HMC 2016-2017 Season Announcement

Heartland Men’s Chorus

2016-17 Season Kicks Off with a

“Classy, Brassy and Sassy” Kansas City Christmas

Performances Dec. 3 and 4 at Folly Theater

And at the new venue, JCCC’s Yardley Hall, Dec. 10

 

KANSAS CITY, MO (Oct. 24, 2016) — Dustin S. Cates, Artistic Director of Heartland Men’s Chorus (HMC), announced Monday that the 31th season will open with what is fast becoming one of Kansas City’s favorite non-traditional holiday traditions, Kansas City Christmas! In its third year, Kansas City Christmas has an exciting blend of familiar carols, choral classics and hilariously zany twists on your favorite holiday music. It truly features something for everyone and will leave you in the holiday spirit because it’s “Classy, Brassy and Sassy!”

The Classy start to the evening begins with Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. Based on a French folk tune, it tells the biblical story of the birth of Christ. Then Classy HMC shines with John Rutter’s Gloria. Written by British born Rutter in 1974, this 17-minute, three-movement work instantly became a favorite among American choruses. “It is by turns touching and thrilling, with everything from soaring, jubilant phrases to catchy rhythms among the beautiful lines of ancient sacred text, and then throw in the power of the brass ensemble with timpani, percussion and organ, and you have the perfect recipe to wow audiences,” said Artistic Director Cates.

Rutter described its origins to Jeremy Siepmann of Naxos Records in 2011, “‘The Gloria was the first of my works to be commissioned in America. I received a letter from a choral conductor in Omaha, Nebraska. His name was Mel Olson, an excellent musician. Among much else, he suggested a sacred work, equally suitable to both churches and concert halls, with a Latin text. So I thought of the Gloria—just about the most famous little piece of Latin that there is. For my instrumental group, I chose a brass ensemble, supplemented by organ, timpani and percussion. And that was the beginning. *
Gloria is sung completely in Latin.

HMC has received special permission from John Rutter himself to perform this unpublished version of his Gloria for men’s voices. Since brass is such an essential aspect of the composition, the production is being performed in collaboration with the Volker Brass Quintet from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance and will be conducted by Cates.

Continuing the more serious, traditional approaches to the holidays, HMC will present Ose Shalom (arr. John Leavitt), a traditional Hebrew text that translates: “The One who makes peace in the heavens, He makes peace for us, for all of us, and let us say Amen.”  Staying with the traditional slant, HMC will perform Deck the Hall (arr. Eddy Clement), a new arrangement of a traditional English Christmas Carol, The First Noel (arr. Dan Forrest), a new arrangement of a traditional English Christmas Carol, and I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (arr. Patrick Sinozich), an Irving Berlin holiday favorite set in a swing style. All three pieces will be accompanied by the Volker Brass from UMKC … In other words . . . Brassy!!

The program continues with a World Premiere, Winter Mantra, commissioned by HMC for Kansas City Christmas and written by composer and University of Missouri–Columbia Freshman, Hans Heruth, with original text by Wesley Sexton. The piece, that also features the Volker Brass Ensemble, speaks of Winter. “The season on the surface may seem dark and cold but, when framed correctly, is full of life,” says Sexton. Heruth and Sexton met at the University of Missouri and started writing together.

What audiences have come to expect out of the second half of Kansas City Christmas is pure entertainment. “With a bit of a holiday pops feel, it’s all kinds of fun,” said Cates. “The hilarious performances by members of Heartland Men’s Chorus are truly what bring this portion of the program to life!” On the program are Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a holiday favorite made popular by Judy Garland arranged by Kansas City composer and friend of HMC, Mark Hayes, O Holy Night (arr. Scott Warrender), traditional carol for soloist and choir with a big twist, The Little Drummer Boy (arr. Lari Goss), an HMC favorite back by popular demand which features a drum line comprised of local high school band students. There’s also a wacky tribute to the holiday elephant-in-the-room… Fruitcake! Lots of other fun songs will fill out the second half to keep you laughing and wanting more (music, not fruitcake!).

