|
Season 7
Season seven started out with a bang with the performance of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” HOAMC made the holidays not only a time for receiving but for giving as well. The audience received a fabulous performance and had the opportunity to donate to the Kansas Food Bank and Positive Directions.
The show featured a unique mix of music set to recognizable Christmas melodies like the Nutcracker. Adding to the performance was featured soloist and Kansas native, Dru Rutledge.
The second show in season seven paid tribute to the heartland in a performance of “At Home on the Range.” Featuring music with heaps of country flavor, the show boasted such classics as “Rhinestone Cowboy”, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “Mommas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.”
The final show of season seven will be Sing for the Cure, a benefit concert for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Mid-Kansas affiliate. Sing for the Cure is a ten-song cycle that depicts the journey of breast cancer through the use of song and narration. Several voices and perspectives show the effects of the disease from every angle including the infected patient to the affected loved ones. The show offers hope, faith, comfort and perseverance to anyone touched by breast cancer.
The show originated 10 years ago and was first performed by the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, TX. Dr. Timothy Seelig conducted this first performance and will be guest conducting the HOAMC performance as part of the 10th anniversary celebration.
Season 6
The sixth season of song began on December 1 & 2, 2008 with the holiday concert “Yuletide Jazz.” “Yuletide Jazz” featured some of your favorite holiday tunes enhanced by a slightly jazzy, big band sound and the talents of the featured guest, vocalist Ms. Lisa Blake.
Spring brought about a very exciting partnership between HOAMC and the 150-member Heartland Men’s Chorus from Kansas City. The first half of the concert featured each of the choruses presenting a 15 to 20-minute set of songs. The second half featured the combined members of both groups presenting a work titled “Exile.”
Season six closed with “Feelin’ Groovy,” which featured music from television, commercials, movies and hit songs of the 1960’s.
Season 5
The fifth anniversary season began with “A Most Wonderful Christmas...All That Glitters,” which featured the HOAMC men and a group of around 40 women who joined for a portion of the show. Partnering with Positive Directions and the Dr. Donna Sweet Emergency Fund, patrons and chorus members were invited to help build a tower of food for donation to the Daily Bread program of Positive Directions. Those efforts turned into one of the most successful food drives of 2006 for the Daily Bread Program. Offering some last minute “upgrades” to season subscriber status brought the number of HOAMC season subscribers to 270.
Back to Broadway...in more ways than one.
“Back to Broadway” was the second show in the fifth season and the chorus also moved back to Broadway by performing, once again, at Wichita’s historic Orpheum theater. “Back to Broadway” featured hit songs and sets from four musicals: “South Pacific,” “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream coat,” and “Wizard of Oz.” The featured soloist, Ms. Jennifer Potochnick, brought the characters of Lucy and Dorothy to life.
Audience members had been requesting a reprise of the extrABBAganza show since it was first presented in July of 2004. So, to close out the fifth season HOAMC brought back extrABBAganza, only this time it was bigger and better. No surprise, new records were set for both ticket sales and concert attendance with the two performances of this show.
Season 4
HOAMC’s fourth season kicked off with partnership involving the Wichita Community Children's Choir in a production called “A Toyland Christmas.” Sticking with the previous recipe for success, a more serious and formal first half gave way to a stage transformed into a giant toyshop with members of HOAMC dressed as life-sized toys. It was in this season that season ticket holders grew to 130.
In the spring of 2006 HOAMC performed “That’s Music,”, a concert dedicated to expressing the power and emotion that music brings to life. “That’s Music” featured soloist Ms. Jennifer King. They also introduced a visual aspect to the show through the use of a large projection screen. This addition provided a visual presentation that tied the audience to the music. “One Voice,” a stirring melody about the power of voices united by song, paid tribute to those whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS or breast cancer, as well as those serving in the Armed Forces. A mixture of tears and cheers erupted from the audience as the performance touched many hearts. It was through this song that HOAMC began an ongoing partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, mid-Kansas affiliate.
The fourth season closed by partnering, once again, with GraceMed to present “A Symphony of Psalms” consisting of three performances at Plymouth Congregational Church. This concert featured fifty men presenting a powerful set of Psalm texts set to music. The group was accompanied by a pipe organ, hand bells, trumpet, trombone, french horn and harp. Moderate attendance for the Friday and Saturday evening performances gave way to a packed house for the Sunday afternoon closing performance.
