Welcome to your consolidated source of all 2025 Barbershop Harmony Festival News!
Special Guests (x2)!!
Yep, you read that right!! This year we have not one, but TWO special guest groups joining us!!Australian a cappella legends The Idea of North, and 2024 BHS international silver medalist quartet First Take!
Events
We have so many incredible events lined up this year including:- Everyone in Harmony Workshop, followed by our annual John Little Show
- Welcome Gala (valued at over $140pp!)
- Quartet & Chorus Pop-Ups
- Chorus Corral
- Quartet Semi-Finals & Finals, and Chorus Contest
- A Cappella Spectacular Showcase of Champions featuring special guests The Idea of North and First Take
- Sunday Farewell Brunch, followed by a Harmony Masterclass featuring our special guests
- Harmony Academy, featuring First Take
Speaking of tickets, here is the breakdown of delegate packages for this year - REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!!!
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Venues & Accommodation
We're so excited to have two amazing core venues this year - our hub hotel, QT Canberra and our incredible contest/showcase venue, Llewellyn Hall!In terms of accommodation, we're very excited to offer two BHA exclusive options this Festival!
The Village Canberra and Canberra Accommodation Centre have given us the opportunity to book out a limited number of dorms and single rooms at incredibly affordable rates, but places are super limited so get in quick or risk missing out! Booking information can be found here.
In addition, we also have FOUR hotels offering discount codes for the duration of the Festival!
Merchandise
This year's merchandise (and entire Festival brand) has taken inspiration from the Roaring (20)20s, featuring a mix of modern and art deco design elements. This inspiration came about not only because of it being 2025, but also the gorgeous architecture of Canberra!Featuring our Gang Gang Cockatoo logo* (affectionately known as Henry), this art deco inspired diamond design is present both in lapel pin form, and on the back of our tees!
*in case you didn't know, the Gang Gang Cockatoo is the faunal emblem for the ACT, and we thought it would be fun to continue to feature state & territory emblems/colours in our Festival branding. That's also why the Festival merch and banners are ACT blue and gold!
Merch pre-orders close 27th July!
Harmony Academy
This year's Harmony Academy, to be held at the gorgeous National Film & Sound Archive, will heavily feature our international special guests First Take!! The full schedule is still being finalised, but feel free to take a peek at last year's for an idea of what to expect!Please note that this year's Harmony Academy is not inclusive of accommodation & meals.
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Updates from Harmony News 12/5
Our local volunteers have been busy putting together everything you’ll need to enjoy your stay — from the best walking trails and late-night bites to coffee gems and transport tips.
- Gordon D. (Canberra Chordsmen) has pulled together a Public Transport Guide to help you navigate the city with ease.
- Cas B. (Canberra Harmony) is compiling an insider’s list of Canberra’s top eats and drinks near Llewellyn Hall.
- Planning to arrive early? Keep an eye out for info on hosted day-trips to some of Canberra’s hidden gems — curated by the locals!
Festival website updates are rolling out soon, including maps, visitor tips, and a few scenic highlights. (Shoutout to Graeme Clarke for sharing this stunning photo from one of our favourite local walks — just a stone’s throw from the contest venue.)
Rehearsal Room Booking
Booking is now open for Chorus Rehearsal Rooms on Friday the 6th of September – please let us know your preference for time/s as soon as possible so we can help you lock in the best possible slot. Rehearsal Rooms are located at the QT Hotel and cost will be $150 per hour.
The booking form is here.
Expression of Interest – Harmony Marketplace
Do you have something special to showcase or sell? We're inviting creators in our community to let us know if you’d be interested in having a market stand at a Harmony Marketplace during the Festival. More details to come!
To express interest, contact VP Events: Richard Wadick – events@barbershop.org.au
Corporate Sponsorships Now Available!
Do you — or someone you know — represent a business that shares our passion for music, wellbeing, and community?
