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'Send-off' show to benefit Barbershop quartets, choruses
Date Posted: Sat, May 20 2023
Several top Barbershop quartets and choruses in the Midwest will perform June 10, 2023, in Overland Park, Kan., in a fundraiser "send-off" show for groups who will compete at the 2023 International Barbershop Convention, July 2-9, in Louisville, Ky. The Barbershop Harmony International Competitor Benefit Shows are scheduled at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 10 in The White Theatre of the Jewish Community Center, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park. General admission tickets are $20 for one show or $30 for both. Kansas City's Heart of America Barbershop Chorus is acting as a sponsor for the show, working with organizer Mark Fortino, a longtime HOA member and lead singer of one of the competing quartets, Harmonium. Performers are to include a host of previous International competitors and district champions, including: Harmonium of Kansas City; Fleet Street of St. Charles, Mo., Lincoln, Neb., and Cincinnati, Ohio, and Spitfire of St. Charles, Mo. Also performing are competitors in the Next Generation Varsity Quartet contest at International: Tofu Concern of St. Charles, Mo., and Tulsa, Okla; Momento of St. Charles, Mo., and the Frank Thorne Chapter; and Evening Glow of St. Louis, a young women's quartet, (at the 2 p.m. show). Choruses performing include previous international competitors: SmorgasChorus of South Central Kansas and The Recruits youth mixed chorus of St. Charles, Mo. Tickets are $20 for one show and $30 for both. Proceeds go toward the performers' travel expenses to the International Barbershop Convention July 2-9 in Louisville. Tickets may be purchased at https://in-tuneproductions.com/featured-event or scan the QR code on the show flier or accompanying this article.  Afterglow benefit A post-show Afterglow is scheduled, following the 7 p.m. show, at Minsky's Pizza, 13400 College Blvd. (College and Pflumm) in Lenexa, Kan. Minsky's also has offered to donate 20 percent of their profits for both Saturday and Sunday to the event. So, patrons could also eat at Minsky's over that weekend and benefit the competing quartets and choruses. | |||
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Harmony Explosion! 2023 -- Glad to be back in person
Date Posted: Wed, Apr 12 2023
| By Jerry Meier Harmony Explosion! 2023 was held on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe, Kan. This venue proved once again to be a fantastic location to host Harmony Explosion.  The last time we held this event in person was three years ago in 2020. All of the students and teachers were very happy to resume in--person singing and performing this year. Eighty students from 10 local schools sang on stage in 19 quartets during the morning session. Fourteen of the quartets earned GOLD medals and performed in the afternoon Parade of Quartets Concert.Harmonium (Micah Jeppesen, Mark Fortino, Michael Troyer, Marshall Crowl) was the featured quartet of the day ---- they taught the mixed chorus song and judged the quartet session with volunteers from the Kansas City Chorus of Sweet Adelines. Harmonium also entertained the audience with three performances throughout the day.  THANK YOU to the dozens of Heart of America and KCCSA and Olathe Trails West volunteers that worked to produce the event, along with the staff at Grace United Methodist Church. I think that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day and had fun helping these students throughout the day.I want to say THANK YOU to the vocal music teachers at these 10 schools for sending their students to Harmony Explosion: Jason Cole -- St. James Academy (5 Quartets). Michael Mays -- Wichita Northwest HS (2 Quartets). Nicholas Franssen -- Augusta HS (2 Quartets). Jessie Reimer -- Mill Valley (2 Quartets). Robin Christie -- Bishop Miege HS (2 Quartets). Pam Williamson -- Olathe Northwest HS (2 Quartets). Dr. Dwayne Dunn -- Lawrence HS (1 Quartet). David Davis -- Harmony Middle School (1 Quartet). Beth Nelson -- Oregon Trail Middle School (1 Quartet). Cassie Southerland -- California Trail Middle School (1 Quartet). Medals were awarded to the following quartets (To see photos, click on the link below or go to News & Events, Harmony Explosion! on the HOA home page.): 8th Grade: GOLD Medal -- T-Birds (Harmony MS, Blue Valley) 8th Grade: SILVER Medal -- Misfits (California Trail MS, Olathe) 8th Grade: SILVER Medal -- Quarter Resters (Oregon Trail MS, Olathe) 10th Grade: SILVER Medal -- Heart Strings (St. James Academy) 10th Grade: SILVER Medal -- Quarter Bass (St. James Academy) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- The Swoops 'N Curls (Mill Valley) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- The All Naturals (Olathe Northwest) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Cleftomaniacs (Wichita Northwest) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Marvelous Melodies (St. James Academy) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Chicks with Kicks (Augusta) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- The Fox Trots (Mill Valley) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- The Looney Tones (Augusta) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Miege Mamas (Bishop Miege) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Ritz Crackers (Bishop Miege) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Thunderous Harmony (St. James Academy) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Randsom Notes (Wichita Northwest) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- The Accidentals (Olathe Northwest) 12th Grade: GOLD Medal -- Atune-Ah Fermata (Lawrence) 12th Grade: SILVER Medal -- The Crusaders (St. James Academy) SAVE THE DATE -- Harmony Explosion! 2024 will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe. The featured quartet will be Harmonium. I can't wait to see you there next year! | |
| For more information, see: | https://www.hoachorus.com/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=uploads&id=77145 |
National Barbershop Quartet Day was a 'Great Day' for KC
Date Posted: Wed, Apr 12 2023
| By John Braden The Heart of America Chorus' own Swing Shift quartet celebrated National Barbershop Quartet Day, April 11, 2023, by appearing on WDAF-TV Fox 4's Great Day KC program. Tenor Carter Combs told viewers how Tulsa businessmen O.C. Cash and Rupert Hall met by chance in the lobby of Kansas City's Muehlebach Hotel in 1938, found two more guys and spent the night singing good old barbershop songs. They returned home to Tulsa where they convened 26 men on April 11 and formed the first chapter of what is now the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Kansas City Chapter -- HOA -- was the second to form in June 1938.  Great Day KC hosts Toni Talley and Adriana Davalos also interviewed Combs, director of the Heart of America Chorus, about HOA legend Dan Henry, who was for many years a weatherman on their station, WDAF-TV Fox 4. The program ran video of Dan in front of his weather map as Carter told the tale. The hosts also told viewers how to visit and join HOA.Swing Shift was joined by HOA's Marty Oldehoeft subbing on bass for Eric Weber to sing "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along." The station also prerecorded the quartet singing "A Wink and a Smile" and "Sweet and Lovely" for drop-ins during its hour-long show. Lead John Braden and bari Charlie Hill filled out the foursome. You can see the performance on the attached Fox 4 video. | |
| For more information, see: | https://fox4kc.com/video/celebrate-national-barbershop-quartet-day/8550423/ |
HOA 'Roaring '20s' show had two-year buildup
Date Posted: Thu, Apr 6 2023
The Heart of America Barbershop Chorus sang in front of "People!" April 1 in its first annual show since outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 315 patrons attended the "Roaring '20s" barbershop show, nearly filling the venue at City House in Independence. In addition to recognizing the 100th anniversary of the music of the 1920s, the barbershop show featured a parade of quartets of the Fortino family, an HOA mainstay since college boys John and Mark Fortino joined the chapter more than 30 years ago. Headlining was Silver Medalist, Midtown, the 2022 second-place International quartet champion, featuring lead Anthony Fortino, followed by 2016 Central States District champ and International contender Harmonium, featuring lead Mark Fortino. First-time-out-of-the-box International contender Tapestry, featuring baritone Jonathan Fortino, came down from Des Moines for the family affair. Rounding out the bill was Fortino & Co., with Mark, sons Anthony and Matthew, and the "& Co.," bass Marshall Crowl of Harmonium. Little did the HOA Music Team know in 2019 that their "Roaring '20s" show would be three years late in marking the 100th anniversary of the music of the 1920s. Thanks to COVID-19, 14 months of Zoom practices followed by more months of consumer reluctance to sit in performance halls, bumped the HOA annual show from 2020 to 2023. Backstage with a huge grin, Harmonium tenor Micah Jeppesen exclaimed, "There are PEOPLE out there!"  