Heartland Men's Chorus Kansas City presents Our Favorite Things December 5-7, 2025 | The Folly Theater
Shawn Cullen | Artistic Director & Conductor
HEARTLAND MEN'S CHORUS SEASON 40 SPONSORS
Thank you to our season sponsors, whose support makes our concerts possible. Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City applauds the organizations and businesses whose logos appear below for their generous support of our mission and legacy. We are also grateful to these foundations and government agencies that invest in making Kansas City a great place to live and explore the arts:
Missouri Arts Council
Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund
ARTS KC
E. Kemper Carter and Anna Curry Carter Community Memorial Trust, UMB Bank, n.a. Trustee
Francis Family Foundation
Henderson Engineer Foundation
Louis and Frances Swinken Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Miller-Mellor Association
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation
Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts - Commerce Bank, Trustee
heartland men’s
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
our mission
Through our collective voice we build community, celebrate pride, and empower authenticity.
board chair
Eric Aufdengarten
treasurer
vice-chair
Chris Madden
Ben Walker secretary
Danny Shervington-Bair
president of the chorus
Jason Castaneda
board of directors
Lolly Cerda | Rhonda Dolan | Jenny Harris-Patterson Joe Piatczyc | Michael Seely | Christal Williams
HMCKC COMMITTEE CHAIRS
executive committee
Eric Aufdengarten
human resources
Michael Seely
finance
Ben Walker
board development
Chris Madden development
Danny Shervington-Bair
membership services
Jason Castaneda
Many HMCKC committees welcome participants from outside the Chorus membership to assist with our work. If you have expertise or interest in a certain area and would like to become involved, please contact Dudley Hogue at dudley@hmckc.org.
DUDLEY HOGUE
We are so glad you’re here as we officially open our concert season celebrating 40 years of singing out in Kansas City!
Forty years ago, a few men sat on the front porch of a Hyde Park home. One of them had just returned from the GALA Choruses Festival in Minneapolis and said, “We should have a gay men’s chorus in Kansas City.” And from that simple idea, the journey began.
Four decades later — after countless singers, hundreds of board members, five Artistic Directors, two Executive Directors, so many concerts, and literally thousands of volunteers — the Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City stands as one of the largest and most successful GALA choruses in the country and the world.
Tonight, we honor every person who has had a hand in creating, sustaining, and strengthening what we now proudly call HMCKC. Without you, we would not have the privilege of standing on this stage, singing to inspire a world of love and acceptance.
This is a special year. It is also a challenging one. We are fighting for rights, fighting for visibility, and fighting for authenticity. And yet—here we stand. Our mission guides all we do at HMCKC. We work to build community wherever we go. We celebrate who we are and who we are becoming. And we affirm the right of every person to live their life fully and authentically. And we celebrate YOU.
We have an extraordinary season planned, and we need your partnership to keep this work moving forward. Please consider supporting us — through donations, concert tickets, fundraising events, or by joining one of our birthday celebrations throughout the year. You can find everything you need at hmckc.org (and keep an eye out for our new website coming soon!).
Thank you for everything over the last forty years, and thank you for standing with us for the next forty. You truly are some of our favorite things.
CULLEN
Welcome to the opening of Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City’s 40th season!
Forty seasons is more than a number. It’s thousands of rehearsals, countless stories, and generations of brave souls who chose to sing anyway. When this chorus began in 1986, being part of a “gay men’s chorus” was not something you casually posted about. In our first decade, many singers feared bigotry, discrimination, and retaliation from friends, family, churches, and workplaces. Some refused to have their names printed in the program—because visibility could cost them a job, a relationship, even their sense of safety. Still, they walked through the door. Still, they stood onstage. Still, they sang.