Sponsorship packages for the Barbershop Harmony National Festival 2025 are now available. This is a unique opportunity to align your brand with this vibrant event - and support the life-changing power of singing together.
Some sponsorship tiers are limited, so we encourage early enquiries.
To receive the Sponsorship Information Pack or learn more, please contact Richard Wadick, VP Events – events@barbershop.org.au
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Updates from Harmony News 9/6
Greetings friends!
Canberra continues to prepare for the festival – and it is definitely starting to benefit from a few wooly hats, puffy jackets and fluffy mascots. Festival team below had a mini planning workshop – of course we had to sample the local coffee options….you know, for safety, quality assurance and such…..
We come to you with a few updates on initiatives today – starting with a quick reminder that if you are interested in the Harmony Bazaar please reach out to events@barbershop.org.au! Canberra Harmony has decided to organize a stall for some of our members fabulous crafts (sneak preview of some below by the talented Claire L!) We are also inviting several other local stores to participate in the bazaar, just to spice things up a little 😉
Onto the updates – there are quite a few tidbits in this months newsletter edition:
- Accommodation Reminder!
- Announcements – Lonely Parts Club, Gala Dinner (theme!), Tag Arranging Contest, Pop Up registration, Corral registration
- Pre-festival events – ShantyShop Pub Chorus & Everyone Singing in Harmony Workshop
There’s a lot of information here – and we know it can be hard to keep track of everything – remember to check on this newsletter every month on the lead up and we’ll try to share key things on our socials as well!
Festival Accommodation Update
Canberra, as we all know, is not boring at all!! In fact, there are several other conferences on during the week of the BHA National Festival, and it is a sitting week for both Houses of Parliament. Canberra is going to be very busy, so if you still need to book accommodation act fast!
For those of you that love to be in the middle of the action, this is critical information:
Many events at the Canberra festival are going to be at the QT Hotel. Rooms at the QT are already booked out on the 3rd. There are still rooms available from the 4th onwards though, so get in quick before they are gone!
Book your room at the QT here!
Important things to note* regarding online bookings direct through QT website:
- Payment is not required until check-in!
- Cancellation is free until 2pm the day prior to check in!
- Don’t forget to use the BHA Discount Code for 15% off room rates - 2509BHANAT
* Terms and conditions subject to change. Discount code valid for the nights of 2nd-10th September, inclusive.
The QT also has their standard 7-night minimum discount available through their booking website. The BHA discount cannot be stacked with the 7-night discount.
If you have already booked at the QT but forgot to use the discount code, please let VP Events Richard Wadick know via email, richard.wadick@barbershop.org.au
Other BHA Options
If the QT doesn’t suit your style or budget, or if you would rather not be in the middle of a week-long barbershop party, then check out the other options with special BHA rates here.
Other Other Options
There are plenty of other accommodation options in walking distance from the QT Hotel, Llewellyn Hall and the National Film and Sound Archive. Whatever option you go for, please book your accommodation soon, as city hotels are filling up fast for September!
Introducing: Lonely Parts Club
So, you’re coming to Nationals without the rest of your quartet? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to sing in a quartet but haven’t had the opportunity? Or maybe you’re longing for an opportunity to sing some ringing chords for longer than four bars?
Have we got a deal for you!
Register here with your voice part for the Lonely Parts Club and get matched in a foursome for a scratch quartet at the BHA National Festival! Get together in Canberra and sing once or sing all week with your new barberfriends - the possibilities are endless! And you never know where you’ll end up. You might even find yourself on the national stage next year! Guaranteed* to have a great time.
Find your match today!
*Guarantee not legally binding. BHA takes no responsibility for late night chord ringing or resultant quartet addiction.
Gala Dinner
Step into the glamour of the 1920s in the dazzling deco of Canberra's QT Hotel for the annual Festival Gala Dinner. This year, the Gala Dinner will be a themed event - all attendees are cordially invited to don your most Gastby-esque attire and dress up in 1920s fashion*!
