awareness about anti-gay bullying. “Tyler’s Suite” is based upon hundreds of hours of interviews with the Clementi family after Tyler died, and explores the voices and experiences of Tyler and his family, shining a light of hope on tragedy.
Stephen Schwartz says of the project, “The story of Tyler Clementi, the story of loss of one young man who clearly had so much to offer the world, reminds us that every life lost because of bullying and bigotry is a specific individual tragedy. This is why I, and this group of gifted collaborators who have joined me, feel privileged to bring our time, energy and talents to the creation of ‘Tyler’s Suite.’”
“Tyler’s Suite” explores the voices and experiences of Tyler and his family through the music of nine of today’s top composers including Mark Adamo, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carnelia, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Horne, and Stephen Schwartz. “This collection of songs shines a light of hope for a safer, kinder world in line with the mission of the Tyler Clementi Foundation,” says the foundation website. Jane Clementi, Tyler’s mother, will be on hand to further the work of the foundation created to prevent bullying through inclusion, assertion of dignity and acceptance. “Curious and adventurous, creative, smart, articulate, cheerful, a wonderful easy going personality, Tyler always had a smile on his face . . . its how he hid himself from the world . . . behind a smile,” says Mrs. Clementi. “Tyler was a peacekeeper, private, didn’t seek attention . . . he was comfortable blending in, but he loved to perform, his true passion was music. He was a gifted violinist.” Mrs. Clementi will also be there to listen and to share, “Conversations help illuminate and elevate issues, and help people to better understand topics. By bringing topics out into the light, it takes away the stigma of shame and embarrassment . . . and allows people to know that there’s nothing wrong with who they are or who they love.”
“Tyler’s Suite” will be performed with local artist Nancy Nail as the voice of Jane Clementi. Each of the nine songs takes on the perspective of a different family member in Tyler’s life. Tickets can be purchased at https://hmckc.org/tickets or by calling 816-931-3338.
* “Tyler’s Suite” was commissioned by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and premiered in 2016.
TED Talk Sensation Morgana Bailey to join HMC in Identify
/in BlogMorgana Bailey had been hiding her true self for 16 years. Overnight, coming out in a TED Talk, sponsored by her internationally reputed employer in front of an audience of her co-workers, Morgana became a human resources and human rights activist. In her brave TED Talk, she uttered four words that had been paralyzing to her, “I am a Lesbian.” But why speak up? Because she realized that her silence had personal, professional and societal consequences. “I am in human resources, a profession that works to welcome, connect and encourage the development of employees,” says Morgana. At State Street, she directs the Global Human Resources data management team, who maintains records for approximately 29,000 employees worldwide. Morgana collaborates with people across State Street as corporate policies, regulatory requirements and related employee data requirements continually evolve. Her career experiences have confirmed that the only constant is change, and one’s ability (or inability) to adapt can generate profound long-term outcomes. “I want to see the diversity of society reflected in the workplace.”
Now married to wife, Cicely Bee, Morgana Bailey Bee will join Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus and Heartland Men’s Chorus in the powerful conclusion to “Identify,” reflecting on what it means to fear the judgment of others, how it makes us judge ourselves and encourage all of us to live lives of authenticity, a life of feeling comfortable about who we are.
Morgana will also participate as part of the Pre-Show Panel, moderated by Mitch Weber, a Kansas City broadcast journalist. Sponsored by GLSEN, the panels will begin one hour prior to curtain at both performances in the theater. Aimed at high school and college students, the panel will discuss navigating life, trying to fit into communities we call home and roles we’re expected to play, all while being true to ourselves and thriving in the world around us.
“Identify” will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 25th and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26th at the historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
Tickets to both performances are available online at https://hmckc.org/tickets/ or by calling 816-931-3338. Prices range from $18 to $43 with special student pricing at $7 (some ticket fees apply). Visit hmckc.org today!
Hotel Phillips Reopening
/in BlogThe iconic Hotel Phillips, in downtown Kansas City, reopens its doors after completing a $20 million renovation, offering Kansas City residents and visitors the opportunity to experience a variety of eclectic food and beverage destinations, unique arts and culture programs, 1930’s art deco design, and modern guest rooms.
While the 20-story iconic hotel offers 216 exquisite guest rooms and suites that combine historic charm with modern-day amenities and comforts, Hotel Phillips also offers exceptional dining – Italian restaurant, Tavernonna Italian Kitchen, cocktail parlor, P.S. Speakeasy and coffee bar, Kilo Charlie – and entertainment options, unlike any Kansas City hotel has ever seen.