Tonight’s holiday production, Our Favorite Things, is a thank-you note to that courage and to everyone who has carried this chorus to now. In Act I, The Sound That Built Us, we lean into the rich choral sound that defined our early years, revisiting music from our 1st, 5th, 10th, 20th milestone seasons. From there, we turn up the nostalgia and sparkle, the camp and tenderness, the laughter and stillness — dialing into the fun-loving theatricality our audiences have grown to love. That mix is who we are: part theater, part sanctuary, part joyful noise. And through it all, our mission remains the same: to build community, celebrate pride, and empower authenticity through music that matters. Joy that is loud. Joy that is queer. Joy that does not apologize for existing. The act of gathering here — of filling this hall with sound and color and community — is its own kind of defiance, and its own kind of hope.
As we launch this 40th season, we hope you’ll stay with us for the journey — from heading Back to the 80’s in March, to looking boldly ahead in June with Anthems of Pride, featuring guest artist Cheyenne Jackson, as we turn our focus to the future of this movement and the music that carries it.
Thank you for being here — whether you’ve been with us since those early, unprinted programs or this is your very first concert. When you show up, when you listen, when you celebrate with us, you become part of this legacy.
From all of us onstage and behind the scenes: thank you for being one of our favorite things.
CULLEN
Shawn Cullen is a conductor, educator, and creative producer whose work lives at the intersection of musical excellence and mission-driven performance. Known nationally for his innovative programming and collaborative leadership, Cullen has shaped over 50 concert and theatrical productions that blend artistry with advocacy — cementing his role as a dynamic force in the evolving LGBTQIA+ performing arts landscape. Past creative leadership includes eight years as Artistic Director/Conductor for the Reveille Men’s Chorus, Desert Voices Mixed Chorus (Tucson, AZ) and since 2019, Cullen has served as Artistic Director and Conductor of Heartland Men’s Chorus. Under his leadership, the Chorus has entered a bold period of artistic renewal and regional expansion including reimagined mainstage programming, launched a multi-state touring initiative, and has brought nationally recognized works to Kansas City audiences.
Recognized as an award-winning music educator, Mr. Cullen has held positions in K-12 instrumental/vocal music, adjunct faculty at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music and most recently as Graduate Teaching Fellow at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. Cullen’s dynamic skill-set has led to a multifaceted career in choral music, instrumental music, and regional musical theater serving as principal conductor for the Arizona Repertory Theater from 2011-2017. Favorite credits include Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Oklahoma!, EVITA, Avenue Q, and The Full Monty. Mr. Cullen has worked in collaboration with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra as vocal director for Broadway Rocks & Broadway Rocks II, and most recently Broadway’s Leading Men with the Kansas City Symphony.
Cullen served six years on the national Board of Directors for GALA Choruses (2017-2023), helping to shape educational and equity-focused initiatives for LGBTQ+ choruses across North America. He holds undergraduate and masters degrees in Music Education and Conducting from the University of Arizona and completed advanced doctoral studies at UMKC. Cullen’s work reflects a commitment to inclusive education, mental health advocacy, and community engagement through music that affirms and empowers. www.shawncullen.com
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ROBERT LAMAR SIMS
Born in Louisville, Kentucky and raised in Selma, Alabama, Robert Lamar Sims holds B.M. and M.M. degrees in piano performance with an emphasis in vocal accompanying and chamber music from University of Maryland College Park. He has extensive and varied experience as a performer, teacher, coach, and director in church, academic, concert, and theatrical settings. His teachers and coaches include Claudia Faulk, Roy McAllister, Santiago Rodriguez, Bela Nagy, Jorg Demus, Robert McCoy, members of the Guarneri String Quartet, Leon Major, Alcine Wiltz, Richard Crittenden, Timothy Seelig, and Thilde Beuing. Organizations with which he has worked include Friday Morning Music Club, Paul Hill Chorale, Cathedral Choral Society, Washington Opera, National Symphony Youth Fellowship Program, Master Chorale Chamber Singers, and Washington Bach Consort (in the Washington, D.C. area), and Turtle Creek Chorale and the Women’s Chorus of Dallas (in Dallas, Texas). Currently living in Kansas City, Missouri, Lamar continues to be active as a teacher and coach of voice and piano, principal accompanist for Heartland Men’s Chorus, and a soloist and collaborative artist with a variety of performers and organizations throughout the area, including Northland Community Choir, Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City, International School of Music at Park University, Kansas City Repertory Theater, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, City in Motion Dance Theater, Byrd Productions, Black Repertory Theater, Kansas City Women’s Chorus. He also works with members of Kansas City Chorale, Kansas City Symphony and Symphony Chorus.