Get into the 'roaring 20s' spirit and be in the running to win some fabulous prizes! Categories include best dressed (for the theme), best hair (and/or) best facial hair, and more to come!
Mingle with friends, enjoy a drink and immerse yourself in the splendour. The evening will feature special performances, awards and a sneak preview of our festival’s headline quartet.
An evening not to be missed - as we officially kick off the 2025 Harmony Barbershop Australia Festival in style.
*themed dressing is optional, but highly encouraged! General dress code is evening formal (black tie optional - think suits and gowns/cocktail dresses)
Inspiration below:
For more inspiration for men's-style suiting, check out this detailed breakdown from Vintage Dancer, and for inspiration for dresses and women's-style suiting, check out this detailed breakdown!
Tag Arranging Contest
There will be a Tag Arranging Contest at this years festival! We are hoping to create a small collection of Festival Tags from our fantastic community of arrangers.
Prizes to be announced in more detail soon, however, first place will include having our guest quartet First Take sing your tag! (And taught to the crowd during interval) plus having the winners announced during the festival itself!
Rules will be:
- The tag must be an original (melody and lyrics) or creative commons tune.
- It must be your original work.
- It must be submitted with sheet music and tracks.
- It must be themed – either:
About Canberra,
Your favourite thing about the National Festival!
Winners will be assessed on how well they champion one of these themes, impart the feels and on the use of those of spicey ringin’ chords!
Keep an eye out for future editions on where to submit.
Other Opportunities to Sing!
Pop-Up Performances
Pop-Up performances will be from 15-20 minutes.
Most locations are within the city area - however, there will be some other options coming available and we will contact you about these options closer to the date. The Moon Festival will be occurring at the same time in Canberra civic and have also indicated an interest in collaborating with us on options for quartets.
Any travel required beyond the city area please be assured we will we organize this with you and your quartet.
We will allocate venues that are considered suitable as far as possible to the times you choose. You may choose to nominate several different performance slots.
If you are signing up for the Lonely Parts Club, please indicate in your response and let us know what times might work for you and your new quartet buddies!
We are providing Pop-Up performance opportunities in various time slots on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday only.
Pop-Up Performance Participation Request Process
MDs and Quartets - please indicate your interest in Pop-Up performances by completing your details here
Chorus Corral
Choruses attending the Canberra Festival are invited to indicate their intention to perform in the traditional Chorus Corral from 2.30pm on Friday 5th of September 2025 in the Llewellyn Hall. This is a chance for around 17 Choruses to perform in a friendly, informal atmosphere whether or not they are entered to compete in the National Contest on Saturday.
Choruses who would like to sing one or two non-contest songs at this event should register here to reserve their spot on stage.
John Little Show
All Quartets, whether or not you are competing in Canberra, are invited to indicate their intention to perform at the John Little Show from 7:30pm on Wednesday 3 September 2025 at the ARC Theatre, National Film and Sound Archive.
This is a chance for as many quartets we can possibly cram in to hit out before the big contest in a friendly, informal atmosphere. As we would like to give as many quartets as possible the opportunity to perform, all quartets will be restricted to performing one song only.
Interested quartets should register here to reserve their singing spot.
Sing with the Champs
This is a unique opportunity for delegates to sing with the international champs.
All it takes is a donation of $50 to the BHA Foundation.
Song List:
Down Our WaySweet Roses of Morn
Sweet and Lovely
Bye Bye Blues
Who Told You
Smile
Brand New Gang
Best Things
Fly a Kite
Trolley Song
Register and pay here
Early Arrivals (pre-Festival events!)
ShantyShop Pub Chorus
2nd of September – WHERE do you plan to be on this fine spring evening? If it’s Canberra, you MUST come and join us at this public and free event!