“Kansas City Christmas” will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 3rd and 4 p.m. Sunday, December 4th at the historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street in Kansas City, and Saturday, December 10th, at Yardley Hall in the Carlson Center, on the campus of Johnson County Community College.

Tickets to the Folly performances are available online at https://hmckc.org/tickets/ or by calling 816-931-3338. Yardley Hall performances must be purchased through the Carlsen Center Box Office at 913-469-4445. Prices range from $18 to $43 with special student pricing at $7 (some ticket fees apply and vary by location). Come as you are, dress is casual, be ready for fun, 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 with 30 singers to make music, HMC quickly became a safe oasis for a community scarred by fear and hatred and plagued by a virus. Now with 130 singers, Heartland Men’s Chorus is a vital part of Kansas City’s robust arts and cultural scene. HMC has made the historic Folly Theater its performance home for 24 years, and is now expanding to Overland Park with one concert in December. 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 attained by contacting the chorus office at 816-816-931-3338.

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). Parking is free and freely available at JCCC’s Carlsen Center.

 Sponsors

Presenting sponsor of Heartland Men’s Chorus is Hotel Phillips.

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 Neighborhood Tourist Development Foundation (NTDF), also are among the many supporters of Heartland Men’s Chorus’ 31st season.

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 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 TedTalk, Identify celebrates living lives of authenticity. Joined by special guests, Twin Cities Gay men’s Chorus, TedTalk sensation Morgana Bailey 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.

Tickets on Sale Now for Kansas City Christmas!

KCC16 HMC website graphicHeartland Men’s Chorus
2016-17 Season Kicks Off with a
“Classy, Brassy and Sassy” Kansas City Christmas

Tickets are on sale NOW for what is fast becoming one of Kansas City’s favorite non-traditional holiday traditions, Kansas City Christmas! In its third year, Kansas City Christmas brings an exciting blend of familiar carols, choral classics and hilariously zany twists on your favorite holiday music.

What is helping to build the audiences of Kansas City Christmas? According to critics, it’s the unusual combination of a more serious first half combined with a really eclectic second half. It features something for everyone and will leave you laughing out loud and ready for the holidays.

Artistic Director, Dustin S. Cates, recently commented on the fun task of choosing the music, “I love my job! Where else can you combine John Rutter’s Gloria with a wacky tribute to the holiday love-it-or-hate-it FRUITCAKE?”

To help take things to a feverish height, add in the Volker Brass from UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance and you have a celebration you can’t miss.
“Classy, Brassy and Sassy!”

So don’t wait! Get your tickets now . . . you have two locations from which to choose, the Folly Theater or Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College.

“Kansas City Christmas” will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 3rd and 4 p.m. Sunday, December 4th at the historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street in Kansas City, and Saturday, December 10th, at Yardley Hall in the Carlson Center, on the campus of Johnson County Community College., in Overland Park, Kansas.

Tickets to the Folly performances are available online at https://hmckc.org/tickets/ or by calling 816-931-3338. Yardley Hall performances must be purchased through the Carlsen Center Box Office at 913-469-4445. Prices range from $18 to $43 with special student pricing at $7 (some ticket fees apply and vary by location). Come as you are, dress is casual, be ready for fun, but visit hmckc.org today!

Singing for our lives

By Lee Hartman June 14, 2016

Celebrating thirty years as one of the nation’s most renowned GALA chorus, the Heartland Men’s Chorus’s “I Rise” concert on Saturday night looked back on its history and hinted at what’s to come.

Apologies. This is a difficult review to write—if you’ll even call it a review—in the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history when, on Sunday, 49 LGBTQ brothers and sisters were killed and 53 injured during Latin night at Pulse, a gay nightclub (a sanctuary for those who don’t understand and have never understood the importance of such spaces) in Orlando, Florida. I spent much of Sunday, barely holding back tears, in communication with people I know in Orlando and around the country, sharing in their grief and anger.

