Rich joined the HMC Board of Directors in July 2020.
HMC has been in my blood since 2003. I joined as a singing member and found the best friends of my life. I was certainly young and had just come out as gay and was certainly in a low place. HMC became my family and I’m so very thankful to be a part of the board and help shape the future of this amazing organization.
What song makes you happy?
All of the songs from naked man or from the charts “Rise Up” by Andra Day
What are you looking forward to the most after the pandemic?
Seeing people I haven’t seen in over a year and TRAVEL!!
Heartland Men’s Chorus end the season with an outstanding show
/in PressSteve Wilson | Examiner.com
The Folly Theater in downtown Kansas City, Mo. came to life Saturday June 8 with the summer concert of the Heartland Men’s Chorus. The program titled Heart and Soul, Music of the 50’s closes out the 2012-2013 season.
This was yet another fantastic performance by the members of the Heartland Men’s Chorus. Many of the songs were uplifting, toe tapping and from the sounds around the lower balcony, being sang by several members of the audience. Audience participation was encouraged especially during the “Mitch Miller Medley.” In the program was a sheet with the music to several numbers including “The Yellow Rose of Texas” and “Shine On, Harvest Moon” among others. Josh Krueger performed a solo during the sing along of “Hot Diggity.”
Each year a chance to be a guest conductor is raffled off to the audience. This year during the sing along the winner conducted the song “Heart Of My Heart.” She was later called on to again appear on stage, not as a conductor, but as Mona Lisa, as the chorus sang the song of the same name.
The first act ended with “Triplets And Timpani Medley,” which included a solo by Jeff Williams, performing “Be My Love.” Several songs were accompanied by both male and female dancers. Though the choreography was appropriate the actual dancing may have been missing a few steps. Even with the minor timing errors they were fun to watch and added to the entertaining chorus.
Inside the chorus is a group of six men known as the Heartaches and includes Todd Kendall Gregory-Downs, Jeff Williams, Brandon Shelton, John Edmonds, Shawn Revelle and Dana Wood. The group sang “Standing on the Corner” and then opened the second act with “Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)” and then performed “Why Do fools Fall In Love.” As fabulous as the entire chorus is, it still is enhanced by the Heartaches. The second act proved to be even more upbeat than the highly enjoyable first act with songs like “Jailhouse Rock,” “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Catch A Falling Star.”
One of the highlights of the show was baritone John Edmonds solo of “I Went To Your Wedding” during the “Wedding Medley.” The hilarity that ensued when Edmonds began to cry an exaggerated sobbing as he sung had the audience laughing and giggling through the entire number. The creativity of the number was remarkable.
Though this production is the jukebox sounds of the fifties the Heartland Men’s Chorus was not to be outdone by the likes of such superstars as Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey. During a dance number a female dancer wearing a poodle skirt was faced with the dreaded wardrobe malfunction. After trying to continue dancing while holding it up she finally had to run off stage clasping onto it tightly. Her dance partner looked like a lost puppy as he started to dance alone and then ran off following her.
The show continued on Sunday. The only regret of the show is that it is the last one until December when the chorus performs “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” to kick-start their 2013-2014 season.
Gay choir’s OU concert could open hearts, minds, dialogue
/in PressJeanny Sharp, editor and publisher | Ottawa Herald
It’s easy to have an opinion when the issue doesn’t require you to be informed or have a personal investment. When it hits closer to home, however, maintaining a staunchly black-and-white opinion gets far more difficult. Republican U.S. Sen. Portman learned that the hard way. The Ohio lawmaker now is doing some back-pedaling on one specific issue — same-sex marriage — two years after his son disclosed he is gay.
For most people, “marriage equality” is a complicated issue that continues to evolve as more and more people they know and respect “come out” as gay. The number of people polled who are in favor of same-sex marriage continues to grow, with a recent ABC News-Washington Post poll saying 58 percent of people support it. The U.S. Supreme Court soon might rule on the legality of the issue, but in the meantime some people still are coming to terms with accepting gays as equals.
For those who want to learn more about gays’ struggles — in a safe and non-judgmental environment — Ottawa University has the perfect opportunity this week. The Heartland Men’s Chorus from Kansas City is expected to present a concert — titled “When I Knew” — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fredrikson Chapel, 1011 S. Cedar St. The concert is free, though a free-will offering will be taken to support the choir’s outreach efforts.
The university took a political risk by playing host to the choir, but it also shows the college’s willingness to embrace diversity, much like Sen. Portman did last month. Here’s an excerpt from a column in the Yale Daily News, written by Portman’s son, Will, a junior at Trumbull College, which is part of Yale University.
