June Newsletter
ARTV Summer Info
June 14 & 28 – 3pm: Buckner Park | 6114 Bass Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46818
July 5 & 19 – 3pm: Lakeside Park | 1401 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
August 9 & 16 – 3pm: Kreager Park | 7225 N River Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46815
Development Corner:
On the Mind of the Maestro
My Mindful Musings Blog about the Arts and Community
by Maestro Robert Nance
Time to Invest Substantially in the Arts
If you have ever started a business, I suspect you understand what it means to boot-strap your company. It’s a way for entrepreneurs and small business owners to invest minimally, rely on their own sweat-equity and minimal staff to get things going. It’s great at first, especially when you are trying to prove your business model. But it limits growth, which means eventually you have to simply invest a lot more to get the momentum to run your business effectively.
In the Arts, boot-strapping is the most common business model: pay out little, rely on volunteers, and hope for the best. Of course, this model doesn’t work well for the Arts because it means growth is painfully slow. It limits the institution’s ability to sustain the livelihoods of career artisans and likewise the availability of their programming, and arguably the quality of their programming as well. Such was my experience with Heartland Sings in the beginning.
When I founded this vocal arts company 1997, the goal was to invest in the artists first and foremost, embracing the idea that the community thrives when the arts thrive, and the arts thrive when the artists have what they need to create. When we finally were able to fund this concept fully through a substantial investment from some of our donors, we were able to hire full-time artists who not only grew the company, but so substantially that in the past decade Heartland Sings has accomplished more than they had in the first twenty years of their existence. This substantial investment enabled us to be more successful and deliver to the region a 10-fold return on that investment.
For a plethora of reasons, cultivating a robust investment for the arts is difficult. I suspect this is because our community leaders (government, businesses, foundations, and philanthropists) do not necessarily view the arts as an important community resource, misunderstand what it means to be a non-profit, and don’t know about all the proven health and welfare benefits from a strong, thriving arts scene. This case for investment is easily made when you look at the evidence and, in my case, have the benefit of more than 3 decades of experience seeing that it works.
As an example, I can point to Heartland Sings’ commitment to using their art form to help others and build community. As Rene Fleming puts it in her book “Music and Mind,” art for art sake is not the goal but rather art for life’s sake. In recent years, Heartland Sings has presented concerts with the intent to inform and inspire audiences to take action on issues facing the community. These concerts featured area non-profits whose purpose is to address a particular issue and by virtue of their presence at the concert give audiences a great opportunity to find a way to help. What better way to help unite a build a better community around an issue?
Another example is how our artists are interfacing with our students in education, helping them discover their creative selves, which provides them with the skill to cope with life in both healthy and often cathartic ways.
Essentially, the arts are a great investment because it is the best resource for civilized society to achieve overall community social, mental and emotional health. Time and time again, studies reveal substantial evidence that proves we can achieve some of the same medical and societal benefits through the arts. Thus, it makes sense for everyone to seriously consider the arts as an indispensable resource and fund it just like any other project that helps to build a vibrant, sustainable and livable community.
Overall, a substantial investment in the arts is smart. It is cost effective, provides a avenue for citizens to access a huge array of health benefits, thereby mitigating the issues that plague communities, and vastly reducing the extraordinary costs associated with societal ills where the arts are underfunded and/or absent.
I encourage everyone in our community to seek ways to invest in the arts. A little goes a long way. And if we all join together to invest in the arts, I know from past experience that the the results will be astounding.
Bob’s Gone!
In what the Heartland Sings staff refer to as “the most shocking turn of events this decade has yet to see,” Maestro Robert Nance has taken… A VACATION. He will be on sabbatical for 18 entire days in the month of June, leaving the staff to fend for themselves.
“I mean… I just don’t know how HE’LL do, not being HERE,” said Misha Gray-Chemey, the General Manager. “I’ve known Bob since I was literally a toddler, and I don’t know what he’s going to do what himself while he’s gone.” No word yet on what Mr. Nance will be doing while he is gone.
“Can he throw his phone in the ocean?” Principal Artist David Bobay asked. “He’s going to have to fully lock his phone away in order to not answer any texts or help. He’s going to have to overcome his urge to help at all times, and I’m not sure how he’ll do it.”
“Has he mapped out all of the Starbucks locations are on the way to where he’s going?” Asked Kara Jaurigue, the Office Manager. “Is there a Starbucks where he’s going? Are they going to know how to make his coffee like the baristas at the West Jefferson St. location?” The staff is concerned by the caffeination level of Bob’s vacation location.
