HOAMC Sings "Not My Father's Son" and an Interview with GLSEN Greater Wichita

GLSEN, Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, helps provided resources for teachers and students to provide a safe place for GLBTQ students and also works to end bullying.  Our partner for this concert is GLSEN.  This clip is an interview of two GLSEN Wichita board members.  Al Hoffman is also a member of HOAMC.  The following clip is of HOAMC's rehearsal of "Not My Father's Son" which we dedicate to the GLBTQ students who find it so hard to fit the image that they are told to fit.

Deanne Zogleman: Behind the Curtain

HOAMC Presents: Curtain Up: A Salute to Broadway

Voices From the Heart: "If I Loved You" from "Carousel"

This is a clip from rehearsal several weeks ago.  Our ensemble, Voices from the Heart, is rehearsing "If I Loved You" from the Broadway musical hit "Carousel."

Our concert, "Curtain Up: A Tribute to Broadway" is April 9th and 10th.

Please enjoy this little teaser and we hope to see you at the show.

A Clip from "Curtain Up" Rehearsal

This clip is "Bring Him Home" from Les Mis.  If you think we sound this good in rehearsal, you should come hear how we sound at the show.

HOAMC Presents: Curtain Up! A Tribute to Broadway

The Heart of America Men's Chorus is gearing up for its spring concert, Curtain Up!  The concert premiers on Saturday, April 9th at the DeMattias Performing Arts Center on the Newman University campus.  The concert covers a wide range of new and old Broadway musical favorites. 

Selections include "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables, "Nothing Like a Dame" from South Pacific,

"Not My Father's Son" from Kinky Boots,

a medley from Jersey Boys, and much much more. Stay tuned for more information and we hope to see you there.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Rehearsal Clips from "Red, White, and Cure."

Red, White, and Cure: A Message from Brent Henderson

Happily Ever After...and Other Endings

Doug Jackson

Cancer has touched many of our lives, whether you have had cancer yourself or a loved one has had cancer.  Not every story turns out the same.  Some have a "happily ever after" and some have other endings.

In 2011, there were three people in my life diagnosed with cancer.  My best friend, Doug Jackson, and a co-worker of mine were both diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer.  Another friend of mine, Debbie Rollins, was diagnosed with cancer.

Doug was a vibrant man.  He owned his own business, Doug's Flowers and Gifts in Strong City.  He made flower arrangements for the White House, was one of FTD's top 10 florists in the world, designed and built Tournament of Roses parade floats, was one of a handful of florists for the Atlanta Olympics, and competed in global floral competitions.  He also was a volunteer for the chorus.  Doug saw his doctor regularly and thought his PSA levels were being checked...they were not.  When they discovered he had cancer, he was already in stage 4 and the cancer was spreading rapidly.  He fought the cancer for over a year finally succumbing to it on May 14, 2012.  He was 59 years old at the time of his death.  Medical costs consumed his retirement and savings.

My co-worker in the Wichita Public Schools was a teacher for over 30 years.  He spent his career teaching at-risk students and was popular with his students and co-workers.  He is also a local Wichita business owner.  His story turned out differently than Doug's.  He was able to beat the cancer and is cancer free today.

Debbie Rollins lost her battle with cancer a few months after Doug had passed away.  His death had hit her pretty hard.  She called Doug her cancer buddy.  They went with each other to their treatments.  Doug and Debbie had been good friends for many years.

Debbie Rollins

The work of organizations that provide support for cancer patients and their families and the research done to find cures and treatments for cancer are very important.  That is why the Heart of America Men's Chorus has partnered up with the American Cancer Society to bring awareness about the efforts of this organization in the fight against cancer.  With your help, we can help make more "happily ever afters" and lessen the pain of the other endings.

HOAMC will present "Red, White, and Cure" on June 27th and 28th at Newman University's Demattias Performance Hall.

About the Beneficiary of this Concert: Prairie Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center

Prairie Meadows was created to enhance the lives of children with special needs by bringing horses and children together for special therapy to maximize functional outcomes.We are passionate about being involved in the lives of youth and watching their goals become reality after sessions in therapy.

Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes.

