The Hattiesburg Concert Association (HCA), parent organization of FestivalSouth and The Meistersingers, celebrates their 25th anniversary of bringing high quality arts events to the Pine Belt.
“The exemplary quality of the Meistersinger and FestivalSouth performances we enjoy today are direct results of the dedication to excellence of so many of our performers and artistic directors over the last 25 years,” said Amanda Powell, chairwoman of the HCA. “Hattiesburg is a city rich with talent and creativity and the HCA is grateful to continue to be a part of the cultivation of this community.”
The Hattiesburg Civic Chorus and Concert Association (HCA) began with the Meistersingers Community Chorus in 1996. Hattiesburg resident, Nancy Tatum was instrumental in gathering the forces necessary to make this chorus happen. The Meistersingers managed to put on an amazing Christmas Concert that year in what is now the Sacred Heart High School (at that time it was the First Baptist Church). It was a huge success and the organization had many seasons of events and a wonderful and dedicated following of patrons in Hattiesburg.
In 2010, the organization grew from just being a Civic Chorus by adding an annual event called FestivalSouth to the organization’s projects. The HCA is a non-profit corporation in our community that supports and presents first class performances of all kinds, for all ages and tastes.
According to former HCA Chairman, David Ott, “We have always been about engaging our community in making this a better place. What better way to do that than through music.”
Formed in 1996, with the community chorus, The Meistersingers, the organization expanded in 2010 to include FestivalSouth, a multi-week festival that has become the largest, multi-genre arts festival in the state. Over the past quarter of a century, the HCA has created, produced, and presented numerous outstanding projects that have contributed to the artistic fabric and reputation of this community, improved our area’s quality of life, supported education, enhanced economic development, and promoted tourism for our community.
For many years HCA projects have regularly contributed to Hattiesburg’s reputation of being one of Mississippi’s premier artistic communities. proud to live and work in a community that supports the arts.
As the founding group, The Meistersingers celebrate their twenty-fifth season and FestivalSouth, its thirteenth season. Both organizations are planning events to celebrate the organization’s Silver Anniversary.
The Meistersingers will present a very special Christmas Concert on December 5, a major choral masterwork in April and a special anniversary concert during FestivalSouth in June. FestivalSouth is pulling out all the stops to bring events for all ages with new coordinators focused on our community. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong will open the summer celebration and Forever: The Music of Queen A Symphonic Rock Concert to close the 2022 season.
To kick off the year-long anniversary celebration, FestivalSouth will present a kickoff concert on Thursday, October 14 at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater at 7:30 p.m. More information coming soon! Visit festivalsouth.org for tickets and more information.
The future of the HCA looks bright and hopeful. The organization remains dedicated to broadening audiences as we address inclusion, diversity, equality, and accessibility.
Dean added, “It is an important goal of the HCA and FestvaiSouth to work closely with the Forrest and Lamar Counties, the City of Hattiesburg, as well as our two universities to create an arts-rich community, which defines us as a premier arts destination in Mississippi.
