Heartland Men’s Chorus celebrates 30 years of love and acceptance

Voices raised together create community. Voices raised in song create hope.

The members of the Heartland Men’s Chorus love to sing, and they sang with love Sunday afternoon at the Folly Theater, celebrating the ensemble’s 30th anniversary in a spectacular concert conducted by artistic director Dustin Cates.

A moment of silence was held at the beginning of the performance to honor the victims of that morning’s mass shooting in Orlando, Fla. They then proceeded with the program, their signature mix of poignant, earnest singing, effective video projections and gleeful camp, efficiently choreographed and endlessly entertaining.

The extended first portion was a retrospective outlining the chorus’ history, recognizing the four still-active founding members as well as past artistic directors.

They laced the show with irreverent shenanigans, from a drag queen pulling a pride flag from the décolletage of her oversized evening gown to tap-dancing cavemen to choristers draped with rainbow-colored feather boas kick-lining under a glittery sign demanding “Make America Gay Again” in an uproarious number.

But their dedication to social justice is their most valuable message, one of empowerment and peace, including “Tired of the Silence,” “A Thousand Beautiful Things” and “We’re Not Lost, We’re Here.” Former artistic director Joseph Nadeau returned to lead “I Sing Out,” by Mark Hayes.

The second portion looked to the present and future of the ensemble, featuring the world premiere of Hayes’ “I Rise,” based on selections of poetry by Maya Angelou. Beginning with a recording of Angelou reciting “Still I Rise,” they brought out speakers to again declare each verse between songs.

The piece, written for chorus and chamber orchestra, mixed styles for a joyous Americana setting of the defiant lyrics commending equality, freedom and perseverance. The performance included three dancers from the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey.

The second half also included the chorus’ Ad Astra tribute to deceased members with a tender version of “See You Again.”

After the ovation, they exited the stage while singing Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind,” leaving only the lights for the lives remembered.

The members of the chorus lined the sidewalk outside the theater to greet the audience, cheerful and uplifted by the performance. Across the street at Barney Allis Plaza, law enforcement and news crews were gathering in anticipation of the evening’s vigil to honor the victims of the early morning shootings.

During the concert, Heartland Men’s Chorus performed Holly Near’s “Singing for Our Lives,” written for the 1978 vigil after the assassination of Harvey Milk. The chorus invited the audience to join in singing, these voices of “gentle, angry people.” Later, members of the chorus sang at the vigil, raising voices together to rise, still rise, on songs of love.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Heartland Men’s Chorus celebrates 30 years of love and acceptance."