Men’s Chorus.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Daisy Buckët (Spencer Brown) is one of Kansas City’s most beloved drag artists, known for razor-sharp vocals, fearless comedy, and heartforward storytelling. A multiple-time winner of The Pitch’s “Best Drag Artist in Kansas City,” she has toured internationally, both as a solo artist and as Trampolina in the acclaimed dragapella quartet The Kinsey Sicks. Daisy’s albums Pansy and Welcome to Springfield each earned “Best Local Album” honors, showcasing her blend of camp, pathos, and powerhouse singing. She has appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the Season 8 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and in features from Forbes, The New Yorker, and CNN. A passionate fundraiser and advocate, Daisy has helped raise over $100,000 for HIV/AIDS organizations and was honored by Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City as a Hero of Note for her transformative impact on the community.
Tajma Stetson (Michael Tolbert) is a Kansas City drag artist and classically trained clarinetist who moves effortlessly between concert halls and late-night cabaret stages. Known as Kansas City’s only supermodel, Tajma has spent more than seventeen years dazzling audiences with glamorous looks, sharp wit, and powerhouse performances. She holds multiple national and regional titles, including Miss Gay United States 2019 and Miss Gay Missouri America 2022, along with numerous crowns across the prestigious Miss Gay America system. Offstage, Michael is principal clarinet of Kinnor Philharmonic and performs with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra and Midwest Chamber Ensemble, bringing the same musicality and presence to the orchestral world that Tajma brings to the runway. A passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and LGBTQ+ equity, Tajma uses her platform to champion visibility, build creative community, and spark bold, unfiltered, unapologetic joy—onstage and off.
ACT 1: The Sound That Built Us
A journey through tradition, excellence, and 40 years of harmony.
Christmas Comes Anew (Season 10)
Traditional | Arr. Mark Reise
Anything You Can Do (Holiday Version)
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Arr. David Maddux & Shawn Cullen
For the Beauty of the Earth (Season 1)
Traditional | Music by John Rutter
Randall Wrisinger – HMCKC Assistant Conductor
Ave Maria (Season 5)
Traditional | Music by Franz Beibl Arr. David Maddux
trio: Jonathan Bokay, Grant Mayfield, Ricky Wilson
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Season 15)
Traditional | Arr. Mark Reise
Santa Won’t You Please Come Back
Music by Neal Richardson, Lyrics by John Pingree featuring: Daisy Buckët A-Wassailing!
Traditional | Arr. Chad Weirick
featuring: The HeartAches – HMCKC’s Community Engagement Ensemble
Variations on Jingle Bells (Season 20)
Music and Lyrics by John Pierpont Arr. Mark Hayes
solo: Wilson L. Welch
A P.C. Christmas
Music and Lyrics by Eric Lane Barnes
featuring: Tajma Stetson
Carol of the Bells
Traditional | Arr. Ted Arthur
ACT 2: The Spark That Makes Us Shine
A celebration of queer joy, chosen family, and holiday magic — our way.
Our Favorite Things
Music and Lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Additional Lyrics by David Maddux & Shawn Cullen Arr. David Maddux
Mele Kalikimaka / La Isla Bonita
Music and Lyrics by R. Alex Anderson, Pat Lenoard, and Madonna Ciccone Arr. David Maddux
Chanukah in Santa Monica
Music and Lyrics by Tom Lehrer Arr. Bill Bowersock
Thankful
Music and Lyrics by Rune Westberg and Beth Hart Arr. Tim Sarsany
solo: Alex Brewer (Fri), Parker Crist (Sat), Justin Abramovitz (Sun)
Audience Holiday Sing-A-Long
The Elves’ Broadway Christmas
Music and Lyrics by Kevin Robison
featuring: The HeartAches – HMCKC’s Community Engagement Ensemble
Sisters (from White Christmas)
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
featuring: Daisy Buckët & Tajma Stetson
12 Days of Christmas (as performed by “Relient K”)
Traditional | Arr. Steve Milloy
Super Gay Christmas
Music and Lyrics by Kevin Yee Arr. Sean Ivory
There will be one 15-minute intermission at the conclusion of Act 1.
