🎙️Heartland Singers to Present ‘Songs of Faith and Freedom’ Concert in North Platte

Listen to the full interview with Mike Douty on our Kubota Podcast

The Heartland Singers will return to the stage later this month with a concert celebrating both faith and patriotism as the nation approaches a historic milestone.

The community choir’s upcoming performance, titled “Songs of Faith and Freedom,” is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 203 W. Fourth Street in North Platte. Admission is free, though goodwill donations will be accepted to help support the organization.

Heartland Singers member Mike Douty said the group has been bringing music to the North Platte community for decades.

“Heartland Singers, I mean we’ve been in existence since 1987 so next year we’ll be coming up on our 40th anniversary,” Douty said. “I’ve been a part of it all 40 years and it’s just a time for us to get together. A bunch of us that love music and sing and perform concerts for different people…for the community.”

The theme of the concert reflects the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, blending sacred and patriotic music into one program.

“We are doing…songs of faith and freedom,” Douty said. “So we’re doing like How Great Thou Art and we’re doing a song called Sing Me to Heaven and Joy in the Morning. That’s the faith part of it and then for the patriotic, for the freedom, we’re doing Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America.”

The program will also include spirituals and special selections performed by different sections of the choir.

Among the highlights are a spiritual medley featuring I’ll Fly Away and the energetic spiritual Elijah Rock. The choir will also perform a salute to the armed forces, encouraging veterans and service members in the audience to stand when their branch’s theme song is performed.

In addition, the men of the choir will perform “The Auctioneer,” while the women will present “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”

The choir is conducted by Chrisann Bailey and accompanied by Janet Evans, who recently stepped in as accompanist due to scheduling conflicts with the group’s previous pianist.

Douty said the choir currently has about 26 to 30 members, though participation varies due to busy schedules and illnesses. He noted the group is especially in need of additional male singers.

“We always need people,” Douty said. “Especially in the guys because like this concert we only have three basses… and the bass part is the foundation of most choirs.”

Those interested in joining the group will have the opportunity to audition later this year. According to Douty, auditions for the next concert cycle are expected to take place around Oct. 4, and singers only need to audition once to become a member.

The Heartland Singers is a nonprofit organization that promotes music appreciation in the North Platte area and provides an opportunity for local performers to share their talents with the community.

“It just adds to the cultural feel of North Platte,” Douty said.

Looking ahead, the choir is preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027, a milestone Douty says represents the dedication of members who simply love to sing.

“Endurance,” he said. “People just love to sing and so they stick with it.”

The “Songs of Faith and Freedom” concert will take place March 22 at 3 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in North Platte. Admission is free, with donations helping cover costs such as music, the conductor, and other program expenses.