Drew Leinonen’s mother appeared onscreen tearfully and frantically searching for her son, seeking answers. We now know both he and his boyfriend, Juan Ramon Guerrero, were among the deceased. Instead of getting married, they’ll now be buried next to each other. I texted my mom, sister, and mother-in-law to tell them I loved them bunches. My husband, Thomas, was flying, and we didn’t know what to say to each other besides, “I love you, I miss you, I wish you were here.” I remember doing the same on 9/11 with my parents. A modicum of relief came when all the members of the Mid America Freedom Band’s sister band the Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard checked in as safe. Their fifth anniversary concert was scheduled that same day. The band proudly and defiantly performed as scheduled, though some audiences members chose not to attend as they didn’t feel safe.

More victims’ names started being released, with ages, biographies, and photographs. I did not hold back the tears then. These 49 souls look like my friends, my students, my colleagues, my neighbors, but most of all they looked like potential. Potential that will now be unfulfilled, unrealized; hopes and dreams tragically cut short. They were sons and daughters, parents, husbands, boyfriends, wives, girlfriends, nurses, teachers, accountants, students, retail clerks, travel agents, pharmacy techs, entertainers, and ride operators, but importantly they were LGBTQ and allied human beings, with an infinite capacity for love and to be loved. They were attacked for identifying as such. I am crushed, nearly broken, by a profound sadness that wildly vacillates to rage when I read hollow expressions of “thoughts and prayers” from those who at every other turn seek to discredit, besmirch, belittle, blame, degrade, and support those who regularly preach death to those in the LGBTQ community. My grief manifested in an unabated two-day-long screaming headache as some in the media and my social circles downplayed or outright ignored the fact that this was an attack on the LGBTQ community. This attack can be both homophobic and terrorism—the two are not mutually exclusive—but how tragic it is declare it an act of terrorism more readily than one of homo/transphobia. So again, apologies to you, the reader, and to the Heartland Men’s Chorus for giving less than my impartial best as I reflect on Saturday’s performance with Sunday’s acts weighing so heavily.

With eighteen selections from its earliest years to world premieres for tomorrow, HMC’s leapfrogging, overstuffed program was interspersed with earnest anecdotes from founders, former artistic directors, and key staff people and members. These interstitial monologues, though touching and informative, were a bit long in the tooth. J. Kent Barnhart, for instance, spoke for more than 20 minutes, and it makes me wonder why HMC chose to do this for its 30th anniversary instead of say the landmark ones like 20, 25, or 50.  Are we to expect this every five years? If so it will lose its impact.

What won’t lose its impact are the powerful pieces interspersed with the lighter fare. Bright Morning Stars Are Rising was gorgeous from start to finish as was “We’re Not Lost, We’re Here” from Naked Man featuring a belting solo from Michael Schnetzer and “Tired of the Silence” from I Am Harvey Milk. Kelly Marzett, in drag, brought down the house with a hilarious take on “She’s Got You” as she slowly pulled items out of her dress’s copious bodice. Singing for Our Lives, written by Holly Near as she attended Harvey Milk’s memorial, was the most moving moment of the evening and even more so in retrospect. Audience members, at least those from my vantage point in the balcony, stood and joined in the singing of this unofficial anthem of the LGBTQ movement. Many held their loved ones closer and most were teary eyed. Rightfully, HMC reportedly repeated this piece at the vigil following its Sunday performance.