We’re partnering with our friends at the Shanty Club to host a truly delightful cultural exchange – always a well attended event here in the ACT, in a fantastic pub full of character in the heart of the city. We will shant, and then we will shop, and then we will shantyshop. May this be the birthplace of a longstanding formal tradition! Expect MUCH singing, harmonizing, teaching of songs and tags and mingling with your friends if you plan to arrive a bit early! More to come.
Everyone Singing in Harmony Workshop
Open to public ticketholders (but included in your delegate tickets) we will host a workshop prior to the John Little Show on Wednesday night (the 3rd of September) – with a special guest educator – to share the joy of barbershop (and perhaps a little warm up) prior to JLS festivities! We may also have the opportunity to organize some food pre-orders for this one, which we’ll keep you posted on.
Thank you...
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Harmony Academy 2025
World Class Faculty!
Harmony Academy returns in 2025 with our most exciting program yet, headlined by internationally acclaimed artists The Idea of North and First Take Quartet.
Over three inspiring days (7–9 September), immerse yourself in masterclasses, rehearsals, and targeted vocal sessions led by some of the finest educators in vocal music.
We’re thrilled to welcome Anthony Colosimo, whose high-energy Mixed Chorus rehearsals and “How to Be a Great Lead” session promise insights from one of barbershop’s most dynamic performers. Drew Wheaton, a world-class baritone and coach, will share his expertise through TTBB rehearsals and classes on baritone technique. Dr. Jay Butterfield brings his exceptional academic and performance experience to a range of sessions covering vocal pedagogy, coaching, and senior voice care.
Arrangers will benefit from the progressive three-tiered program delivered by Emily Moriarty, Ian Mulholland, and Alex Morris, while Ky McIntosh, Paul Adams, and Dan Millgate provide practical tools in branding, show production, and strategic planning.
Whether you’re new to barbershop, a seasoned performer, director or educator, Harmony Academy 2025 offers transformative learning, rich connection, and inspiration. Don’t miss this chance to learn from the best!
Subject to change without notice, please check here for the latest version.
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Q&A
We've received some very good questions regarding this year's Barbershop Harmony Festival in Canberra, and the likelihood is that if one person has asked, more of you might be wondering too!
So we've picked a couple of the most common questions so far to answer for you below:
Q: What’s included in Harmony Academy this year? It looks like accommodation isn’t part of the package. What about meals? This is my first time attending, and I thought it used to be all-inclusive. How will it work if attendees are staying in different places?
A: Great question! Harmony Academy is not a live-in event this year. Since we’re based right in Canberra city, there’s no need for long bus rides, and you’re free to book accommodation that suits your preferences and budget.
We’ve arranged discounted accommodation options, which you can view on the Accommodation page!
Some options include breakfast:
- The Village – Dorm-style rooms from $60/night (includes breakfast)
- Canberra Accommodation Centre – Single rooms from $100/night (includes breakfast)
For meals during the day, the National Film and Sound Archive—our main venue—has an on-site café and bar, and we’re planning to bring in food trucks for additional variety. So you’ll be well taken care of!
Q: I saw that Harmony Academy now ends on 9 September, but the original info said 10 September. Is there anything happening on the 10th? I’ve booked my flight for late that day.
A: You're right—we’ve updated the schedule. Harmony Academy will now wrap up on the evening of Tuesday, 9 September. There will be no formal programming on Wednesday, 10 September.
If you’ve already booked a flight for the 10th, we suggest:
- Keeping your Tuesday night accommodation and using Wednesday morning to explore Canberra, or
- Changing your flight to an earlier time on the 10th, if that works better for you.
Q: What options are there for getting around Canberra?
A: Canberra is a compact, well-planned city that’s easy to navigate—whether you’re on foot, using public transport, or hopping into a rideshare. Many key venues and attractions are within walking distance of QT Canberra, but if you’re keen to explore a bit further, there are plenty of convenient options. Check out the Canberra Info page for heaps more info!
