Conductor and Artistic Director
Heartland Men's Chorus Kansas City
Shawn Cullen is a conductor, creative producer, and arts leader whose work lives at the intersection of musical excellence and mission-driven performance. He currently serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of Heartland Men's Chorus Kansas City — one of the nation's leading LGBTQ+ performing arts organizations — where he leads a chorus of more than 165 singers in its landmark 40th season. Appointed following a national search in 2020, Cullen guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and into a period of sustained artistic and community growth.
Over more than two decades, Cullen has shaped more than 50 concert and theatrical productions that blend artistry with advocacy. His previous leadership includes eight years directing Reveille Men's Chorus and Desert Voices Mixed Chorus in Tucson, Arizona, and he has guest-conducted ensembles and served as a clinician for audiences reaching more than 1,000 singers at regional, national, and international events. He served six years on the national board of directors of GALA Choruses, the world's largest association of LGBTQ+ choral organizations.
A sought-after clinician and presenter, Cullen has facilitated workshops at regional and national conferences on building safe and inclusive spaces, nonprofit performing arts strategy, and the architecture of belonging. A passionate educator, he has held faculty roles at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory and the University of Arizona's Fred Fox School of Music. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Arizona, and doctoral studies at UMKC Conservatory. He is also a national community advocate for suicide awareness through Survivors of Suicide.
HEARTLAND MEN'S CHORUS KANSAS CITY
Heartland Men's Chorus Kansas City is one of the nation's premier LGBTQ+ performing arts organizations, now celebrating its landmark 40th season. Founded in 1986 — making it the oldest cultural institution serving the LGBTQ+ community in the Kansas City region — HMC has grown from a debut concert of 30 men into a 160-member ensemble performing annually for live audiences exceeding 6,700 across premier regional venues including the historic Folly Theater, Yardley Hall, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
As the largest men's chorus and largest community chorus in the region, HMC produces a full season of mainstage concerts known for their "choral theater" format — blending music, narration, and multimedia to illuminate social issues and human stories. In 2025, the chorus completed a six-city tour throughout Kansas and Missouri, bringing its messages of love, hope, and resilience to communities across the Heartland. HMC has also performed on national and international stages including multiple GALA Choruses Festival productions, and has commissioned significant new works from composers including Andrew Lippa, Timothy C. Takach, and Mark Hayes.
Beyond the stage, HMC is a cornerstone of Kansas City's LGBTQ+ community and a vital civic institution. Its outreach programming, educational initiatives, and community partnerships reflect a deep commitment to the belief that music is a powerful vehicle for belonging, healing, and social change. The chorus has long served as a gathering place — for singers, audiences, and allies — where joy and justice share the same stage.
Heartland Men's Chorus Kansas City is a proud member of GALA Choruses, the world's largest association of LGBTQ+ choral organizations.
Learn more at hmckc.org