The second half contained some questionable programming choices and horrendously hideous blue bowling shirts. Why the chorus changed out of their sharp tuxedos in favor of such sartorial blasphemy is beyond me. I’m always slightly uncomfortable when majority white gay men appropriate and compare LGBTQ equality struggles to those of African-Americans, especially African-American women, and so numbers like Harriet Tubman by Rollo Dilworth, though dedicated to strong women and well performed, left me uneasy. The new commission, Mark Hayes’s I Rise to the text of Maya Angelou (hailed as the first time the Maya Angelou’s estate has granted a chorus rights to her glorious words, though she and her publishers did allow her words to be used by choruses before her death, however discerning they may have been), fell in that uneasy category. What about using James Baldwin’s text instead? He was a gay, black man of equal prominence, and the immediacy of his words would have been more appropriate. The piece for men’s chorus and chamber orchestra itself is charming and accessible with catchy melodies and rhythmic vitality though jarring in its transitions (or lack thereof). HMC sounded great on the piece as did the pit orchestra. The guest dancers from the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey were an unnecessary addition, completely gilding the lily, especially since the choreography was uninspired and the dancers had only about six feet of depth with which to work. Had the stage been larger and the dancers given more room, my opinion might have changed.

In spite of these criticisms and the nearly three-hour run time, the concert was a well-performed, heartfelt celebration of community while not hiding its blemishes (in-fighting, AIDS crisis, gay male misogyny, etc.). The events of this weekend prove that ensembles like HMC, Kansas City Women’s Chorus, Mid America Freedom Band, PerformOutKC, Heartland Trans Chorus, and the myriad other LGBTQ support organizations are as vital as ever. It’s Pride Month. Celebrate. Be Safe. Be Proud. But don’t be silent. Mourn the dead, but fight like hell for the living.

“We are a gentle, angry people
and we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a justice-seeking people
and we are singing, singing for our lives

We are young and old together
and we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a land of many colors
and we are singing, singing for our lives

We are gay and straight together
and we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a gentle, loving people
and we are singing, singing for our lives”

– Holly Near

REVIEW:
Heartland Men’s Chorus

I Rise
June 11–12 (Reviewed, Saturday, June 11, 2016)
Folly Theater
300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO
For more information, visit https://hmckc.org

Copyright © 2016 KCMETROPOLIS.org Used by permission.

On the Road!

Heartland Men’s Chorus, Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, is hitting the road again following a wonderfully successful concert tour last month of Hays and Salina. On Friday, July 1st, a touring ensemble of the Chorus will make stops in the Kansas cities of Topeka, Abilene, and Russell singing a few a cappella songs at each stop that are appropriate for the July 4th weekend. All performances are free and suitable for all ages.

The first stop will be at noon in Topeka on the front lawn of Equality House at 1200 SW Orleans Street (www.plantingpeace.org/equality). Coincidentally, this location happens to be directly across the street from the infamous Westboro Baptist Church. The singers will turn toward the church compound to ensure their voices of diversity and inclusion can be heard by those who hide behind outlandish signs and hateful beliefs.

Our second stop will be at 2:30pm in Abilene on the front steps of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum at 200 SE Fourth Street. We look forward to singing for a cross-section of tourists who will be visiting this famous central Kansas landmark. (www.eisenhower.archives.gov).

HMC’s third stop will be at 5:00pm in Russell at the Deines Cultural Center at 820 N. Main Street (www.deinesculturalcenter.org). Russell is well known as the boyhood hometown of two United States Senators, Bob Dole and Arlen Specter. Chorus members look forward to meeting local residents preparing to start their holiday weekend with our selection of patriotic songs.

The Chorus will overnight in Colby and then continue on to Denver for the GALA Choruses International Festival where they will be performing to a sold-out crowd in the 3,000-seat Buell Theater at the Denver Performing Arts Center on July 5th.
(http://galachoruses.org/events/gala-festival)

ABOUT HEARTLAND MEN’S CHORUS – Heartland Men’s Chorus (www.hmckc.org) is Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, now in its 30th anniversary season. Founded with 30 singers to make music, HMC quickly became a safe oasis for a community scarred by fear and hatred and plagued by a virus. Now with upward of 125 singers, Heartland Men’s Chorus is a vital part of Kansas City’s burgeoning arts and cultural scene. HMC has made the historic Folly Theater its performance home for the past 23 years and The Kansas City Star recently cited HMC as “one of the most beloved arts institutions in Kansas City.”

