all is bright – Heartland Men's Chorus

Dudley’s Dish – Today, we need you more than ever

Our voices sing for progress, your support makes us stronger. Welcome to season 39 and the wonderful legacy that is the Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City!

We remain hopeful and steadfast in our vision of singing to inspire a world of love and acceptance. And while that seems daunting at the present time, we must sing on. We are so excited about the season that we have planned for you! The chorus sounds incredible in their preparation for the holiday concert, and I personally can’t wait for Y’all Means All in March. But now, more than ever, we look forward to our DO IT WITH HEART TOUR early this summer, bringing music that matters to communities of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where LGBTQ+ voices fight to be heard. But wait – there’s more! Ignite the Night – Evening of Note 2025 is coming on Saturday, January 11 at the historic Midland Theatre! And we are so excited to announce our special guest and entertainer, Nina West! It’s going to be a fabulous time, and we’re excited for you to experience it.

In order to make all of this happen (especially the tour) I hope that you will support HMCKC in any way that you can. Ticket sales only provide 33% of our revenue, meaning every contribution – no matter the size – makes a significant impact.

Please consider making a donation today by visiting hmckc.org and clicking the donate button. Please consider making your gift a recurring one, but whatever you can give, I thank you for making a difference!

Audrey Lorde once said “Only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth. And that is not speaking.” We must sing on – but today, we need you more than ever.

Dudley Hogue

Executive Director, Heartland Men’s Chorus

Cullen’s Corner – Thank you for standing with us

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As we prepare to open our season with All is Bright, I want to share just how important this performance has become, “from the podium”. This season was planned through a hopeful lens of winning the battle against an ideology of greed, hate, ignorance, and intolerance with this year’s recent election. Suddenly things have changed. While it has always been a mission to share messages of love, acceptance, and unity, this season brings an even deeper significance. We’re stepping onto the stage with a renewed sense of purpose in a time when our voices are needed more than ever.

The reality we face today is challenging. Many of our trans members — and the trans children of our community — are under attack. The rights of women who support our chorus and our sibling choruses are being questioned and restricted. And with initiatives like Project 2025 promising to roll back protections and even marriage rights for LGBTQ individuals, we’re faced with an uphill road ahead. But our commitment to sharing messages of love and acceptance will not waver. Instead, it grows stronger.

All is Bright is our chance to bring people together in the face of this division. For everyone who has ever felt unseen, we are here to say, “You are valued, you are loved, and you are not alone.” We believe in a Kansas City — and a world — where everyone deserves to live authentically, to feel safe, and to be celebrated. Each note, each lyric, and each performance is a way for us to shine that light of hope, resilience, and courage.

Our season is no longer just about the music; it’s about rallying as a community and showing that we will not be silenced or discouraged. To our loyal season ticket holders, new audience members, corporate sponsors, and cherished community partners: thank you for standing with us. You make it possible for us to keep singing and advocating, to keep providing a safe space for those who need it, and to keep inspiring hope in a divided world.

We are proud to be a part of this community, and we invite each of you to join us as we share All is Bright — a beacon of resilience, unity, and love. Together, let’s bring light to a world that needs it now more than ever.

With unwavering hope and gratitude,
Shawn Cullen

Meet New HMCKC Member – Michael Reyes

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How did I find HMCKC?

My husband, Les, and I had the pleasure of seeing a couple of shows by HMCKC in the past—Princes of Pop and the Tribute to Whitney Houston. The tickets were actually gifts from Les’s family, who knew that we had enjoyed seeing concerts by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington when we lived there. They also knew about my background in singing, so every time we mentioned these shows, the response was , “You need to audition for the chorus (HMCKC).” This past summer, the chorus had a booth at the Pride Festival, and that’s when I finally decided to take the leap and put my name in that I wanted to audition.

What’s it been like so far?

Having seen the chorus perform before, I knew there had be a lot of rehearsals. When I saw the agenda for our first rehearsal, I thought – WOW that is a lot to cover! I realized I couldn’t just show up without practicing the songs at home, so I made sure to work through the materials provided. From the very beginning, everyone was so welcoming, and I had a great time at the first practice. As I learned the songs better and got to know some folks in the group, each rehearsal became even more enjoyable!

What Am I looking forward to the most for All is Bright

I’m really excited to perform amazing music alongside my new chorus family and share our joy with the community!

What should audiences expect from the concert?

For some people, the holiday season is like the perfect ending to a Hallmark Christmas movie—full of warmth, love, and happiness. For others, there can be various levels of angst:, whether it’s the stress of gift-giving, strained family relationships, or missing loved ones who are no longer with us. No matter what Christmas means to you, we want to create a space for pure JOY! Our concert will have something for everyone. We want to entertain you with traditional religious carols, festive secular songs with a dash of glitz, glam, and sparkle, a bit of dancing, and more!

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