About Heart of Missouri Chorus

Based in Columbia, Missouri, the Heart of Missouri Chorus draws its membership from Jefferson City, Sedalia, California, Hallsville, Moberly, and other surrounding areas. Women of all ages and backgrounds make up the Hearts. We have high school students to sole proprietors, former theatrical students and women just learning the art of barbershop singing.

Performance

Whether dressed as cavewomen or decked out in sequins, the Heart of Missouri Chorus loves to entertain our community, our friends and families. We sing at annual shows, a number of community events, and at an annual competition. We also perform Singing Telegrams around Valentines Day and Mother's Day. We are available to sing at your next function or event. If you're looking for a unique musical experience to liven up your event, please check out our Hire Us section.

Education

A great passion of ours is learning more about the art of a cappella singing. It is the unique style of barbershop a cappella and the ear training necessary for independent part singing that makes it one of the most challenging and rewarding styles of vocal ensemble. That’s why vocal instruction is a regular part of chorus rehearsals, and a very important component of the chorus experience.

You don’t have to read music or understand music theory to sing barbershop. Throughout the year, we will receive coaching from visiting masters in the art of barbershop, where we learn many fabulous tricks of the trade.

Competition

In the spring of every year, Heart of Missouri Chorus participates in the Spirit of the Midwest Region 5 chorus competition. Competitions are a special time for quartets and choruses from our region to come together to sing for each other, and get some constructive feedback from a panel of judges. The winners of the regional competition in both quartet and chorus categories get to travel to the Sweet Adelines International Competition, which is held in the fall in a city selected each year. Click here to learn more.

Quartets

Another way to experience the thrill of the barbershop lock and ring is to sing in a quartet. It is a bit more challenging since each quartet member has to know her part completely and be able to blend it in perfect synchrony with the other three voices. But that extra effort is worth it as we watch audience members cry at a particularly moving passage or see the happiness and delight a tune brings.

Affiliation

The Heart of Missouri Chorus is a chapter of the highly respected Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide organization of approximately 30,000 members in choruses and quartets. Members extend over five continents and belong to more than 500 choruses and 1,200 quartets.