Metropolitan Chorale aids Habitat for Humanity with “edgy” Mark Twain barbershop concert

Habitat for Humanity will get a boost from the Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City’s “Hardhats for Habitat” show for the fifth year in a row at the choir’s April 30, 2011 performance. Last year’s event raised nearly $4,000.00 for Habitat for Humanity, and over the past four years the Metropolitan Chorale has donated over $15,000.00 to the charity. This year the choir will be teaming up with the MCC-Blue River Student Ambassadors to undertake the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home as well.

The benefit concert will feature the barbershop stylings of the vocal group Central Standard, and the narrator will be an irascible Mark Twain, played by Kansas City radio personality Dick Wilson from 94.9 KCMO. Each year

director Rebecca Johnson and her crew create a delightful scripted performance that strings together well known tunes and witty crowd-pleasers to create a one-of-a-kind show.

The arts programs at MCC-Blue River have been dedicated to service learning for several years, so they are constantly searching for ways to serve the surrounding community. The fund raising success of the choir, according to Johnson, is due foremost to the quality of their performances. Ticket prices of just $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and children are a steal for a show of its caliber.

The Metropolitan Chorale maintains its standard of excellence because it combines experience with fresh talent, a combination derived from keeping both young MCC-Blue River students and adult singers from the community involved in the chorale. The choir began as a “town and gown” group, meaning that it was a community volunteer choir; however, when the Metropolitan Chorale accepted funding from MCC-Blue River, it also began accepting college student singers. The existing, successful Metropolitan Chorale formed the basis of Blue River’s vocal music program. This fortunate arrangement allows the choir to keep quality and experience aboard through the years and provides a mentoring situation for choir students whom bring fresh talent and energy for the few semesters they spend at MCC-Blue River. The final reason for the high quality of the singing group is that the Metropolitan Chorale accepts members only by audition. 

Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City conductor Rebecca Johnson promises that this year’s ‘Mark Twain’ narrated “Hardhats for Habitat” concert will not be a corny Americana-apple-pie event. “I just wanted to do something more edgy,” she emphasizes. Musical selections will include many barbershop style arrangements sung by the barbershop choir Central Standard and various reorganizations of the Metropolitan Chorale, including the MCC-Blue River show choir Vox Luminis and other breakout groups. The choir has also formed a barbershop quartet of some of its best singers.

Hardhats for Habitat, April 30, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Woods Chapel, 4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee’s Summit, Mo. Open to the public. Admission: Adults $10; Seniors and Children $6 Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity

For further information contact faculty member Rebecca Johnson.

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the MCC-Blue River Counseling Office at 816.604.6400. Advanced notice is required for some accommodations.