dancers: Matthew Allen | Ezra Combs | Russ Czeschin | John Edmonds | Scott Ferrell-Garcia
Charles Gilmore | Brett Helling | Liv Jackson | Eryk Larabee | Byron Le Grand | David Loethen | Ryan Neeland | Christopher T. Roberts | Anthony Robinson | Danny Shervington-Bair | Marcus Simmons | Cedar Valdez | Terraye Watson
the voices of HEARTLAND MEN′S CHORUS KANSAS CITY
✚ Section Leaders New HMCKC Member ♥ Member of The HeartAches
The year listed indicates the first year that the member participated in the Chorus.
TENOR 1
Justin Abramovitz ( 2025 )
Kelly Adrian ( 2025 )
Matthew Allen ( 2024 )
Zack Baker ( 2025 )
Alex Bohlander ( 2025 )
Alex Brewer ( 2022 )
♥Sean Carder ( 2018 )
Martin Blake Cram ( 2025 )
Brayden Dannecker ( 2025 )
♥Benjamin L. DuBois (2008)
Luke Englert ( 2024 )
Charles Gilmore ( 2023 )
Shawn Helmstadter Jr ( 2025 )
Daniel Hilliard (2020)
✚ Randall Humbird ( 2004 )
John Jeppson ( 2023 )
Powell Minnis ( 2004 )
Darrell Naeger (2002)
Justin Perryman ( 2022 )
Matthew Reeves ( 2025 )
David Rodriguez ( 2025 )
Adam Russell ( 2021 )
Timothy M. Ryan ( 2016 )
Mike Sigler ( 1992 )
Michael Smith-Harris ( 2023 )
Benjamin Tuimauga ( 2025 )
Wilson L. Welch ( 2011 )
✚ Ricky Wilson ( 2017 )
TENOR 2
Paul W. Backer ( 1991 )
Domenick Bisacca ( 2025 )
Robert Bradbury ( 2013 )
John Caldwell ( 2025 )
✚ Evan Childress ( 2022 )
Mike Cox (2020)
Parker Crist ( 2023 )
Russ Czeschin ( 2023 )
♥
✚ Storm Davis ( 2023 )
Jordan Eleison ( 2025 )
Keith Grahl ( 1986 )
♥
✚ Dustin Griffin ( 2018 )
Zachary Hampton ( 2025 )
♥ Brett Helling ( 2025 )
Jacob Horton ( 2019 )
James Jennings ( 2025 )
Jerryn Johnston ( 2022 )
✚ Holden Kraus ( 2014 )
Eryk Larabee ( 2010 )
Byron Le Grand ( 2025 )
David Loethen ( 2018 )
Grant Mayfield ( 2022 )
Brad Norris (2020)
John Padget ( 2025 )
Jeffrey Porter ( 2022 )
Mark Pridmore ( 2010 )
Barry Regenold ( 2001 )
♥
✚ Christopher T. Roberts ( 2023 )
Rick Sams ( 2024 )
♥
Brandon Shelton ( 2004 )
Danny Shervington-Bair ( 2022 )
Patrick Shoup ( 2025 )
Ron Simmons (2005)
Eli Smith ( 2025 )
Ken Stewart ( 2019 )
Jon Tyree (2020)
Cedar Valdez ( 2025 )
BARITONE
Mike Anderson ( 2017 )
Paul Budd (2000)
Jody Cates-Collins ( 2024 )
Billy Clark ( 2025 )
Ezra Combs ( 2022 )
Michael L. De Voe Sr. ( 2014 )
♥
John Edmonds ( 1995 )
Scott Feaster ( 2013 )
David Grantham ( 2022 )
Justin Grawe ( 2025 )
Lou Harris ( 1995 )
Tyler Harvey ( 2014 )
Jordan Hatley ( 2019 )
Chuck Henderson ( 2007 )
Randy Hite ( 1986 )
Liv Jackson ( 2025 )
Bob Johnson ( 2025 )
♥
Joseph Marrocco ( 2024 )
Greg Maupins ( 1998 )
Shawn McCartee ( 2025 )
Ryan Neeland ( 2012 )
David Pasley (2006)