Newly Commissioned Song “I Rise” Based On Poetry By Dr. Maya Angelou

Heartland Men’s Chorus (HMC), Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, pays tribute to the late United States Poet Laureate Dr. Maya Angelou by commissioning a song inspired by four well-known poems written by the world renowned poet and civil rights activist.

HMC is the first chorus in the nation to receive the rights from the late poet’s estate to create music that uses her poetry.

The song, titled I Rise, was created by internationally acclaimed musician and composer Mark Hayes. It is written for men’s voices, runs approximately 11 minutes in length, and includes an orchestra of 16 instrumentalists.

I Rise will make its world premiere in its entirety on Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12 as part of the Chorus’ 30th anniversary concert, also titled I Rise, at the Folly Theater in downtown Kansas City.

Four of Dr. Angelou’s poems are used as source material in the song: On the Pulse of Morning, Caged Bird, Equality, and Still I Rise.

“Maya Angelou’s name and poetry are synonymous with Civil Rights and elevating oneself and ones’ surrounding community,” says HMC Artistic Director Dustin Cates. “It’s only fitting, as Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, to present a significant choral work for not only our own audience, but for anyone who hears it in the future, wherever they may be.”

After presenting I Rise in Kansas City, Heartland Men’s Chorus will travel to Denver for the International Gay and Lesbian Choral Festival where HMC will perform it for thousands of singers, composers and directors on Tuesday, July 5 at Buell Theater in the Denver Performing Arts Center.

30th Anniversary Concert “I Rise”

INSPIRED BY HISTORY
Heartland Men’s Chorus, Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, presents I RISE, our 30th anniversary concert that looks back at our proud history while looking forward with the inspiring words of the late United States Poet Laureate, Dr. Maya Angelou.

The first half of our concert features songs that are memorable milestones of our incredible history starting with Brothers Sing Out which was performed at our very first concert in 1986. Since then, our audiences have been moved to tears, offered raucous laughter and reflected upon songs that resonate with them for so many different reasons. Our first half selections are the musical gems of Heartland Men’s Chorus.

The second half of the concert will offer songs that evoke the feeling and memories of the safe places we call home, followed by the world premiere of I Rise our newly commissioned piece by internationally renowned composer Mark Hayes and inspired by the poems of Maya Angelou. HMC is the first chorus to receive rights from Dr. Angelou’s estate to make use of her poetry in a significant musical work.

“Her poetry is synonymous with Civil Rights and elevating oneself and ones’ surrounding community,” says HMC Artistic Director Dustin Cates. “It’s only fitting for Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus to commission and present this significant work.”

HMC is proud to be collaborating with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey as four of their dancers, directed by Chief Artistic Officer Tyrone Aiken, will interpret I Rise on stage with the Chorus.

“This concert is a perfect way to celebrate the rich history of an incredibly unique arts organization,” says Cates. “No other chorus in the Great Plains does what we do, or draws such large crowds, or provides a message that entertains, but also heals and inspires.”

I RISE will be performed 8 p.m. Saturday, June 11 and 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Tickets ranging in price from $18 to $43 are available online at www.hmckc.org/tickets/ or by calling 816-931-3338.
Come as you are, dress is casual, be ready to be inspired!

Pitch slapped

By Anthony Rodgers March 22, 2016

Heartland Men’s Chorus followed its own beat this weekend with “Perfect Pitch” featuring a cappella arrangements of popular tunes and concepts from the film “Pitch Perfect” that were a-ca-awesome.

A cappella music has a rich history that has re-entered the mainstream in recent years with the popularity of Straight No Chaser and the Pitch Perfect films. Heartland Men’s Chorus followed its own beat this weekend with “Perfect Pitch” featuring a cappella arrangements of popular tunes and concepts from the film Pitch Perfect that were a-ca-awesome.

