What is a Barbershop Chorus?

Well, when you hear the term ‘barbershop‘ most people think of 4 guys (a quartet) in stripey waistcoats and straw hats singing in harmony. This approximates to what we do but without the waistcoats and hats – and there are more of us! The four members of a quartet each sing a slightly different tune with a different voice style (or ‘part‘). The different notes combine together to produce chords of music, which gives rise to a rich sound. The four voice parts are known as Bass, Baritone, Lead and Tenor, with Bass being in the lowest range of notes and Tenor being in the highest. In the chorus we sing in the same way that quartets do, but with more persons for each of the parts. We sing both traditional and modern songs and the sound is just wonderful – come and hear it!

Do you need to read music?

If you are wondering whether you have to read music and already be a musician or singer to join us, the answer is no. Whilst it is a little easier if you do have some musical knowledge already, many of us, myself included, came along to see what it was all about and just climbed on board. There is plenty of tuition available and a very friendly and encouraging atmosphere. Learning songs and singing together is what we do but the consequence is that we have a powerful common thread that binds us into a great bunch of mates. Having said that, the last thing we are is exclusive and we are always on the look out for new members of all ages. Come along and see for yourself.

Is Barbershop Singing still done elsewhere in New Zealand or anywhere else in the world?

As a chorus, we are affiliated to the New Zealand Association of Barbershop Singers (NZABS) and the international body, the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). There are a number of similar choruses in the main centres in New Zealand and we have a Convention every year when we get together and compete (!) and socialise. Every 4 years we attend a Pan Pacific Convention and do the same thing with choruses from Australia, Japan and the USA – the next one is in Hawaii in November 2008. In 2005, as a one off, we competed at the premier International Convention in Salt Lake City, USA. If this sounds impressive, it is – but don’t be put off by that, we all started by just coming along and getting involved. How about giving it a go?

Is there a women‘s version of Barbershop Singing?

There certainly is. Their parallel organisation is known as the Sweet Adelines and they are represented in Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand. If you would like to contact a Sweet Adelines chorus, there are addresses under our Links tab.