03 Apr 2023 The hottest show in town
By Stefanie Brazile
In 2018, the Conway Men’s Chorus celebrated 20 years of singing together and were featured in 501 LIFE Magazine. This coming September, the volunteer group will begin their 25th year of fulfilling their motto: “So that music never dies, let all men sing.”
The creator of the men’s chorus was Tom Courtway. He hoped to have 100 voices singing on stage, lifting the community’s spirits with the gift of song. While that has not yet happened, over a period of 25 years, 330 men have sung in at least one of their 46, free concerts.
“The successful Men’s Chorus accepts men of all ages, beliefs, musical abilities and talents,” said Mike McCullars, who has been the board president since 2009. McCullars, Phil Boudreaux and Jim Lane were charter members in the fall of 1998, have sung in every concert and are on the chorus’ board. All three plan to sing in the May concert as well. They have performed more than 250 songs with the choir.
“Sadly, about a year ago after our spring concert, the place where all of our music was stored – Conway Printing – had a massive fire destroying everything,” McCullars said. “We lost more than 15,000 pieces of music but are slowly rebuilding our library thanks to generous donations of music by a couple of other choirs in the area. Several donors and businesses have also contributed. Still, there is so much music to be replaced and gained. Donations for that purpose are greatly appreciated.”
The chorus continues under the leadership of Jordan Bennett, who has been the music director since 2018. Paul Bradley has been the piano accompanist since 2006. The choir meets each Monday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Woodland Heights Baptist Church.
This past December, the chorus collaborated with the Conway Symphony Orchestra at their Christmas concert, performing five songs. “Both groups received lots of positive comments and we hope to do it again,” McCullars said. The Men’s Chorus held an additional concert later that month and sang to an audience of at least 450 people.
McCullars hopes to reach pre-COVID-19 audience levels, when each concert had 600 to 700 people in attendance. He invites all readers to attend the 2023 Spring Pops Concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with free admission and parking.
The concert will include The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” the beautiful “Be Still, My Soul,” the inspiring “Shine On Me,” the soulful “Tell My Father,” and the stirring “Music in the Air,” along with several other popular selections. Before singing the national anthem, the chorus will recognize veterans in the audience.
If you would like to help replace lost music “so that all men can continue to sing,” donations to the nonprofit group can be made online at conwaymenschorus.org/#support.
