Barbershop Harmony New Zealand

Barbershop Harmony New Zealand (BHNZ), formally known as the New Zealand Association of Barbershop Singers, is the affiliate barbershop organisation for Barbershop Singing in New Zealand.

History

Barbershop quartet singing has been around in New Zealand for many years although little is recorded of actual performances or personnel. Mostly they were one-off events or performing quartets with little contact with each other.

In 1979 the Merry Macs, a visiting male quartet from Hawaii, sang to an entranced audience in Auckland. This led to the formation, by Ken Redwood, of a singing group which became known as the MoTAT Chorus recognising that the singers met at the Museum of Transport and Technology. Now called The City of Sails Chorus it has won the gold medal for a lot of the years since the inception of the NZABS chorus competition in 1992.

Barbershop Harmony New Zealand (BHNZ), formally known as the New Zealand Association of Barbershop Singers, was established in the early eighties but did not function as an association until the Harbour Capital Chorus was formed in Wellington in February 1988 followed by the Canterbury Plainsmen, based in Christchurch, in 1989.

During this period the number of quartets continued to grow and in 1989 the inaugural NZABS Convention was held in Wellington for quartet competitions only.

Other chapters have been established in Hamilton, Tauranga, Timaru, Napier, Palmerston North, Blenheim, Nelson, Dunedin and Invercargill. Groups in Rotorua, Levin, Whangarei and another chorus in Wellington are currently not in operation. Auckland has it's second Chapter "Pride of Auckland" and a new chapter "Western Peak Harmony" is now in New Plymouth.

The NZABS is affiliated to the Barbershop Harmony Society. It has had a long youth focus which has had successes like choruses Vocal FX and Pacific Connection going to international conventions, and regular entries in the Next Generation Varsity Contest. Musical Island Boys was supported by BHNZ throughout its development as a Collegiate quartet, becoming International Collegiate champions in 2006, and then becoming BHS International Quartet Champions in 2014.

Barbershop visitors to New Zealand are assured of a warm and familiar welcome. The New Zealand Association of Barbershop Singers is doing its best to "keep the whole world singing".

Organization/Governance

International Champions

Musical Island Boys - 2014 (Internationals), 2006 (Collegiate)

Chapters

Christchurch, NZ - Canterbury Plainsmen
Wellington, NZ - Harbour Capital Chorus
Wellington, NZ - Vocal FX

Competitions

Quartet competition began in 1989, at the first NZABS Convention. Chorus competitions began in 1992.

In recent years during convention week in September, BHNZ runs two contests back to back. During Tuesday-Thursday, the Young Singers in Harmony National contest is adjudicated, a contest for high-school student quartets and choruses ending with an awards ceremony and a Parade of Champions concert. On Friday-Sunday of convention week, the BHNZ Convention, branded as SING [City], is adjudicated, also ending with an awards ceremony, showcase concert & massed sing.

Aiming every three years, BHNZ works with Barbershop Harmony Australia to present the Pan-Pacific Convention (Pan-Pac), showcasing Barbershop Harmony across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South East Asia & the Southwest Division of the Far Western District (Hawai’i), United States. On top of Pan-Pacific Prizes, BHNZ Convention contest medals are also awarded.