The ensemble sang for the first time at Race for the Cure that summer through a continued partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, mid-Kansas affiliate.
Season 3
Lofty goals had been set for season three and HOAMC knew that meant finding additional revenues. By partnering with Cibola restaurant, HOAMC launched the first Notes to Remember fall fundraiser. It was at this event that the newly formed ensemble, then called Eight of Hearts, made their debut appearance. Guests enjoyed great food, wine, entertainment and an auction for some fabulous art.
A very successful fundraiser put the wheels in motion for a spectacular Christmas production and the first sold out house at Mary Jane Teall Theater. The first half, filled with more traditional holiday music, gave way to the second half filled with surprises, laughter, appearances by both Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch and even some roller-skating reindeer. HOAMC also implemented the first season ticket subscription program and were delighted to reach thirty-five season ticket holders.
One show...or two???
In the third season, with attendance at the last two shows nearing capacity, their was a decision to make: two performances of each show or one? They knew they would successful and safe with just one show, but growing is all about taking risks. So they moved forward with two scheduled performances of “That’s Entertainment,” the spring show of 2005, which featured both the Madrigals and the Showstoppers from Wichita High School South.
HOAMC Goes Gospel
The season closer, “HOAMC Goes Gospel,” included the addition of 50 female voices to a couple of numbers. Through a partnership with GraceMed, a local not-for-profit providing health and dental care to the under-served in the Wichita area, the chorus launched a significant campaign for ticket sales through the Wichita area United Methodist Churches.
From the featured soloists, Trisha Garnes and Melissa Robinson to Rev. Paul Wilke, guest host, they performed an awesome show and added 300+ new patrons. On Sunday, November 13th, the chorus launched a CD of “HOAMC Goes Gospel” which contained all eighteen songs, including soloists.
Season 2
After a successful first season, HOAMC kicked off the second season with a holiday show, “Another Christmas” held on November 30th, 2003. The group was now thirty members strong and performed to a crowd of 200 patrons. HOAMC moved their rehearsals to Plymouth Congregational Church, where they still rehearse today.
“Another Christmas” also marked the move from Wichita’s historic Orpheum theater to the Mary Jane Teall Theater in the Century II performing arts and convention center. Along with regular concert performances, the group was honored to perform at various community events including World AIDS Day services at the Wichita Art Museum and the Dining for Friends event at Positive Directions.
The second show in season two was titled “Retro and Beyond,” and was presented on February 29th, 2004 to a slowly growing audience of 220. Behind the scenes, HOAMC was taking the final steps toward approval of 501(c) (3) status, which was officially granted on May 12th, 2004.
The last show in season two launched HOAMC to new heights. Howard Webb, Artistic Director, brought in an entire concert of ABBA music arranged for a men’s chorus. It was a lofty undertaking both musically and financially. The group secured funding for the musical scores from individual donors and by putting a hat out during rehearsals in which many of the singing members contributed. After having reached the necessary financial goals, Howard began putting together an additional ensemble of singers and instrumentalists that would be needed for the undertaking.
extrABBAganza
The word was out and the excitement building. Thirty-two men were putting in extra rehearsals for this challenging production. About one week prior to the show HOAMC found themselves in a unique position; they were running out of tickets. All previous shows had only filled a few hundred of the 620 seats in the Mary Jane Teall Theater. By the time the curtain opened the house was nearly full. Traditional black tuxes gave way to 32 men in all white with multi-colored sashes for the opening of the second half, which featured flag dancers and the hit song, “Dancing Queen.” It was clear that HOAMC had moved into a new level of performance and production. It was also clear that the audience wanted more.
Season 1
HOAMC presented its first concert on Monday, December 9, 2002 to a sold out house of 180 at Cabaret Old Town. The success of the premiere concert determined that the chorus would continue its first season. The group sang two more concerts that year: nineteen men performing “A Broadway Hit Review” on March 16th, 2003, and twenty-six men performing “Sings Americana,” a tribute to the United States of America, in June 2003. These two concert performances were held at Wichita’s historic Orpheum theater. Attendance grew and the chorus began partnering with community organizations by donating a portion of the concert’s proceeds to the Dr. Donna Sweet Emergency Fund and to Positive Directions.
|