“Take Me to Church” was an appropriate selection as one of the opening numbers for this show, hinting at the chapel origins of “a cappella,” and the fun arrangement set the bar high for the popular tunes of the night. The chorus strove to maintain a high level of energy needed when singing without instruments. Some rough starts were had, as pitch centers felt unclear, including “Pompeii” and “Some Nights,” but the eventual addition of piano and percussion to these numbers solidified the sound and added a wonderful depth to songs that are rarely heard without accompaniment. A Cappella was a spoken adventure in rhythm to creatively define the genre and highlighted great diction from each member of the chorus.

Smaller ensembles broke out for some songs. The HMC Chamber Ensemble sang the beautiful “If I Loved You” from Carousel, featuring a wide vocal range across the group, but also a hesitancy that is only fitting for the characters from the staged duet. “She Goes Shopping for Gucci” was a cute number by Burnt Ends with great accuracy in the highest voices and a touch of goofiness.

Luke Harbur joined HMC with some serious beatboxing skills. While many attempt percussive sounds with cute “boots and cats” jokes, the art of beatboxing can have a transformative effect on a performance. During Beatbox Extravaganza, Harbur suspended time with rhythm and was so aware of all surrounding vibrations that he incorporated the sounds of cheers into his number on the night reviewed. With the chorus, Harbur kept things simple while supporting the voices. Guest group KC A Cappalla is a local ensemble comprised of high-school students with great talent. Performing with such great energy and uniformity, they almost stole the show. Watching them, it was evident that the members were enjoying themselves—a visual aspect that speaks volumes to an audience. The soloists were fantastic and the choreography was fun; the group is an up-and-coming gem of the city.

A few classics found their way into the pop-centric program. With soloists placed in the box seats, Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria was stunning and instantly gave me chills when the lushness of the chorus swept through the theater. One of my favorite British folk songs, “Loch Lomond” featured the rich vocal talents of Michael De Voe with a lovely chordal backing. This arrangement by Jonathan Quick gradually shifted to a more uplifting style, lending a more optimistic interpretation of the poetry. “Home on the Range” gave a nod to the a cappella styles of barbershop quartets—with more than four singers this time—and settled into the familiar mash-up of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and “Over the Rainbow.”

Lighting becomes drama becomes everything. From brilliant colors to fitting projections, the lighting design was well thought out and considered each number to be a new canvas in need. During “Radioactive,” the chorus was involved with some mesmerizing flashlight-ography to give a visual “welcome to the new age.” And what HMC concert wouldn’t be complete without some drag? Pom-pom toting cheerleaders rooted for the KC Bar B Qs in “Cheerleader” while getting a little acrobatic near the end. The soloists in “Bellas Finals” from Pitch Perfect were sensational as they mimicked the choreography and character antics from the movie in signature scarves and heels.

Heartland Men’s Chorus certainly knows how to entertain, and its dedication to a higher level of musical excellence propels it to the fore of fun Kansas City ensembles that are not to be missed.

REVIEW:
Heartland Men’s Chorus
Perfect Pitch

March 19–20 (Reviewed Saturday, March 19, 2016)
Folly Theater
300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO

Copyright © 2016 KCMETROPOLIS.org Used by permission.

HMC Presents “Perfect Pitch”

With a little less piano and a whole lot of heart, Heartland Men’s Chorus, Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, presents “Perfect Pitch,” a concert that celebrates the power and beauty of the human voice.

Singing mostly a cappella arrangements, the 135-voice chorus will perform songs featuring intricate arrangements of contemporary popular music including “The Good Life” by OneRepublic, “Stitches” by Shawn Mendes, and the Pentatonix arrangement of the Imagine Dragons hit “Radioactive.”

Some classics will also be offered with the same distinctive sound of Heartland Men’s Chorus, including “Ave Maria,” “Home on the Range,” and “Loch Lomond.”

