Heart of America Men's Chorus

The Heart of America Men’s Chorus(HOAMC) is a chorus located in Wichita, Kansas. In 2002 five men met to form a men’s choral organization at Unity Christian Church. Their goal was to perform for the joy of singing and to demonstrate a strong commitment to community involvement by contributing to other charitable organizations in Wichita. From that meeting an organizational structure began to take shape, as well as the planning of the first concert to be held during the Christmas season. The first rehearsals began with sixteen men. With a successful first season and membership growth to thirty-two, weekly rehearsals were moved to Plymouth Congregational Church. Performances are currently held at the historic Wichita Orpheum theater.

Performance Highlights

Season 1

  • HOAMC presented its first concert, with eighteen men singing, on Monday, December 9, 2002, to a sold out house of 180 at Cabaret Old Town.
  • March 16th, 2006 nineteen men performed “A Broadway Hit Review”
  • June 2006 twenty-six men performed “Sings Americana,” a tribute to America

Season 2

  • Performed the Holiday show, “Another Christmas” on November 30th, 2003
  • Membership grew to 30 members
  • Performed at the Wichita Art Museum for World AIDS Day services on December 1st, 2003
  • Performed during the final festivities of Positive Direction’s Dining for Friends in February 2004
  • Presented “Retro and Beyond” February 29th, 2004
  • Approved for 501(c) (3) status on May 12th, 2004

Season 3

  • Introduced “Notes to Remember,” an annual fundraising event held at Cibola restaurant
  • Formed ensemble, called Eight of Hearts
  • First sell out house at Mary Jane Teall Theater during the Christmas production
  • Performed That’s Entertainment for the spring show
  • The HOAMC performance of Goes Gospel included almost 50 female voices that were invited to join the Chorus for a handful of numbers
  • Launched CD from that show which contains all eighteen songs, including solos
  • Implemented first season ticket subscription program

Season 4

  • Developed a partnership with the Wichita Community Children's Choir
  • Witnessed season subscribers grow to 130
  • Ms. Jennifer King was the featured soloist for “That’s Music,” which featured stirring melodies and included oboe, cello, and harp
  • Performed at Race for the Cure through the local Wichita, Kansas chapter

Season 5

  • Partnered with Positive Directions and the Dr. Donna Sweet Emergency Fund to kick off a Celebration with “A Most Wonderful Christmas...All That Glitters,” which featured HOAMC and a group of around 40 women who joined for part of the show
  • HOAMC season subscribers increased to 270
  • Brought back “extrABBAganza”
  • The group performed “Back to Broadway” featuring hit songs and sets from four musicals: “Pacific (musical) South Pacific,” “a Good Man, Charlie Brown You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and “Wizard of Oz (1939 film) Wizard of Oz.” The performance featured soloist Ms. Jennifer Potochnick, who brought the characters of Lucy and Dorothy to life.

Season 6

  • Began on December 1, 2007 with the holiday concert “Yuletide Jazz,” with featured guest, vocalist Ms. Lisa Blake and guest emcee Sierra Scott
  • April 5-6, 2008 marked the second concert, a combined effort with the Heartland Men’s Chorus of Kansas City
  • The sixth season concluded with “Feelin’ Groovy,” featuring music from television, commercials, movies and hit songs of the 1960’s

Season 7

  • The Heart of America Men's Chorus opens Season 7 with "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" on December 6th and 7th, 2008 with guest vocalist Dru Rutledge.
  • "At Home on the Range" was performed March 28th and 29th. "a roundup of music... both country and western!" featured Cindy Summers as Patsy Cline.
  • The Heart of America Men's Chorus 3rd concert of the season will actually be taking place a little later in the year as they partner with the Susan G Komen Foundation to bring you "Sing for the Cure" which will take place September 18-20 and will feature guest conductor Dr. Timothy Seelig.

Leadership

  • Howard Webb – Artistic Director
  • Mark Walker – Assistant Artistic Director

Board of Directors

  • Jeff Leritz – Chairman
  • David Burks – Treasurer
  • Mary Leistiko – Secretary
  • RL Wheeler – Member at Large
  • Nick Crumrine – Member at Large
  • Chris Robrahn – Member at Large
  • Louise Brinegar – Member at Large
  • Michelle Masood – Member at Large
  • Emily Christensen – Member at Large
  • Bradley Robertson – Chorus President
  • Jeff Mosch – Business Manager

Community Outreach

  • The Dr. Donna Sweet Emergency Fund – a program for HIV patients who need assistance with transportation costs, overnight lodging when seeking treatment in Wichita, eye care and emergency dental services
  • Positive Directions - service organization for the HIV and AIDS community in Wichita and South-Central Kansas
  • GraceMed, a local not-for-profit providing health and dental care to the under-served in the Wichita area
  • Wichita Community Children’s Choir – choir composed of 95 students from 45 public, private and parochial schools in Sedgwick County
  • Heart of America Men’s Chorus Memorial Scholarship Fund – scholarship which makes it possible for any individual to join HOAMC regardless of their financial situation
  • Ryan White Foundation - creates a framework for funding to address specific components or aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
  • Kansas Foodbank Warehouse - provides comprehensive and compassionate HungerCare whenever and wherever it is needed to safeguard the health, well-being and productivity of food-insecure Kansas families and their children, as well as senior citizens, the homeless and the chronically ill and impoverished among us
  • Wichita Children’s Home - offers emergency, temporary residential center for children in Sedgwick County
  • Greensburg, KS Fine Arts Department – proceeds of the “Back to Broadway” concert went to the Fine Arts Department of the Greensburg, KS school district to help rebuild the music programs after a tornado leveled the town in May, 2007

Membership

HOAMC is a not-for-profit community organization open to singing and non-singing members. Members should have enthusiasm, dedication, willingness to invest the time and effort necessary to produce the high quality performances Heart of America Men’s Chorus is known for. All members should have a strong commitment toward community involvement by contributing to other charitable organizations, and the desire to have a good time.