Background

PMTRC is a non-profit Christian organization founded in 1989 in Coffeyville, KS by Jim Webb, a horse instructor, and daughters, Kristin Wertz and Kori Turney, both occupational therapists. PMTRC was created to enhance the lives of children with special needs by bringing horses and children together. The family owned and operated program continues today with the same passion now in two locations: Goddard, KS (west of Wichita) and Louisburg, KS (south of Kansas City).

 

Why The Horse?

Equine movement provides multidimensional movement, which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The horse provides a dynamic base of support, making it an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength and control balance, building overall postural strength and endurance, addressing weight bearing, and motor planning. Equine movement offers well-modulated sensory input to vestibular, perceptive, tactile and visual channels. During gait transitions of the horse, the rider must perform constant adjustments in the trunk to maintain a stable position. When a client is riding forward on the horse, the horse's walking gait imparts movement responds remarkably similar to normal human gait. The effects of equine movement on postural control, sensory systems, and motor planning can be used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills and attention skills. Equine movement can be used to facilitate the neurophysiologic systems that support all of our functional daily living skills.

Volunteer
 

Volunteering is a great opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child! You can learn how to become a side-walker, lead the horse, help with fund raising, and more! If you would like additional information about our volunteer program contact us today!

 

Ride

If you know a child who would benefit
from hippotherapy, please let us know!

Financial Contributions

PMTRC would not be where we are today without the generous support of others. If you are interested in becoming involved in this way we would love to share more details with you. 

 

To Contact PMTRC:

 
PMTRC Goddard
Kori Turney, OTR
1055 North 199th Street West
Goddard, KS 67052
(316)-204-1259
kori@prairiemeadowstherapy.org

 

 

Cowboys and Rockstars: HOAMC's Upcoming Concert

Get out those cowboy boots and tune up the Harley.  HOAMC is born to be wild with all our friends in low places.  "Cowboys and RockStars" will be showing at Newman University's DeMattias Performance Hall at 3100 West McCormick just off of Kellogg and Edwards on Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 at 4:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15 with $5 tickets for students.  Tickets may be bought at the door, by stopping in at Creative Awards, or by calling (316) 708-4837.  The beneficiary of this concert is the Prairie Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center.

HOAMC Christmas 2014: Cheers! A Toast to the Holidays

Join the Heart of America Men's Chorus at the De  Mattias Fine Arts Center on the Newman University campus for our 2014 holiday show, Cheers! A Toast to the Holidays.  The show is on Saturday, December 13th at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14th at 4:30 p.m.  The guys have been working hard to bring you an eclectic mix of familiar songs and some from around the world as well as some that you may never have heard before.  Part of the proceeds for this concert will go to Inter-Faith Ministries's program "Operation Holiday."  This is a program that collects coats, gloves, scarves, and hats to distribute to those in need of winter wear. 

Just in case you are not familiar with Newman University, there is a map included.  The De Mattias Fine Arts Center is south of McCormick Street and DM is the building label on the map.  The part of parking lot A that you are looking for is at the west end of the building.  The entrance is also at the west end of the building.

Important HOAMC Dates to Remember

Oct. 16^th – Logan’s Roadhouse (East) Fundraiser

Oct. 20^th – HOAMC Board Mtg at Creative Awards @ 6:00 pm

Oct. 30^th – Bitchy Bingo at Rain – Witches, Tricks, and Tramps!

Nov. 15^th – Deck the Halls at Innes Station

Nov. 17^th – HOAMC Board Mtg at Creative Awards @ 6:00 pm

Dec. 13^th and 14^th – Cheers!  A Toast to the Holidays

Dec. 15^th – HOAMC Board Mtg at Creative Awards @ 6:00 pm

Dec. 16^th – Caroling at Botanica  6:30 – 7:15

Jan. 15^th – Bitchy Bingo at Rain -  Let it Blow!  Let it Blow!  Let it Blow!

Feb. 7^th – Valley Center Animal League Benefit

Feb. – HOAMC Casino Night – Date TBD

March 28^th and 29^th, 2015 – Cowboys and Rockstars

April – Bitchy Bingo at Rain – Date TBD

April – Spring Fling Silent Auction – Date TBD

June 27^th and 28^st, 2015 – Red, White, and Cure  (notice the change of date)

"I Sing Out" from "Raise You Up."