Combining its love for Kansas City and the arts, Hotel Phillips created its unique ArtLight program, which supports ongoing arts and culture, and partners with a variety of local and national visual and performing arts groups throughout the year, to bring intimate cultural experiences to Kansas City. The program features a dedicated Art Concierge, who provides recommendations for local arts and cultural activities, as to highlight the best that Kansas City has to offer.
Additionally, Hotel Phillips will also host ‘pop-up’ exhibits and performances, where hotel guests might find themselves singing along with a choir member, or getting a sneak-peek of a new ballet. In fact, the Heartland Men’s Choir’s is a proud participant in the Hotel Phillips’ ArtLight program.
As visitors begin to flock to Hotel Phillips for its exceptional hospitality, and food and beverage and entrainment programs, you can learn more about upcoming events and details of the hotel’s many offerings, by visiting: www.hotelphillips.com.
(Christmas) hammin’ it up
/in ReviewsBy Kristin Shafel Omiccioli December 8, 2015
Heartland Men’s Chorus kicked off its 30th season with its “non-traditional tradition,” Kansas City Christmas: a weekend of choral holiday cheer at the Folly Theater.
A trumpet duo called the Heartland Men’s Chorus concert to order Friday night, followed by chorus members placed throughout the aisles, on a sober Personent Hodie arrangement by Lara Hoggard. The final line, a strong unison of all voices, was majestic and beautifully set the tone of the first half, which included more traditional holiday selections. With a mixture of sacred and secular, old and new, familiar and perhaps not-so well known, Dustin Cates’s programming was a testament to the historical themes of the season—peace, togetherness, acceptance, good cheer—while striking me as rather timely messaging for today’s tumultuous world, too.
The first half showcased works that had some of the most complex polyphony, mixed meter, and counterpoint I’ve heard from HMC, including a set of Hovland’s The Glory of the Father (excerpt) and Powell’s The Word was God, Helvey’s trio of Christmas carols (“Fum, Fum, Fum,” “Coventry Carol,” and “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day”), and selections from Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. The chorus shined in its comfort zone during this half’s heartfelt “The Ground” from Gjeilo’s Sunrise Massand the lively African-American spiritual Child of God, which gave guest pianist Jan Willbanks the spotlight, rockin’ licks on the keys in a swinging blues style.
HMC included its Jewish members and friends in its holiday celebration with Knecht’s Shalom Aleikhem, featuring Max H. Brown in a committed, dignified solo introduction, and Alex Bency added a delicate touch with his cello part. On the second half, after a dramatic flourish on the piano by accompanist Lamar Sims, the HeartAches octet put an upbeat spin on Hanukkah songs—usually minor-keyed or phrygian—with “Boogie Woogie Hanukkah,” revealing a playful and acute sense of humor both musically and lyrically.
After intermission, HMC worked the Christmas ham (figuratively!) with a few recognizable standards (the jolly “We Need a Little Christmas” and a rock version of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”) and several newer pop tunes, including the saccharine local holiday anthem “Christmas in Kansas City.” The second half of the night was replete with HMC’s signature camp, light choreography, and costuming. A troupe of choristers dressed as the reindeer for “Rudolph,” with literal translations of their names (Blitzen was blitzed, Comet had cleaning supplies, etc.), and the men whipped out their cell phones to accompany the Straight No Chaser tune “Text Me Merry Christmas.” Brandon Shelton was convincing as the sassy letter writer to Santa, unapologetic for his cheeky request in “I Want a Lumbersexual for Christmas.”
Many fine soloists from the ensemble were featured throughout the evening, on classics and pop songs alike. Mike Sigler, at first an unassuming presence on stage, brought forth a robust, arresting tenor on two pieces of the Britten set. Tone Stowers and Jason Taylor flavored their solos (on Jewel’s “Hands” and “Christmas in Kansas City,” respectively) with a melismatic R&B pop sound, while Terry W. Christensen and Rob Curry gave tender interpretations apropos to the timely sentiments in the lyrics of their solos (introductions to “Grown-Up Christmas List” and “Merry Everything,” respectively). Keith Widenkeller provided the solemn, gentle solo on this year’s “Ad Astra” tribute, “Auld Lang Syne,” as the chorus behind him linked arms as commonly practiced in Scotland.
