In the beginning…
Five men met during the month of August, 2002. Their purpose: to form a men’s choral organization whose goals included performing for the joy of singing and a strong commitment toward community involvement by contributing to other charitable organizations in Wichita. The numerous meetings during that month gave birth to the Heart of America Men’s Chorus (HOAMC). Organizational structure began to take shape, as well as the planning of the first concert to take place during the Christmas season. The first rehearsals began at Unity Christian Church with a total of sixteen men assembled.

HOAMC presented its first concert, with eighteen men singing, on Monday, December 9, 2002. Singing to a sold out house of 180 at Cabaret Old Town determined that the chorus would continue its first season. The Chorus sang two more concerts that first season: nineteen men performing “A Broadway Hit Review” on March 16th, 2006, and twenty-six men performing a tribute to America, “Sings Americana,” in June 2006. These two concert performances were held at the historic Orpheum theater. Attendance grew at both concerts and the chorus began partnering with community organizations by donating a portion of the concerts proceeds to the Dr. Donna Sweet Emergency Fund and to Positive Directions.

With a successful first season under our belts we kicked off our second season by moving our weekly rehearsals to Plymouth Congregational Church where we still rehearse today. Our holiday show, “Another Christmas” was held on November 30th, 2003, where we were now thirty members strong presenting to a crowd of 200 patrons.

“Another Christmas” also marked our move from the historic Orpheum theater to the Mary Jane Teall Theater in Century II. We were honored to perform at the Wichita Art Museum for World AIDS Day services on December 1st, and we sang during the final festivities of Positive Direction’s Dining for Friends in February of 2004.

We began rehearsals for “Retro and Beyond,” our second performance in season two, in January, 2004. We presented “Retro and Beyond” on February 29th, 2004 to a slowly growing audience of 220. Behind the scenes we were taking the final steps toward approval of our 501(c) (3) status, which was officially granted on May 12th, 2004.

In the early days we pretty much planned and put together the next performance after finishing the current show. We had one show left to plan in season two, a show that launched HOAMC into a whole new direction. Howard Webb, our Artistic Director, had brought to the chorus an entire concert of ABBA music arranged for a men’s chorus. It was a lofty undertaking both musically and financially. We started securing funding for the musical scores from individual donors and putting a hat out during rehearsals where many of the singing members contributed. After reaching the financial goals Howard began putting together an additional ensemble of singers and instrumentalists we needed. With the pieces all fitting together we began to advertise the close of our second season.

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 we found ourselves in a unique position; we were running out of tickets. Our previous shows had only filled a few hundred seats in the 620-seat Mary Jane Teall Theater. By the time the curtain opened we had almost filled the house. As thrilled as we were with a full house so was the audiences’ reaction to the performance. Traditional black tuxes gave way to 32 men in all white with multi-colored sashes for the opening of the second half, which also featured flag dancers and the “Dancing Queen.” It was clear that HOAMC had moved into a new level of performance and production; it was also clear that our audience wanted more.

Cibola Fall Fundraiser, November 2004
We were now at the point of planning an entire season of shows at the start of our third season. We had set some lofty goals for our productions and we knew that meant finding additional revenues for HOAMC. We partnered with Cibola restaurant and held the first HOAMC Notes to Remember fall fundraiser. It was at this event that our newly formed ensemble, then called Eight of Hearts, also made their debut appearance. Our guests enjoyed great food, wine, entertainment and an auction for some fabulous art. We even managed to get two very gracious supports to buy absolutely nothing!

A very successful fundraiser put the wheels in motion for a simply spectacular Christmas production and the first sell out house at Mary Jane Teall Theater. A first half filled with more traditional holiday music gave way to a second half filled with music, surprises, laughter, Frosty, the Grinch and even some roller-skatin’ reindeer. We also implemented our first season ticket subscription program and were delighted to reach thirty-five season ticket holders.

One show...or two???
Only in our third season, with attendance at our last two shows at or near capacity, we had a decision to make. Do we move to two performances for each production or stay at one?  We knew we would be successful, and safe, with just one show but growing is all about taking risks. So we moved forward with two scheduled performances of “That’s Entertainment,” our spring show of 2005.

While still rehearsing “That’s Entertainment” we were putting the final plans together for the closing production in season three, “HOAMC Goes Gospel.” We had this crazy idea to invite 40 to 50 women to join us for a couple of numbers in that show. We just wondered if we would be able to find enough women to balance singing with nearly 50 men.

