Hearts touched, memories evoked at Holiday Harmony show
| Type of post: | Chorus news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | John Braden |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Mon, Jan 13 2025 |
The Kansas City Chorus of Sweet Adelines and the Heart of America Barbershop Chorus helped bring joy of the season to area audiences at their 26th annual Holiday Harmony Spectacular in two shows Dec. 7.
The mix of barbershop chorus and quartet performances entertained crowds with holiday a cappella music both old and new at City House, U.S. 40 and Noland Road in Independence.
"We touched the hearts and brought back some memories for the people in attendance," HOA President Mike Schumacher said. Schumacher paraphrased quartet great Tony DeRosa, saying "People do not go to shows (of any kind) expecting perfection; they go to be touched by the stories we take them on. I think we did that pretty well."
HOA Director Carter Combs thanked Kansas City Chorus Director Michelle Hunget and the many people of both choruses who combined to make the show a success.
"Amid all the stress of trying to make sure we remembered to do everything soon enough, and pretty enough, and creative enough, and efficient enough, and, and, and, it's a relief to take a step back and realize it all came together, and our audiences loved and appreciated us," Combs said.
The joint choruses kicked off the show with tacky holiday sweaters and fun Christmas carols, then split up into separate choruses for more singing, with six chapter quartets interspersed. Act 2 featured headliner men’s barbershop quartet Home -- four veteran barbershoppers and friends who came together to test a new, but familiar vocal blend.
Act 2 also featured a children's chorus singing separately and with the choruses, plus the combined choruses performing traditional "Joy to the World," "Gesu Bambino," "This is My Wish," and a candlelit "O Holy Night."
The stage was lined with 110 Christmas toys collected for the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots drive, an annual tradition. In addition to toys donated by chorus and audience members, the chorus members donated $250 and audience members donated $248 for the cause.
A cast party, or Afterglow, followed in which the performers, who had been either onstage or backstage for the show, got actually to see and entertain each other, unwind and reflect on a great night.
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The mix of barbershop chorus and quartet performances entertained crowds with holiday a cappella music both old and new at City House, U.S. 40 and Noland Road in Independence.
"We touched the hearts and brought back some memories for the people in attendance," HOA President Mike Schumacher said. Schumacher paraphrased quartet great Tony DeRosa, saying "People do not go to shows (of any kind) expecting perfection; they go to be touched by the stories we take them on. I think we did that pretty well."
HOA Director Carter Combs thanked Kansas City Chorus Director Michelle Hunget and the many people of both choruses who combined to make the show a success.
"Amid all the stress of trying to make sure we remembered to do everything soon enough, and pretty enough, and creative enough, and efficient enough, and, and, and, it's a relief to take a step back and realize it all came together, and our audiences loved and appreciated us," Combs said.The joint choruses kicked off the show with tacky holiday sweaters and fun Christmas carols, then split up into separate choruses for more singing, with six chapter quartets interspersed. Act 2 featured headliner men’s barbershop quartet Home -- four veteran barbershoppers and friends who came together to test a new, but familiar vocal blend.
Act 2 also featured a children's chorus singing separately and with the choruses, plus the combined choruses performing traditional "Joy to the World," "Gesu Bambino," "This is My Wish," and a candlelit "O Holy Night."
The stage was lined with 110 Christmas toys collected for the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots drive, an annual tradition. In addition to toys donated by chorus and audience members, the chorus members donated $250 and audience members donated $248 for the cause.
A cast party, or Afterglow, followed in which the performers, who had been either onstage or backstage for the show, got actually to see and entertain each other, unwind and reflect on a great night.
