Schumacher continues inspiration of great Joe Stern
| Type of post: | Chorus news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | John Braden |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Sat, Jan 18 2025 |
The Kansas City Chapter's most prestigious award, the Joe Stern Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented Jan. 11, 2025, to Mike Schumacher, who just completed five years as HOA president in two stints separated by only one year. That is more than any other man in chapter history.
The Joe Stern Award is not presented every year. Winners are an august few who have gone above and beyond the call to serve HOA. They are: Former International President Gil Lefholz, Dan Henry Bowser, Director Emeritus Jim Bagby, Former International President Bob Gall, Ron Abel, Bruce Wenner, Vince Perry III and Mike Mathieu.
The Joe Stern goes to a person who most closely meets the example set by Joe Stern, a major influence on the Kansas City Chapter of SPEBSQSA and on Barbershopping as a whole in the 1930s-1950s. Joe Stern was the second director in HOA's history. He was editor of the Barbershop Society's first bulletin, served on the first Society board including six years as secretary-treasurer. As president of the Kansas City Chapter, he pushed for standardization of the Society's judging rules -- eliminating the practice of audience voting and celebrity judges for barbershop contests. He also became a noted arranger, composer, coach and judge. He was HOA Barbershopper of the Year (or whatever they called it then) in 1953.
There was one more thing about Joe Stern: He served as president of the Kansas City Chapter for four years in three separate stints. That was more than any other man – until now. At the end of his last term in January 2025, Mike Schumacher completed his fifth year as HOA president. He served as a board member for four years before that.
Mike Schumacher shall be remembered as HOA's COVID President – striving to keep the chorus functioning through the worst national calamity since World War II. Every time you turn around thinking something needs to be done, Mike Schumacher is standing there already doing it. When health concerns retired Vince Perry III as HOA chorus manager – that’s the guy who makes sure everything that must happen does happen – there was Mike Schumacher stepping in to do that work.
HOA's risers – and the Kansas City Sweet Adelines risers – do not move without the tender care of Mike Schumacher. He tracks attendance, he hunts down chapter office nominees, he oversees uniform collection and distribution. In the fall of 2017, he was asked to help with directing in rehearsals and first waved arms on stage as associate director in the 2018 annual show. He also previously won three of the chapter’s major awards, the John Cross Award, Barbershopper of the Year and the Oz Newgard Award.
And he is unfailingly pleasant, consistently positive and maddeningly unflappable, despite the attempts of lesser men to get a rise out of him.
Speaking of World War II, in 1941 Mike’s Dad met his Mom, who was under contract to sing in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Jolly Old England. He spirited her away to the U.S., to the benefit of Sweet Adelines and Barbershoppers in Kansas City and beyond. Maureen was a 45-year member of Sweet Adelines, inspiring Mike’s sister Carol, his wife Linda, his daughter Stacy – and, of course, Mike.
In remarks to the 2024 HOA installation banquet, Mike read a quote (from he knew not where) saying in part: “That’s why we teach music… So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good.” That about sums up Mike Schumacher.
And now, there is one caveat – just because he receives this "lifetime achievement" award does not mean he can stop doing what he’s doing. Our 2024 winner of the Joe Stern Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Schumacher.
(Adapted from the award presentation at the 2025 HOA Installation Banquet.)
The Joe Stern Award is not presented every year. Winners are an august few who have gone above and beyond the call to serve HOA. They are: Former International President Gil Lefholz, Dan Henry Bowser, Director Emeritus Jim Bagby, Former International President Bob Gall, Ron Abel, Bruce Wenner, Vince Perry III and Mike Mathieu.
The Joe Stern goes to a person who most closely meets the example set by Joe Stern, a major influence on the Kansas City Chapter of SPEBSQSA and on Barbershopping as a whole in the 1930s-1950s. Joe Stern was the second director in HOA's history. He was editor of the Barbershop Society's first bulletin, served on the first Society board including six years as secretary-treasurer. As president of the Kansas City Chapter, he pushed for standardization of the Society's judging rules -- eliminating the practice of audience voting and celebrity judges for barbershop contests. He also became a noted arranger, composer, coach and judge. He was HOA Barbershopper of the Year (or whatever they called it then) in 1953.There was one more thing about Joe Stern: He served as president of the Kansas City Chapter for four years in three separate stints. That was more than any other man – until now. At the end of his last term in January 2025, Mike Schumacher completed his fifth year as HOA president. He served as a board member for four years before that.
Mike Schumacher shall be remembered as HOA's COVID President – striving to keep the chorus functioning through the worst national calamity since World War II. Every time you turn around thinking something needs to be done, Mike Schumacher is standing there already doing it. When health concerns retired Vince Perry III as HOA chorus manager – that’s the guy who makes sure everything that must happen does happen – there was Mike Schumacher stepping in to do that work.
HOA's risers – and the Kansas City Sweet Adelines risers – do not move without the tender care of Mike Schumacher. He tracks attendance, he hunts down chapter office nominees, he oversees uniform collection and distribution. In the fall of 2017, he was asked to help with directing in rehearsals and first waved arms on stage as associate director in the 2018 annual show. He also previously won three of the chapter’s major awards, the John Cross Award, Barbershopper of the Year and the Oz Newgard Award.And he is unfailingly pleasant, consistently positive and maddeningly unflappable, despite the attempts of lesser men to get a rise out of him.
Speaking of World War II, in 1941 Mike’s Dad met his Mom, who was under contract to sing in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Jolly Old England. He spirited her away to the U.S., to the benefit of Sweet Adelines and Barbershoppers in Kansas City and beyond. Maureen was a 45-year member of Sweet Adelines, inspiring Mike’s sister Carol, his wife Linda, his daughter Stacy – and, of course, Mike.
In remarks to the 2024 HOA installation banquet, Mike read a quote (from he knew not where) saying in part: “That’s why we teach music… So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good.” That about sums up Mike Schumacher.
And now, there is one caveat – just because he receives this "lifetime achievement" award does not mean he can stop doing what he’s doing. Our 2024 winner of the Joe Stern Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Schumacher.
(Adapted from the award presentation at the 2025 HOA Installation Banquet.)