The stand-out piece of the concert was undoubtedly “Marvelous Holiday Sweater,” which featured Adam Brown not only in a hearty solo part, but also in a light-up tie and matching jacket as he “emceed” a “fashion show” of the tackiest, most over-the-top sweaters imaginable. Closing the night was a bright rendition of Andy Beck’s “Let There Be Peace,” led by soloist R. Elise Pointer who embellished this spiritual-like tune with enthusiasm that brought down the house.
Dustin Cates, now in his second year as HMC’s artistic director, has continued and expanded on HMC’s strong presence in the Kansas City arts scene. His arrangements (almost half the tunes on this program) cater to the chorus’s strengths while still challenging them. With local pride being at epic levels, Cates decided to stick with last year’s “Kansas City Christmas” theme once again, especially after finding the perfect item to exhibit as the centerpiece of the expectedly incredible set. An original Manneco crown, once an iconic part of downtown Kansas City during the holidays, sparkled above the chorus in all its authentic, regal glory.
REVIEW:
Heartland Men’s Chorus
Kansas City Christmas
December 4–6 (Reviewed Friday, December 4, 2015)
Folly Theater
300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO
Copyright © 2015 KCMETROPOLIS.org Used by permission.
Seasonal sass
/in ReviewsBy Anthony Rodgers December 5, 2016
Heartland Men’s Chorus spread their holiday cheer this weekend with “Kansas City Christmas: Classy, Brassy, Sassy!” at the Folly Theater, combining traditional carols and their signature camp for a delightful program of festive fun.
One of the most powerful qualities of the Heartland Men’s Chorus is their dedication to a warm and blended sound, which was a wonderful aspect to this program full of well-known tunes. During The First Noel, the richness of the men’s voices combined to be heavenly. Even with choreography—and exciting lighting design—the chorus didn’t let the sound falter during Jingle Bells, and setting unexpected goofiness aside, the accompaniment sound during O Holy Night was resonant and strong.
Early in the evening, HMC featured an arrangement of John Rutter’s Gloria by Tim Sarsany for men’s chorus, brass, and percussion. The chorus did well with the change of pace from their typical fare, navigating the active counterpoints and precise Latin. During the faster sections of the work, the chorus sounded more comfortable compared to the Andante movement, which felt labored but retained a mysterious quality. Newly commissioned for this program, Winter Mantra by Hans Heruth resembled a superhero film score in triumph over the cold.
Robert Lamar Sims was outstanding as the pianist for the chorus, never wavering in his persistent playing. His flourishes in Gloria were light and directional, and one could sense the changing levels of intense emotion he put into each piece. Additional instrumentalists accompanied the chorus on many numbers, but often the sound levels were unfortunately unequal. A collection of brass players is not uncommon to be seen around the holidays, but the group for this concert met their match against the powerful voices. Only the trumpets were somewhat audible during the majority of their pieces, which was, truthfully, disappointing for a program advertising “brassy” sounds. Although the drum set was a little too heavy during the standard I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, percussive sounds were a positive addition, such as the steady shaker in Deck the Halls. A quality blend of the musical sounds was only achieved during Mark Hayes’s arrangement of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. A drumline of snare drums appeared for an exciting version of Little Drummer Boy that was a crowd favorite with its complex rhythms and dramatic gestures.
During their traditional setting of the French carol Pat-a-Pan, a militant tambourine accompanied the HMC Chamber Ensemble, but the singers articulated well enough that the words could still be heard. Another smaller group from the chorus performed an animated number with The Annoying Drummer Boy, featuring a gruff Nativity scene and a ragtag musician looking to be heard. The camp continued with the hilarious Recycle the Fruitcake, a dazzling production including grandmas, pirates, and dancing fruitcakes.
“We sing for something greater than ourselves,” said artistic director Dustin S. Cates, as he reflected on the past year, during which HMC has experienced both great performances and great loss. In tribute of their Ad Astra members (those who have passed away), an arrangement of Erin Propp’s The Frost by Absalon Figueroa was an emotional number and featured a stunning a capella section. A performance of the late Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah was also a moving gesture, as the chorus exited the stage to surround the audience with additional warmth.
HMC will take their holiday cheer to Johnson County Community College with a repeat performance of this weekend’s program on December 10.
REVIEW:
Heartland Men’s Chorus
Kansas City Christmas: Classy, Brassy, Sassy!
December 3–4 (Reviewed Saturday, December 3, 2016)
Folly Theater
300 W 12th St., Kansas City, MO
December 10, 2016
Carlsen Center, Yardley Hall, JCCC Campus
12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS
Copyright © 2016 KCMETROPOLIS.org Used by permission.