As audience members entered the hall, chorus members began filtering onto the curtainless stage, which was set up to resemble a '20s speakeasy -- "Rupert Hall," a pun on the name of one of the Tulsa businessmen who planted the seed for the Barbershop Harmony Society at Kansas City's Muehlebach Hotel in 1938. Foursomes from the Homeward Bound "very large quartet" sang Barbershop oldies around the speakeasy bar while the Gambler, the Mayor, the Judge, the Gangster and his Muscle took tables in front of the other customers.   Then, under direction of Carter Combs, the chorus of bar patrons took over, singing "Muskrat Ramble," "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover," "Sweet Georgia Brown" featuring vamp Jeffi Combs, "Ain't Misbehavin'" with waiter John Braden trying to make up with angry flapper Elizabeth Braden, and "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along."The speakeasy scene was rounded out by KC Common singing "Has Anybody Seen My Girl?" and Swing Shift singing "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune" with a "Vo-do-deo-do" assist from the chorus.   Then came the parade of quartets including a surprise appearance by Swoops 'N Curls, a senior boys' quartet from Mill Valley High School and the highest scoring foursome at February's Harmony Explosion. Invited by Harmonium to sing on stage, Swoops 'N Curls performed "Java Jive" to a delighted audience. The closing set featured HOA in full black-and-red tuxes performing "That's an Irish Lullaby" and, with the guest quartets, "When I Lift up My Head." HOA President and Show Chairman Mike Schumacher said, "Every single person that came up to me whether I knew them or not, said they loved everything, chorus and quartets! How could they not? Awesome stuff." Director Carter Combs added, "Gentlemen, to say I am proud to be part of HOA is a gross understatement. I am so gratified with what we have accomplished in the last few weeks." Combs said going from winning HOA's plateau at Central States District contest, and then putting on a wonderful show only two short weeks later made him quote Gen. George Patton after the Battle of the Bulge: "God, I'm proud of these men!"  | |||
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Kansas City wins District Plateau Championship
Date Posted: Tue, Mar 21 2023
The Heart of America Chorus won the district barbershop championship of its size "plateau" at the Central States District Spring Barbershop Convention, March 18, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. Under direction of Carter Combs, HOA scored an overall average of 66.2, including a performance score of 72.5 to win the Plateau II Chorus Championship for choruses of between 20 and 29 singers on stage. HOA had 23 on stage. Singing "That's an Irish Lullaby" and "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along," HOA also scored a 62 in the music category and 64 in the singing category. The first spring chorus contest since the COVID-19 pandemic included only five choruses performing at the  suburban Coralville, Iowa, Center for the Performing Arts. The district's smaller choruses compete in the spring, while larger choruses compete in a fall contest.With 12 singers on stage, Vox Infinitus of Des Moines, Iowa, won the Plateau I championship for choruses of less than 20 members and the overall small chorus championship with a total score of 74.6. Other choruses competing were all from Iowa: The Music Men of Dubuque, Old Capitol of Iowa City, and Harmony Hawks Chorus of Cedar Rapids. |
Caravan collects $21,577 for Salvation Army
Date Posted: Mon, Mar 6 2023
