Heartland Men’s Chorus executive director Rick Fisher answers our Stage Questionnaire

The night of Harvey Milk’s assassination, November 27, 1978, the first openly gay men’s chorus raised its collective voice in grief, for him and for San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, who was also killed. It was the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ first public performance, on the steps of City Hall. Over the next few years, gay choruses would emerge in other U.S. cities — including, in 1986, Heartland Men’s Chorus.

Today, HMC’s 130-plus volunteer singers perform around the country as well as throughout the Midwest (and have sung in Europe), under the leadership of artistic director Joseph Nadeau and executive director Rick Fisher.

HMC joined with five other gay men’s choruses last year to commission I Am Harvey Milk, which premiered in San Francisco. This week (at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29, and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30), HMC and St. Louis’ Gateway Men’s Chorus perform I Am Harvey Milk, written by the Tony- and Emmy-nominated composer Andrew Lippa, at the Folly Theater, with Tim Seelig conducting.

Prior to the show’s premiere in KC, Fisher answered some of our questions.

The Pitch: When and how did Heartland Men’s Chorus come about? And what prompted its creation?

Fisher: In the summer of 1986, some men from Kansas City attended a GALA Festival (Gay & Lesbian Association of Choruses) in Minneapolis. They returned home inspired to launch a gay men’s chorus, and that fall, HMC was born. The fledgling chorus presented its first holiday concert in December 1986 with 30 singers in UMKC’s Pierson Auditorium.

How does HMC fit into the landscape of gay choruses around the country (and beyond the United States)?

As the chorus has grown in size and stature, it has become one of the top 10 gay men’s choruses in the country. Other choruses often look to us for inspiration and for programming ideas. Our 2012 musical documentary, When I Knew, has been picked up by other choruses across North America.

What role does the chorus play in the gay community?

We are a positive voice for the LGBT community, performing at LGBT events and other community events throughout the year. In addition, our members look to HMC as a safe and welcoming place to express themselves. We often hear from members that belonging to HMC is like belonging to a church. Or a very loud, very large family!

In the general community?

We present relevant and entertaining programming that reaches a broad segment of the community, drawing the largest audiences for choral programming in the region. We always strive for artistic excellence, but it is in our message that we transcend other arts programming.

How has HMC changed since its founding?

HMC has grown dramatically over the years in all measures. We regularly sing with 130-plus men. We’ve made the Folly Theater our performing home since 1994, and our annual concert series has grown from three performances to seven, drawing 7,000 a year to the concerts. In 2012, we made our debut at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, selling out two shows in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. In 2013, the chorus debuted with the Kansas City Symphony in a program called Broadway Rocks.

How did HMC get involved in I Am Harvey Milk, and why now?

Last year marked the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Harvey Milk. In anticipation of the anniversary, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus launched a project to commission a musical work based on Harvey’s life from Broadway composer Andrew Lippa. Our artistic director saw the potential for this project, and HMC signed on along with four other North American gay men’s choruses as co-commissioners of the new musical.

What is the process, or thinking, when choosing particular programs or adding to HMC’s repertoire?

The arc of a concert season is carefully and creatively designed to provide different experiences for the singers and the audience. While a holiday concert is a tradition, ours is not traditional — it’s often a mash-up of the expected holiday fare with fun, campy numbers that are the hallmark of gay men’s choruses. Another concert of the season is usually more serious — whether that be standard choral repertoire, an issue-based musical documentary or even a chamber opera. Then, the third is usually more of a pops concert, based on a particular composer, era or theme. We say we want each concert to provide TLC: tears, laughter and chills.

What is the audition process like, and what kind of training do choral members typically have?

Our auditions are really a placement interview, to determine that the singer can match pitch and what section of the choir they will sing in. No prepared piece is required. Our members range from those who come in not able to read music to musicians with advanced degrees.

How much time is spent on preparation and rehearsal?

All of our chorus members are volunteers. Our singers actually pay membership dues to perform with the chorus. Each singer invests about 50 hours in choral rehearsals in preparation for a concert. They also work on the music on their own time, as our concerts are performed from memory.