Mark Patterson ( 2017 )
Kyle Phillips (2006)
Ethan Ritschel ( 2023 )
♥
✚
Tim Rowland ( 2023 )
Michael Seely ( 2015 )
♥ ✚
Marcus Simmons ( 2023 )
Zach Stroth ( 2024 )
K. Beacher Uptegrove ( 2007 )
Brian Walters ( 2022 )
Terraye Watson ( 2024 )
Trey Witt ( 2016 )
Garrett Woods ( 2021 )
Edward Wunderlich ( 2017 )
BASS
River G. P. Akela ( 2025 )
Jason Blaisdell ( 2007 )
Jonathan Bokay (2020)
Andy Bolton ( 2024 )
Adam Brown ( 2014 )
Nathan Carvitto ( 2025 )
Jason Castaneda ( 2013 )
Lee Conner ( 2023 )
Nick Coyan ( 2023 )
Steve Dodge ( 1995 )
Logan Edwards ( 2021 )
Paul Elo (2000)
Joshua Farrell (2002)
♥
Scott Ferrell-Garcia ( 2022 )
Eric Forseth ( 2024 )
Andy Gosling ( 2024 )
✚
Dustin Greer ( 2019 )
Ron Hobert ( 2023 )
Jeremy Ingram ( 2023 )
Jason Landrum (2020)
Joseph Lenz ( 2025 )
Robbie McGowan ( 2024 )
Michael Reyes ( 2024 )
Zachary “Z” Riker ( 2025 )
Anthony Robinson ( 2022 )
Reid Samuel ( 2025 )
Diego Schutt ( 2025 )
John J. Sims ( 1997 )
Nathan Smith-Harris ( 2025 )
Neil Solomon ( 1986 )
Ben Southard ( 2025 )
♥ Woaden Tayler ( 2024 )
Brian Wadley ( 2025 )
Dana Wood (2009)
✚
Randall Wrisinger ( 2004 )
Travis Allen Zirkle ( 2015 )
♥ Samuel Zorn (2009)
HEARTLIGHT
Dan Brown ( 2015 )
Larry Burroughs ( 2025 )
Larry Chester ( 2010 )
Tim Collins ( 2024 )
Troy Johnson ( 2014 )
Dennis Maddux-Phillips ( 2024 )
Kenneth Stewart ( 2019 )
✚
Drew Tayler ( 2024 )
Donny Zirkle ( 2024 )
Drew Tayler ( 2024 )
Donny Zirkle ( 2024 )
THE CREDITS
hmckc
staff
Shawn Cullen | Artistic Director & Conductor
Dudley Hogue | Executive Director
Tom Dillon | Operations Manager
Robert Lamar Sims | Principal Accompanist
Brandon Shelton | Brand Manager & Designer
Mitch Weber | Communications Manager
artistic team
Kelly Michale | Resident Stage & Production Manager
Alex Perry | Lighting Designer
Sally Farrand | Lighting Designer
Nic Aldrich | Resident Audio Engineer
Valerie Martin | Resident Choreographer
Randall Wrisinger | Assistant Conductor
Tyler Harvey | Assistant Accompanist
Robin Olson | ASL Interpreter
Becca Barnes | ASL Interpreter
John Edmonds | Rehearsal Resource Coordinator (Video)
hmckc would like to extend a very special thank you to the entire staff and crew of the folly theater.
OUR FRIENDS
we can’t sing without your support
Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City is the largest LGBTQIA+ cultural organization in the Great Plains. We’ve witnessed so many wonderful changes over our 38 years of singing, yet many challenges still exist, especially in Kansas and Missouri. Only with your support can we continue to make a difference!