“Only at an HMC concert can you hear the beauty of “Ave Maria” on the same bill as “Radioactive,” says HMC Artistic Director Dustin Cates. “We respect the serious music while bringing an exciting edge to the stage with some very popular numbers.”

As is customary with an HMC concert, the first half is more subtle and sublime, while the second half kicks it up a few notches with songs that will have the audience and the singers moving to the music and laughing to some wonderful surprises.

Guest artists include the amazing sounds of local beatboxer artist Luke Harbur who will open the ears and eyes of audience members with his unique sounds and rhythm. We’ll also be joined on stage by “Kansas City A Cappella,” a group of area high school students who bring youthful excitement to the a cappella art form.

Heartland Men’s Chorus welcomes new and returning audience members of any age to experience what The Kansas City Star calls “one of the most beloved arts institutions in Kansas City.”

“Perfect Pitch” will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19th and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 20th at the historic Folly Theater at 300 W. 12th Street in Kansas City. Tickets 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, be ready for fun!

Dustin Cates, Heartland Men’s Chorus artistic director, redefines holiday tradition

Nick Spacek | The Pitch

Dustin Cates 1The Heartland Men’s Chorus has always aimed for what it refers to as a “non-traditional holiday tradition” at its annual December concert. As Kansas City’s premier gay men’s chorus, the group has plenty of room to fill that niche.

After the success of last year’s Kansas City Christmas, artistic director Dustin Cates wanted to solidify the annual program as a local tradition. To that end, he dug into the city’s history to create an ambience that reflected both the chorus and the city.

The Pitch spoke with Cates by phone about his role, the Heartland Men’s Chorus’ place in Kansas City, and establishing a new custom.

The Pitch: Tell me about how the Heartland Men’s Chorus embraces the “non-traditional” aspect of Christmas choral music.

Cates: For instance, we’re singing a series of songs from Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols in the first half, which is a pretty legitimate piece of choral music with harp accompaniment. And then, in the second half, we’re singing a parody of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” called “I Want a Lumbersexual for Christmas.”

That’s one of the great things about Heartland Men’s Chorus: We really do try to do it all, and we try to do it all with as much excellence as we can. I think that this concert, in particular, is a really great example of that because our first half is a little more serious, legitimate choral music — if you like to call it that — and the second half is a little bit more irreverent, kind of fun, Hamburger Mary’s-style.

Trying to make something like Kansas City Christmas a new tradition in the 30th year of an organization seems like a really grand plan.

The original concept started because I had to put a season together, like, five minutes after they hired me [in 2014], and I was trying to come up with something for the holiday. Every year, the chorus would come up with a different slant on it. One year, they did Holiday Glee and did holiday music from the television show, and I think the last one before I got there was Baby, It’s Cold Outside, which was music about the weather and being cold. In general, it was always this blend of classics and zany, campy stuff. For a lot of our subscribers and supporters, it’s how they kick off the holiday season.

As I was thinking about what I would do the next year, I realized that Kansas City Christmas was probably the highest-selling holiday show they’d had in the history of the organization. We based a lot of the concert off Kansas City composers, and it explored what it was like to be in Kansas City during the holidays. I just thought that civic pride is at an all-time high. Last year’s holiday concert was a huge success, and given that they [the Kansas City Ballet and the Kansas City Symphony] do The Nutcracker and the Messiah year after year, there’s no reason that Heartland Men’s Chorus can’t brand their holiday concert.

I get the feeling that there’s always a delicate balance between giving people what they expect to hear and challenging yourself as an artist. How do you challenge yourself and the audience while maintaining that balance?

As an artist, there are certain sorts of traditional, standard, familiar pieces that you are drawn to because they’re a part of your experience or your heritage as a musician. The other side of the coin as an artist is that you really love to try and reinvent some of those ideas to make them new and relevant and interesting to all audiences — some that have heard the given piece before, some that have maybe never heard it before.