We didn’t approach sell-out crowds for either performance of “That’s Entertainment” but we did continue to see our audience grow. We treated our audience to some of the best numbers from spectacular musicals and featured two performance groups, Madrigals and ShowStoppers, from Wichita High School South.

HOAMC Goes Gospel
We only had a short rest before starting rehearsals for the close of our third season. With close to 50 women responding to our call for female voices we put any doubts to rest for a couple of mass choir numbers. Through our partnership with GraceMed, a local not-for-profit providing health and dental care to the under-served in the Wichita area, we launched a significant campaign for ticket sales through Wichita area United Methodist Churches.

We could not have asked for a better performance to close our third season. From our featured soloists Trisha Garnes and Melissa Robinson, to Rev. Paul Wilke, our guest host, and to 300+ first time HOAMC concert patrons, we had an awesome show. On Sunday, November 13th, we launched the release of our CD from that show which contains all eighteen songs, including soloists.

HOAMC’s fourth season kicked off with an amazing partnership between HOAMC and the Wichita Community Children's Choir in a production called “A Toyland Christmas.” Sticking with our recipe for success, a more serious and formal first half gave way to a stage transformed into a giant toyshop with the singing members of HOAMC dressed up as life-sized toys. Combined numbers presented by HOAMC and Wichita Community Children's Choir filled the stage with the wonders of the holiday.

Season Subscribers Reach 130
HOAMC season subscribers grew to 130 in our forth season which featured two more outstanding shows.

In the spring of 2006 we presented “That’s Music.”  A concert dedicated to expressing the power and emotion that music brings to our lives. “That’s Music” featured stirring melodies and included oboe, cello, harp and our featured soloist Ms. Jennifer King. We also introduced a visual aspect to the show through use of a large projection screen, which displayed 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 lives touched by HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and those serving in the Armed Forces. A mixture of tears and cheers erupted from the audience as the song and visual components touched many hearts. It was through this song that HOAMC began an ongoing partnership with the local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

We closed our fourth season by partnering once again with GraceMed to present “A Symphony of Psalms” with three performances at Plymouth Congregational Church. This concert featured fifty men presenting a powerful set of Psalm texts set to music and accompanied by 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.

Our ensemble sang for the first time at the Race for the Cure that summer as we continued to partner with the local Susan G. Komen chapter.

Through our fourth season we also brought attention to our season subscribers at each concert and the gifts they received at every concert from the chorus; in addition to the discounted ticket prices they receive.

HOAMC Fifth Anniversary Season
We kicked off our Fifth Anniversary Season of Celebration with “A Most Wonderful Christmas...All That Glitters,” which featured the HOAMC men and a group of around 40 women who joined us for part of the show. We partnered with Positive Directions and the Dr. Donna Sweet Emergency Fund. We invited patrons and chorus members 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 our fifth season and the chorus also moved back to Broadway by moving our performances back to the 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 Dreamcoat,” and “Wizard of Oz.”  Our featured soloist, Ms. Jennifer Potochnick, brought the characters of Lucy and Dorothy to life.

Audience members had been requesting a reprise of our extrABBAganza show since it was first presented in July of 2004. We could not think of a better way to close out our fifth season except by bringing back extrABBAganza...Bigger and Better. No surprise, we set new records for both ticket sales and concert attendance with the two performances of this show. No tuxes here as we reprised the white pants and disco shirts for the first half followed by any authentic disco costume to complete the second half.

Our Sixth Season of Song
Our sixth season of song kicks off on December 1 & 2, 2008 with our holiday concert “Yuletide Jazz.” “Yuletide Jazz” features some of your favorite holiday tunes enhanced by a slightly jazzy, big band sound and the talents of our featured guest, vocalist Ms. Lisa Blake.

Spring will bring a very exciting partnership between HOAMC and the 150-member Heartland Men’s Chorus from Kansas City. The first half of the concert will feature each of the choruses presenting a 15 to 20-minute set of songs. The second half will feature the combined members of both groups presenting a work titled “Exile.”

We will close season six with “Feelin’ Groovy,” which features music from television, commercials, movies and hit songs of the 1960’s.

Remember that your best value for securing your seats in our sixth season is by becoming an HOAMC Conductor’s Circle member. Tickets are available at SelectASeat.com or by calling 316-755-SEAT.