“I’m proud of my dad, not necessarily because of where he is now on marriage equality (although I’m pretty psyched about that), but because he’s been thoughtful and open-minded in how he’s approached the issue, and because he’s shown that he’s willing to take a political risk in order to take a principled stand. He was a good man before he changed his position, and he’s a good man now, just as there are good people on either side of this issue today.
“We’re all the products of our backgrounds and environments, and the issue of marriage for same-sex couples is a complicated nexus of love, identity, politics, ideology and religious beliefs. We should think twice before using terms like ‘bigoted’ to describe the position of those opposed to same-sex marriage or ‘immoral’ to describe the position of those in favor, and always strive to cultivate humility in ourselves as we listen to others’ perspectives and share our own.
“I hope that my dad’s announcement and our family’s story will have a positive impact on anyone who is closeted and afraid, and questioning whether there’s something wrong with them. I’ve been there. If you’re there now, please know that things really do get better, and they will for you too.”
Portman is just one of three Republican lawmakers who support gay marriage. Portman’s situation might just be the beginning, as more people come out and their loved ones accept them — regardless of their sexual orientation. The senator’s situation also is emblematic of the need for society to focus on inclusiveness, rather than exclusivity. Only then will things truly get better for everyone concerned.
Note: the editorial above was published the day after the following “Letter to the Editor” was published:
Sodomites Coming to Town
Back in the mid-1960s, I was invited to hear a guest speaker at Ottawa University. Commenting on a statement by a pseudo-theologian, Dr. Nels Ferre, who suggested in his book, “The Sun and the Umbrella,” that Jesus was the bastard son of a German soldier and that Mary was a harlot who hung around a German mercenary camp, the proposed speaker said something to the effect, “And who can say that these words are not true?”
Having no longer Biblical scruples for truth, it is not surprising that Ottawa University would have the Sodomites come to town.
Paul sees the same pattern in Romans 1 where they “changed” the glory of the incorruptible God. Having departed from Biblical Doctrine, they soon became filthily corrupt themselves. (Romans 1:27) “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”
He probably was referring to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as the recompense. (Genesis 19) Philo, who lived around the time of Christ, said the smoke of these cities was still rising in his day. That would be 2,000 years later.
As Bill Grasham once said, “If America gets away with such filth, God will have to apologize to these filthy cities.” Pray for revival!
— Daryl McNabb, pastor, Peniel Bible Church, Waverly
Gay men’s chorus bringing message to OU campus
/in PressBobby Burch | Ottawa Herald
Upcoming choral performance at Ottawa University is expected to help fight bullying and teen suicide.
Sponsored by OU’s Student Welcoming and Affirming Network, the Heartland Men’s Chorus plans to perform its “When I Knew” concert, focusing on members’ personal stories of when they realized they were gay. The free concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at OU’s Fredrikson Chapel, 1011 S. Cedar St.
“The main focus of this particular performance is to help combat bullying in our schools and to help prevent teen suicide,” Dr. Joe Nadeau, a professor of choral studies at OU and 15-year artistic director of Heartland Men’s Chorus, said Friday. “We’re coming to Ottawa to share the message of inclusivity and that no how matter how difficult your life may seem at the moment, it will get better.”
The Wednesday evening program, which Nadeau likened to a musical documentary, features narration, visuals and original arrangements that focus on social issues, as well as accompanying the stories of chorus members. Their accounts, he added, are intended to embrace diversity, promote open-mindedness and reach out to those confused about or ostracized for their sexuality. While the concert is free and open to the public, Nadeau said donations will benefit the OU Student Welcoming and Affirming Network.
The Kansas City-based chorus group, which has been “singing out” for 27 years, regularly performs with more than 150 singers, its website reads. Initially founded with 30 singers as a haven for those suffering from the AIDS virus, the nonprofit group has continued to grow and now travels across the globe. The chorus performs a variety of music, including jazz, Broadway, popular and classical works, its website said.
The “When I Knew” performance, in part, was inspired by the work of the It Gets Better project, Nadeau said. That project, he added, is geared toward young gay people who are struggling with their identities and might have contemplated suicide as a result of bullying, he said. Through thousands of personal stories, the It Gets Better project aims to communicate to gay and transgender youth that their lives will get better, in addition to creating the changes to make a more inclusive world, its website reads. The website features videos from people around the world, including President Obama.
Nadeau said he already has encountered an enthusiastic response about the Wednesday concert from OU faculty members and the community.
“The faculty sounds excited about the program,” Nadeau said. “It’s important to promote open-mindedness and important to promote diversity.”