Membership
Welcome to the BHA Membership page!
Membership in BHA is open to all men and women who love to sing. Full membership is open to all men. Associate membership is available to any person who is in sympathy with the objects of the Association. There are choruses and quartets in every capital city in Australia and numerous other cities and towns. Click on the "Groups' link above to find your nearest club.
Why should I become a member?
With nearly 1,000 individuals making up over 30 clubs and over 80 quartets nationwide, membership in Australia’s own leading barbershop singing organisation provides many benefits:
- Access our bi-monthly electronic newsletter, In Harmony
- News to keep members abreast of events and current developments.
- Resources to better run your chorus – access to music, marketing and membership development tools and how-to publications
- Stay connected with the BHA National Council and Regional leadership; learn what’s happening before it happens!
- Chorus and Quartet Information – find other quartets or choruses.
- Contest and Judging Information – access contest rules, entry forms, scores and standing orders.
- Music schools, training sessions, regular coaching tours and the highly successful Harmony College provide opportunities for leadership, musical, membership and performance development and a forum for the exchange of new ideas with the aim of helping members enjoy their hobby more, share that joy with others, and continually experience growth. .
- Encouraging vocal music in our schools and communities is a fundamental ideal of the organisation and keeps music and the arts more relevant in these times of diminished focus and funding.
- Special courses and training for musical directors, administrators, arrangers, composers, music educators – and everyone else!
Publications
- Barbershop Harmony Australia’s bi-monthly e-magazine, In Harmony, features national and local barbershop news from the National Council and from clubs, choruses, quartets and affiliates from all over Australia and the world; organisational news and activities; information, commentary and coverage of conventions; leadership strategies; marketing, membership, performance development and artistic techniques; and many important sources of information; training program updates; and tools you can put to immediate use.
National Conventions
- Annual Conventions and Contests – a five-day-long Convention held in attractive locations throughout Australia, designed to bring barbershop harmony enthusiasts from around Australia and the world together in one place and to witness hundreds of competitors in the top choruses and quartets competitions; participate in educational workshops and seminars; attend concerts, group meetings and a meeting of the BHA National Council and enjoy countless networking opportunities
Regional Conventions
- Each of our 6 Regions hosts a weekend convention each year. These weekends offer the opportunity for singing and socialising with singers from across the region, as well as group meetings and meetings of the regional leadership teams. Competitions are also held to determine Quartet and Chorus Champions as well as acting as qualifying events for the national contest.
Assistance from National Council
- Advice on events and shows
- Advice on music arrangements
- Advice on securing copyright clearances on sheet music, including securing permission to arrange a song
- Interpretation of rules and regulations
- Quartet registrations
- Coaching visits to choruses and regions
- Processing of chorus and national dues
- Marketing and PR help
- Harmony College
- Conventions
- Competitions
- Protection and use of the Name and Logo
Other Benefits
- Public liability insurance
- Membership development assistance
What does annual membership cost?
The BHA membership year runs from 1 January to 31 December.
The BHA financial year runs from 1st October to 30th September
Annual membership fees are:
- $75.00 per year for Full members (Over 25 at 1 January in the current BHA membership year)
- $37.50 per year for Youth members (25 and under at 1 January in the current BHA membership year)
- $55.00 per year for Associate members (any person who is in sympathy with the objects of BHA)
- $27.50 per year for Associate Youth members
New and returning members joining after 1 July in any BHA membership year pay 50% of the yearly fee.
Also, a Joining Fee of 50% of the relevant annual membership fee will be charged for any new member, or any member renewing after a 6-month cessation of membership.
Keeping your contact details up to date!
All Clubs are responsible for updating their members' personal and contact details on the BHA Website.
Members-at-Large need to notify the BHA Administration Officer atadmin@barbershop.org.au of any changes to their personal/contact details.
This not only ensures that members are fully covered by the association’s insurance policies but also ensures that they continue to receive important messages from Barbershop Harmony Australia.