Heartland Men’s Chorus enlightens, inspires, heals and empowers

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

“One of the cool things is our concerts offer a safe space for audience members, free of derision, and we offer a very entertaining show in the process. People can come as they are, and revel in our music,” says Cliff Schiappa, Development Director of Kansas City’s Heartland Men’s Chorus.

Schiappa says Heartland Men’s Chorus plays a big role in the community, “and not just the LGBT community.” He regards that impact as the most important thing, saying, “Our vision statement is wonderfully short. ‘Our voices enlighten, inspire, heal and empower.’ I would say we do that every time we show up on stage or perform.”

The Chorus in early July traveled to the quadrennial GALA Festival in Denver, where 150 choruses from around the world performed. Along the way, the Heartland Chorus gave brief concerts at Topeka, across from the virulently anti-LGBT Westboro Baptist Church’s compound; at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene; and at the Deines Cultural Center in Russell.

Then it was on to Denver. “It was incredible,” says Schiappa. “The GALA Festival is always a life changing experience. We did a 26-minute concert where we performed a total of five songs. The final song we did was 11 minutes long, a new commission we just created this year, I Rise, based on the poetry of the late US Poet Laureate Maya Angelou.”

Heartland often commissions new choral works. One that stands out for Schiappa is I Sing Out, written by composer Mark Hayes about six years ago. “The song is based on our vision statement,” he says. In Denver, the song was performed by the HIV Positive Chorus, which is assembled from many chorus members from around the world who are living with HIV.

Being in the chorus is a lot of hard work, according to Schiappa. For the GALA Festival, “We had 12 weeks of rehearsals, each three or four hours [a week]. “We memorize our music, and sing the concert without printed music. There are also sectional rehearsals, and one all day rehearsal on a Saturday, and then the week of the concert we do a tech concert.”

Schiappa says the annual budget is $670,000, of which about 35 percent is raised by ticket sales. As Development Director, Schiappa is tasked with raising the rest. He had to raise $400,000 last year from contributions, foundation and government grants and two fundraising events.

He looks to a bright future for the Heartland Men’s Chorus. “Here we are in our 31st season, and we are still as relevant today as when we started. Despite the progress that has happened in the LGBT community, there is still work to be done, when you consider the political situation that we are in, and that only half of the people in the United States are accepting of and supporting of the LGBT community. We can change people’s beliefs about LGBT rights one person at a time. It’s not just LGBT rights, it’s civil rights and social justice as well.”

The 125-member chorus performs three concerts each year, each with multiple performances. In addition, they perform concerts in surrounding Missouri and Kansas communities. They just started their 31st season, and are offering Kansas City Christmas - Classy, Brassy, Sassy December 3 and 4 at KCMO’s Folly Theater, and December 10 at Yardley Hall on the UMKC campus. The December show has become a tradition for thousands of Kansas Citians.

Season Renewals are now underway for existing subscribers by calling (816) 931-3338. Season Tickets are available for online purchase.

The Gayly – August 28, 2016 @ 7:40 a.m.