ON THE BOOKS OR IN YOUR HEART
Despite the progress and setbacks in the Supreme Court or in the voting booth, people make decisions based upon what is in their hearts and minds. That’s why HMCKC creates programming that is musically excellent and socially relevant at a time when people are seeking clarity and understanding of neighbors, friends, family members and themselves.
HMCKC SERVES THE COMMUNITY
When Heartland Men’s Chorus sings, the entire community benefits. We have also sung at hundreds of events in support of area non-profit organizations including the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, Literacy Kansas City, UMKC Pride Breakfast and so many more. It’s not fake news when The Kansas City Star writes: “Heartland Men’s Chorus is one of the most beloved artistic institutions in Kansas City.”
A NATIONAL REPUTATION
HMCKC is recognized as one of the premier LGBTQIA+ choruses in the nation from an artistic and administrative perspective. HMCKC is widely respected for its performances at national GALA Choruses Festivals, statewide conferences and performances throughout the region. Being a leading arts organization is only possible with strong commitment from our members, staff and patrons. Thank you for your support of our voices and our mission.
YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL
Your tax-deductible contribution can be mailed to: Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City, PO Box 32374, Kansas City, MO 64171-5374. You can also contact us by phone at (816) 931-3338 or by e-mail at hmc@hmckc.org. Even faster and easier is the option to make a secure contribution online at hmckc.org – just click the “Donate” button on the Support page. All donors to the Annual Fund are acknowledged in our programs for a period of 12 months from the date of donation. We strive to keep this list as accurate as possible. If you find a discrepancy, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
JOIN A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE
Conductor's Circle
Circle
$15,000+
Friend $40-$399
FRIENDS of the CHORUS SEASON
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE ($15,000+) ................................................................................................................
E. Kemper Carter and Anna Curry
Carter Community Memorial Trust, UMB Bank, n.a. Trustee
Francis Family Foundation
Missouri Arts Council
Muriel McBrien Kauffman
Family Foundation
Mike Sigler
Richard J. Stern Foundation
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ($5,000-$14,999) .........................................................................................................
Risk Strategies, a top national specialty insurance broker, is a proud sponsor of the Heartland Men's Chorus.
We salute their mission to build community, celebrate Pride, and empower authenticity.
– Garrett P., Senior Talent Development Program Manager
ENDOWMENT FUND
The Heartland Men’s Chorus Endowment Fund has received tax-deductible contributions of more than $500,000. Administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the Endowment Fund is a resource that ensures the long-term financial health of the Chorus. The fund was created in 1998 to honor Bill Casey and Reuben Reynolds for their years of service to the Chorus. Additional fundraising efforts have been made in honor of former Artistic Director, Dr. Joe Nadeau (2013), and former Executive Director, Mr. Rick Fisher (2022). Join this special list of donors by contacting the chorus office at hmc@hmckc.org or 816-931-3338..
Charles E. Burch, Jr. in memory of Raymond E. Boring, DC
Scott Francis
Mary Kay McPhee & William Pfeiffer, Sr.
William E. Pfeiffer, Jr.
Reuben M. Reynolds III & Bill Casey
Mike Sigler
MAJOR BENEFACTOR .........................................................................................................................................
Joyce C. Palmer in honor of Thomas H. Sullivan, J.D.
Matthew Powell & Daniel Allen
Mark Raduziner & Mike Slater
Clay H. Rawhouser
Emilee Rose & Tim McMulin
Matthew E. Rowland
Steve & Vicki Scanlon
Shalon Fund
Diane & Wilson Stafford
Marian Thomas
Belinda Rea Manos
Dennis Mosby
Emaline Newton
Kip Niven
Becky & Rob Parrott
Peg Prendergast & Shannon Hennessy
Dana Russell
Gary & Michelle Salzman
Gifts in memory of John R. Sigler
Jeff Spangler & Ceton Van Meter
Don & Nancy Thomas
heartland
LEGACY SOCIETY
Through a bequest to Heartland Men’s Chorus, you can show your continued support for our work. Heartland Men’s Chorus Legacy Society is a group of donors who have remembered the Chorus in their estate planning. A list of Legacy Society members will be included in each program. For more information on contribution plans or for any questions you might have about HMCKC's Legacy Society, please contact:
Dudley Hogue, HMCKC Executive Director
Heartland Men’s Chorus PO Box 32374 Kansas City, MO 64171-5374. (816) 931-3338. hmc@hmckc.org
Tax ID: 43-1490366.
LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS
Mark A. Besinger
Robert J. Cody
Russell Derringer
Steve Dodge
Benjamin DuBois
Paul Elo
Scott England
Rick Fisher
Mark Giersch
Randy Hite
Patrick Kelley
John Mark Lambertson
Powell Minnis
Darrell Naeger
Mark E. Patterson
Michael Phelps
Dr. Jesse Roberts
Steven Sanders
Cliff Schiappa
J. Michael Sigler
David S. Vaughn
Todd Wegener
Heartland Men's Chorus is a proud partner of the KANSAS CITY PRIDE PERFORMING ARTS COALITION
Please support these and all your local LGBTQIA+ organizations.
BECOME PART OF THE MUSIC
our vision
Singing to inspire a world of love and acceptance.
Build community, celebrate pride, and empower authenticity with your talent! HMCKC is always looking for talented TTBB singers & passionate non-singing volunteers to continue our Kansas City legacy of musical excellence! We are a choral ensemble beginning our 40th season specializing in “choral theater” productions attached to our vision. There is room for everyone over the age of 18 in HMCKC: men, women, trans, non-binary, gay or straight!
INTERESTED IN SINGING WITH HEARTLAND MEN’S CHORUS?
Auditions for new singers take place at the beginning of each concert cycle, in August/September, December/January and March/April. We’ll be conducting auditions for our March show, Back To The 80s, on Tuesday, December 16 and Sunday, January 4. Sign ups for January 4 will open after December 16 auditions are complete.
If you can’t make an audition time you can still come check us out! You’ll have a chance to get to know us by coming to the first Tuesday night rehearsal of each concert cycle from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Founders’ Hall at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown Kansas City, MO. Our first Spring rehearsal is Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Contact the Chorus office (hmc@hmckc.org) so we’re ready to welcome you! After that, you’ll schedule a short vocal audition with our Artistic Director.
INTERESTED IN NON-SINGING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CHORUS?
Those who don’t sing or can’t make the weekly rehearsal commitment are invited to join our nonsinging fifth section, HeartLight. This group gives an opportunity for interested people to be members of the Chorus and provide a wide range of essential support functions. HeartLight members are incorporated into Chorus events as their personal schedules permit. If you would like to know more about HeartLight, or you would like to volunteer specific skills to the Chorus, please contact the Chorus office at (816) 931-3338 or hmc@hmckc.org.
Friday, Dec. 12th, 7:30pm
Saturday, Dec. 13th, 7:30pm
Sunday, Dec. 14th, 3:00pm
Holmeswood Church
9700 Holmes Rd. KCMO 64132
www.choralspectrumkc.org/ticketing
This holiday season, we are collecting toiletry items for those in need. Bring your unused, travel-size or standard-size toiletries to the holiday concert and receive free raffle tickets for our holiday prize drawing.
Kick off your holiday season with, Brass & Class, a festive collection of joyful big-band energy and bold classical brilliance. It’s fun, it’s sparkling, and it’s absolutely going to rock your stockings off!
With our new tiered pricing, there’s a ticket option for everyone! Explore seating choices and grab your tickets now, at: www.choralspectrumkc.org/ticketing.
Want to sing with us?
Auditions for our Spring season will take place on Thursday, January 7th, 4pm-7pm. Learn more and book your audition now, at: www.choralspectrumkc.org/audition-info
FRIDAY-SUNDAY | MARCH 20-22, 2026 THE FOLLY THEATER TICKETS ONLY AT HMCKC.ORG
