Barbershop Harmony Australia Presents A Harmony Showcase Of Champions

A cappella quartets and chorus ensembles from Australia and overseas will perform on Sydney’s north in a climax to a day of exciting choral competition when Barbershop Harmony Australia presents A Harmony Showcase of Champions after its 2015 Eastern Region Convention earlier in the day.

Current world champions, New Zealand quartet Musical Island Boys headlines the concert, along with the young Melbourne foursome the Mellow Diners and the award-winning, all-woman Endeavour Harmony Chorus, from Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.

The Musical Island Boys specialises in barbershop harmony. Over their 14-year history, they’ve toured Europe, the UK, the US and Japan, receiving standing ovations for their performances. 

Endeavour Harmony Chorus led by Lea Baker has become well-known as a premier female a-cappella ensemble. Formed in 1996, the group has more than 90 singers who sing in 4-part harmony. It has won many accolades in a-cappella singing including the prestigious Australasian Community Choir championships a finals spot in the ABC Classic FM Choir of The Year. Singing a variety of genres, the women who make up this dynamic ensemble come from all walks of life and share a passion for singing and performing. In 2014, the chorus won the coveted Australian National Title for barbershop singing for the 5th time. As the current national champions, the chorus will travel to USA in October 2015 to represent Australia at the world championships for the 4th time.

Formed in early 2014, the Mellow Diners (Andrew Bird, Alex Morris, Luke Stevenson and Lindsay Ondracek) have become one of Victoria’s most sought-after quartets. They have recently been promoting the barbershop style in schools across New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, running workshops and singing excursions for high school students. In 2014 they competed in the open finals of the Pan Pacific barbershop convention in Wellington. Self-confessed music nerds at heart, each singer brings a diverse range of instrumental and choral experience to the group.

Barker College has hosted the last three regional contests. The school runs around seven à cappella ensembles, developing the skills and passion of young singers wishing explore close harmony singing.  On the morning of the Harmony Showcase of Champions, the School will again host the Eastern Region Contest in their Rhodes Theatre with quartets and choruses from all over the state competing. The school’s own Barbershop Quartet, the current Regional youth gold medallists will be participating in this competition.

Tickets: $30 ($15 concession). Available at the door or online at www.trybooking.com/128016