The Benjamin Britten piece is a great example. It’s not originally written for men’s chorus. The arrangement we’re singing was originally written for treble voices — so, a women’s chorus. That’s sort of a new take on it — that we’re, as a men’s chorus, singing it an octave down.

What were you doing prior to becoming the Heartland Men’s Chorus artistic director?

I spent 11 years teaching high school choir. I taught high school because I felt like I was really in there making a difference in those kids’ lives. As an openly gay guy with a husband and a kid, teaching in southern Johnson County — I mean, that’s a statement that I felt needed to be made.

As a lifelong Kansas Citian, I was always aware of Heartland Men’s Chorus, and I loved their brand of classics and really great choral singing but also that they could blow your mind with some campy, crazy, really fun songs. But I wasn’t really aware of the community advocacy that happened. Both internally, for the guys — I mean, some of those guys are 50 years old and divorced their wives, and their kids won’t speak to them. The only family they have is Heartland Men’s Chorus. On the other side of the coin is the advocacy the chorus does in the city for LGBT issues, which is huge. That part of the organization I wasn’t aware of before I had the opportunity to guest conduct.

The job posting came up, and I thought, “This is a full-time job? This is cool!” In addition to that, it allows me this free time to be a really great dad, whereas before that, I was spending the entire day and entire night sometimes as a high school choral director for the musical or contest or something like that.

I just say to the guys, “We just fell in love, and I can’t quit you guys. You decided to keep me.” It fell into place, and it feels good. I was putting together the playbill for the show, and I never thought, five years ago, that I would be putting in the credits of something I was doing “Lumbersexual No. 1” and “Lumbersexual No. 2,” but this is what I do now!

Heartland Men’s Chorus Turns 30

Heartland Men’s Chorus (HMC) has announced its upcoming season, the 30th anniversary for Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus.

The season will begin with Kansas City Christmas, December 4-6, 2015. The title of the concert is an intentional holdover from last year’s record-breaking holiday concert.

“Our holiday concert is considered an annual tradition by so many in our audience,” says artistic director Dustin S. Cates. “The music is different every year, but the combination of sacred holiday music and campy comic numbers never changes. We will be keeping the title Kansas City Christmas every year to underscore the concert’s place as a Kansas City tradition.”

Among the more traditional offerings will be four movements from Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols.” Comic highlights include an arrangement of “Text Me Merry Christmas,” a song which became a viral video sensation for Straight No Chaser in 2014. One holdover from last year’s edition will be “Christmas in Kansas City,” which Cates hopes will be an annual fixture.

March 19 and 20, 2016, the group presents Perfect Pitch, a largely a cappella concert featuring intricate arrangements of contemporary popular music. Among the songs included will be “The Good Life” by OneRepublic, “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars, and the Pentatonix arrangement of the Imagine Dragons hit “Radioactive.”

Deke Sharon, producer of “The Sing Off” and arranger/vocal producer for Universal’s Pitch Perfect & Pitch Perfect 2, will help prepare the chorus for the performance, serving as a clinician during the rehearsal process.

Special guests included in the program will be local beatboxer Luke Harbur and KC A Cappella, Kansas City’s high school a cappella ensemble.

The chorus closes the season with I Rise, an inspirational program and celebration of its anniversary season, June 11-12, 2016. The concert will feature guests from HMC’s 30-year history, including chorus alumni and Dr. Joseph Nadeau, the group’s artistic director from 1998-2014.

The program will feature songs long associated with the chorus, such as Fred Small’s “Everything Possible,” as well as new works, including a new commission by Mark Hayes based on the life and work of Maya Angelou.

After the season ends, the chorus will tour an abridged version of I Rise to towns in central and western Kansas, and the GALA Choruses Festival in Denver, Colorado.

The chorus will welcome new members when rehearsals begin on September 8, 2015. Cates expects the group to perform with 120-130 men this season.

All season performances take place at the Folly Theater, 300 West 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Season tickets from $72.00 – $114.00 are available now by phone at (816) 931-3338 and online at https://hmckc.org.

 

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