The Heartland Singers sang spiritual and spirited songs in a 90-minute free concert on Sunday afternoon, March 30.

It was the annual spring concert for the volunteer chorale that formed in 1987. The singers also give a Christmas concert in exchange for freewill donations.

The conductor is Chrysanne Bailey.

Heartland concerts are held at different locations around town. This one was held at the First Baptist Church at 100 McDonald Road.

The theme of was “A Season for Everything,” with songs about the hopes and dreams of springtime. The chorale was 35 voices strong.

Their songs included the stirring, soaring, “Alleluia,” with lyrics that consisted of only that word in all its forms, as well as two songs from the musical, The Greatest Showman, with lyrics that speak of great individual aspirations. The Greatest Showman is loosely based on the life of P.T. Barnum.

The Heartland Singers also performed “Chim Chim Cher ee” from the 1964 musical Mary Poppins. The song won the Oscar that year for best original song.

Other highlights included “Oklahoma!” from the musical of the same name, an apt song for windy weather, “America” from West Side Story, and the 1862 Resurrection Alleluias, proclaiming the joyous news of the risen Christ.

One of the singers, Wilma Douty, joined the chorale in the first year. She said the group has had a variety of accompanists over the years, including a Dixieland band, a trumpeter and a brass quartet. For this concert, they were accompanied by Jennifer Smallcomb-Winder on piano and Julie John on drums. She said they practiced on Sunday nights for about eight weeks.

If interested in joining the Heartland Singers, contact Mike Douty at 530-8191.

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