| By Mike Mathieu With all donations finally in, the Heart of America Chorus' holiday Caroling Caravan collected a grand total of $21,577.03 for the Salvation Army. In just one day, more than two dozen Barbershoppers rode the bus to six area retirement homes on Dec. 17, 2022, caroling, bell-ringing and collecting donations for the Salvation Army. We had a lot of fun, we brought the holiday spirit to eager audiences, and we collected what looks like a record amount to help those in need in the Kansas City area. After two down COVID years, in 2022 we performed mask free in all but one location. We picked up some of our better locations, and pretty much all increased their donations from 2021 for that grand $21,577.03.  Special thanks to Tony O'Brien and Ted Simon. Those two were a great help and volunteered to take over the Caroling Caravan going forward. Special thanks also to Gordy and Marilou Coleman, who bailed us out a short time before the Caravan by offering to take care of the cost for the bus, which keeps us all together and on time.Heart of America has supported the Salvation Army for three-quarters of a century, bellringing and singing on the streets and malls of the city. As mall space became scarce, the Caravan was born. All collections go to the Salvation Army, with all Caravan expenses absorbed by HOA and its members. Thank you to all you wonderful singers and your wives who allow us to be gone all day the Saturday before Christmas. You helped perfect a crazy idea by two of your brothers and make it a musicality reality. ----- Editor's note: HOA Director Emeritus Jim Bagby adds to Mike: "Thanks and congratulations for ALL the many years you have ramrodded this labor of love. The Caravan that you and Bob (the late Bob Burdick) dreamed up after the malls ran out of space for us was a brilliant idea. We can remember when we thought it was a success if we brought in a few hundred dollars on a looong Saturday of ringing and singing in one mall spot." |
Big Schu Mob takes over at 2023 HOA Installation Banquet
Date Posted: Wed, Jan 11 2023
| "Hanging Judge" the Hon. John Erwine and Bailiff Martin Oldehoeft officiated in the indictment and installation of President Mike Schumacher and the Big Schu Mob as Board of Directors at the Heart of America Chorus Installation and Awards Banquet, Jan. 7, 2023, at RC's Restaurant in Martin City. A jury of 45 Kansas City Chapter members and family put down their fried chicken long enough to shout "guilty" for the inauguration of: President Mike Schumacher  Immediate Past President Charles Ramirez Secretary Tom Hadley Treasurer Harvey Shapiro Executive VP Rick Foreman Marketing VP Ted Simon Chapter Development VP Don Fuson Music & Performance VP Bob Velazquez Operations VP Steve Keisker Program VP Jerry Meier Members at Large Danny Anderson, Vince Perry IV, Tom Riedel, Marlin Weidler. The group ate RC's (World Famous) fried chicken and mashed potatoes family style and enjoyed the program lined up by Program VP Jerry Meier. HOA Director Carter Combs said the chapter is getting back its balance of rehearsals and performances, post-COVID, and a balance of a "circle of life, circle of friends," with the deaths of eight chapter members this year and the welcoming of eight new members. President Mike Schumacher said he has two goals for the coming year: communication, in which the chapter "blows its own horn," and participation, in which every member finds a way to help the chapter grow.  Swing Shift "B," for baritone Bob Velazquez, performed "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune" and Swing Shift "C," for bari Charlie Hill, debuted "Hey, Good Lookin'."John Braden acknowledged the passing of the eight HOA members who joined the "Chapter Eternal" in 2022: Brian Seydlitz, Fred Whisman, Dale Neuman, Ron McIntire, Dick Korek, Bruce Wenner, Harry Stewart and Jim Porter. Don Fuson was named the 2022 Barbershopper of the Year, while Dave Hokanson was named winner of the Oz Newgard Award for outstanding musical service to the chapter and Rick Foreman received the John Cross Award for best attendance and willingness to take on unwanted jobs.  Photos by Rich Huyck Front row: installing "Bailiff" Martin Oldehoeft and "Judge" John Erwine. The new board, left to right: Board Member Marlin Weidler, President Mike Schumacher, Immediate Past President Charles Ramirez, Executive VP Rick Foreman, Operations VP Steve Keisker, Treasurer Harvey Shapiro, Program VP Jerry Meier, Marketing VP Ted Simon, Board Member Tom Riedel, Board Member Vince Perry IV, Music and Performance VP Bob Velazquez, Secretary Tom Hadley, Chapter Development VP Don Fuson and Board Member Danny Anderson. |