“Will he ever learn to play his scales? What if I’m not there to place his music right side up?” Reggie Berg, Principal Artist, lamented. “He’s just going to play Heart and Soul constantly. What about his jackets? What if they get wrinkled in transit? He’ll have to bring an iron with him. Will he wear sweatpants? Does he know what sweatpants look like? Has he ever been to a Walmart?”
“I can’t imagine what he’ll do or how he’ll feel if he forgets his beloved Heartland Sings pin,” mourned Sangeeta Reddy, Development Associate. “Otherwise, how will he spread our message (see above) to the masses?”
Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez, Principal Artist, is concerned about Mr. Nance's Duolingo streak. “Will he make sure to practice every day? Will he make others join him in singing the iconic chorus of ‘cielito lindo’?”
“Who’s going to drive me now?” asked 40-foot RV, Harvey.
Rumor has it that not only has Lucy Rhymes, Director of Marketing and Sales, fully taken over Mr. Nance’s house during cat sitting, but has also fully commandeered his couch in his office, and has taken to calling themselves “Mini Maestro.”
“Who’s going to cover the Bradley?” Natalie Young, Artistic Director, asked. “Or rather, what will the Bradley do without HIM? His fan club will have to eat without him. How will he get their weekly fix of Cole Porter?”
“I fully support his decision to go on vacation,” said Eric Miller, President. “After working with Bob for 15 years on a daily basis, every day, every hour, with no breaks, this time might be harder than watching my daughter go off to college. I wish him safe travels and the long and winding road home.”
“He’s not even going on a vacation, he’s going to write the libretto for a new musical,” said Seth Allen, Principal Artist. “He’s literally taking a break from work to do more work.”
Note from ye old maestro: “I approve of the above message, and, while it is clearly a spoof, there is a lot of truth there! I invite everyone who loves Heartland Sings to really get to know these wonderfully creative and talented people. They are an amazing blessing for our community, and I have been and continue to be extremely honored to call them colleagues and friends!”
Board Spotlight – Maria Smith
Get to know Maria Smith, the Chairman of our Board of Directors:
How long have you been on the board for Heartland Sings? Oh gosh, I've been on the board since about 2013, I believe, with a maybe a year or two break in there somewhere.
What is something you love about Heartland Sings? What I love most about Heartland Sings is how intentionally they bring music to life in our community—not just as performance, but as purpose. Their commitment to creating real career opportunities for vocal artists stands out, especially in a market where that’s not always easy to find.
I also really appreciate the range of programming they offer. From high-quality performances to education and outreach, they make music accessible and meaningful for people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s clear they’re not just putting on shows—they’re truly working to “change lives through song” and use the arts to connect and unite people.
What's your favorite Heartland Sings story?
One of my favorite Heartland Sings stories goes back to a trip to the Arts Midwest Conference in Minnesota with staff and other board members from Heartland Sings. At the time, I had only flown once before and was incredibly nervous about the trip.
I’ll never forget how my fellow board member, Pat Adsit, sat next to me on the flight and let me hold her hand the entire way. It was such a simple act of kindness, but it meant everything in that moment—and it became something we laughed about and bonded over for years afterward.
Beyond that, the conference itself was a turning point for me. As a young professional just starting out, it gave me a deeper appreciation for the arts, the impact of organizations like Heartland Sings, and what it means to contribute meaningfully to a community through board service.
That experience perfectly captures what I love about Heartland Sings; the relationships, the growth, and the shared belief in the power of the arts to shape lives.
Do you have any pets? Yes! I have one cat named Othello. As my colleagues and Heartland board and staff can attest to, he LOVES spending time on my desk during virtual calls. As soon as he hears voices coming from my computer he comes running to make himself known to all present. The picture I attached shows him sitting next to his Lego doppelganger, Fauxthello.
What is one fun fact about yourself people may not know? I love baseball. My husband got me a map that helps me keep track of the Major League ballparks I've visited on my quest to see a game at each one. So far, I've only made it to 11 of them.
This month we celebrate the work anniversaries of Seth Allen, Principal Artist – Tenor, and Alejandra Sandoval-Montanez, Principal Artist – Mezzo-Soprano. We're so fortunate to have such talented performers on the Heartland Sings staff!