"Raise You Up" Ticket Give-away

The Heart of America Men's Chorus is giving away tickets to the upcoming show on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 & 22.  We have a pair for Saturday and another pair for Sunday.  All you have to do is send me an email at tazirk@aol.com with RAISE YOU UP in the subject line.  Make sure your name is included in the email and specify the day you want to attend.  Names will be drawn randomly, I will email you back, and your tickets will be placed at will-call for pick-up on the day of the performance.  Please give it a try.  You have nothing to lose and you can gain free tickets to a great show.

Raise You Up: HOAMC Pride 2014

From the Wichita Eagle

Heart of America Men’s Chorus tackles bullying

• By Joe Stumpe
• Eagle correspondent

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/07/3325639/heart-of-america-mens-chorus-tackles.html#storylink=cpy

The Heart of America Men’s Chorus has a knack for matching music with causes dear to members’ hearts.  A few years ago, for example, the group belted out Broadway tunes to benefit the high school fine arts department in tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kan. More recently, a patriotically themed concert raised money for the Wichita Fraternal Order of Police.

The chorus – made up of 30 talented amateur singers – is at it again this weekend, using a production based on a well-known children’s book to help the Kansas Children’s Service League and its anti-bullying hotline.  “For the Child in All of Us,” the first half of which is based on “Oliver Button Is a Sissy,” will be performed Saturday and Sunday at Newman University. The show’s second half features hits from Disney movies.

“We always try to do something that benefits the community,” said Eric Nachtigal, who’s the group’s president, one of its second tenors and an elementary school counselor. “One of the components of this concert is a message of bullying prevention, acceptance and love.”

Although all of the chorus’ productions are strictly G-rated, Nachtigal said the current one is even more family-oriented. “It’s geared toward children. We’re encouraging parents to bring their children.”

“Oliver Button is a Sissy,” by Tomie dePaola, tells the story of a boy who must deal with being an outsider because he’d rather paint and tap dance than play sports. The first half of the concert alternates narration of the book (by chorus member Bill Loyd) with songs performed by the chorus.

Nachtigal said he first saw the show performed by the Heartland Men’s Chorus in Kansas City. “A number of us went and fell in love with it, and had the dream of bringing it back to Wichita.”

“It’s all about accepting people for who they are and their unique qualities,” he added. “It’s just a wonderful message for everybody.”

The concert’s second half is filled with songs from Disney movies, including “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from “Toy Story,” “Pure Imagination” from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from “Mary Poppins,” “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King” and “Hallelujah” from “Shrek.”

“There’s a nice mix of newer and older Disney,” Nachtigal said.

The idea, he said, is to “bring the audience to a point where they can imagine that everything is possible and that we’re all wonderful creatures.”

With an intermission, the show runs about 75 minutes.

Through a partnership with Arts Partners of Wichita, the chorus also performed two sold-out shows Thursday for local schoolchildren.

The chorus was formed in 2002 by five men. The group stages three shows a year, during the spring, summer and holiday season. They’re accompanied by pianists and directed by Deanne Zogleman, director of Newman’s music department. Members practice once a week at Newman.

“They’re just community members who come from all different facets of life,” Nachtigal said. “There are a lot of teachers and businessmen.”

There are no “tryouts” and anyone is welcome to join, he said.

In addition to music, Nachtigal said members share a love for their community.
“We all share that common interest. It’s something we’re really passionate about.”

If you go

‘For the Child In All of Us’

What: Concert by the Heart of America Men’s Chorus
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: De Mattias Performance Hall, Newman University
Tickets: $15 for adults, $5 for students, children 12 and under free with paid adult admission. Available at the door or by calling 316-708-4837.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/07/3325639/heart-of-america-mens-chorus-tackles.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/07/3325639/heart-of-america-mens-chorus-tackles.html#storylink=cpy

HOAMC Performs "Oliver Button is a Sissy" for 800 Local Students

PACKED AUDITORIUM AGAIN!! This was at the beginning of our second school performance for March 6th! Don't miss this show this weekend. Just ask any of these children who attended. Kudos to the Newman University Sloppy Joes Improv Troupe for helping us out!

We have received many positive responses from teachers and parents.  Teachers and parents wrote to us saying how their children sought help or became empowered to believe that it will get better.  It has been a true honor to perform this piece and truly rewarding that it has helped people. 

HOAMC Voices Speak on Bullying: Travis Zirkle