Barbershop Harmony Australia

BHA 2016 Newcastle Convention Newsletter

Tue, 16 Aug 2016

Hunter Harmony Update - August 2016

Hunter Harmony Update - August 2016
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Tue, 16 Aug 2016
Preparations for your Newcastle Convention in September are coming along on schedule and all looks good for a great series of events.  We recently inspected the newly refurbished Wests City Club, it looks great and you’ll find the new facilities for our Welcome Dinner, Chorus Contest, Showcase of Champions and Farewell Lunch are truly excellent.
Highlights:
  • Wednesday’s Youth Contest, don’t miss this, it’s worth coming to Newcastle a day early to see the best of our youth at their best!
  • There are still places available for the Master Classes to be held Sunday afternoon and evening, concluding Monday lunchtime, so you’ll still have time to get home on Monday, big bang for your bucks with top international educators!
  • Our Quartet Contest starts one day earlier this year, so make sure you have your tickets and are ready for the action on Thursday morning…
  • Forefront fresh from a huge win at “International”, will be one of the Convention’s highlights, you’ll see them a number of times during various events and they’ll be hosting the Master Classes.Last year’s Champions Lockout & Sound Connection will feature at a number of events during the convention, plus you’ll see them at the John Little Show and Chorus Corral. A special plus; Lockout will be hosting the Afterglow at The Brewery on Friday night, come along and sing with the Champs!
  • Afterglows for every palate, Wednesday and Friday night at The Brewery and Thursday and Saturday night at Wests City Club following the welcome dinner and then following the Saturday Showcase.  Great venues, with great fun for all…
  • A Special Tour Programme has been arranged for partners and delegates with a little time to spare who want to view some of the regions magnificent attractions, details available on the convention website, where you can book in advance.
  • For Saturday Night’s Showcase of Champions extra tickets are available by adding to your current registration via the website.Alternatively your friends and relatives can buy tickets direct from West City Club on their website.
  • Sunday sees our traditional Church Service, this year to be held at the Newcastle Baptist Tabernacle, 25 Laman St, Newcastle, just a five minute walk away from West City Club, venue for Sunday’s BHA Forum and the Farewell Lunch.
It’s time to sort out your plans for Newcastle, fine tune your accommodation, make sure you have all the tickets you need, register for the Master Classes and plan this very special week of activities in the Hunter…
Regards,
Keith Thornton
events@barbershop.org.au

LATEST CONVENTION SCHEDULE (Final)

LATEST CONVENTION SCHEDULE (Final)
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Thu, 1 Sep 2016

McDonald Jones to Partner with BHA at Newcastle

McDonald Jones to Partner with BHA at Newcastle
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Tue, 23 Aug 2016
McDonald Jones in Harmony with BHA!!!
 
Barbershop Harmony Australia (BHA) is proud to announce a partnership with Newcastle’s McDonald Jones, supporting its presentation of Hunter Harmony, the 14th BHA National Convention.  The convention’s range of events will be held from Wednesday 28th of September through to Sunday the 2nd of October.

McDonald Jones is one of Australia's leading new residential home builders, born and bred in the Hunter and based in Thornton McDonald Jones now builds right down Australia’s East Coast and have been successfully supplying new home owners for the last 30 years.  “We delighted to join with BHA presenting a series of quality musical events which cater for the many varied interests of music lovers in the Hunter Region.” commented Nathan Thurston, Marketing Manager for the MJH Group.

Photo:  Nathan Thurston (LHS), Marketing Manager at McDonald Jones and Keith Thornton (RHS), V.P. Events, Barbershop Harmony Australia, announcing the McDonald Jones partnership with BHA
 

Young Singers in Harmony Festival

Young Singers in Harmony Festival
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Tue, 23 Aug 2016
If you have a chance, get along to the Young Singers Festival Contests on the Wednesday of Convention.
 
The following contests will be held:
  • BHA Youth Quartet Contest
  • BHA Youth Chorus Contest. This is the first time for this contest.
  • Young Singers in Harmony contests
  • Youth and Schools contests for male, female, and mixed ensembles and for choruses.
 
On the Thursday, our youth members will form a combined youth chorus that will rehearse with our local youth faculty, Jono Albertini, Jonathan Bligh, and Lionel Pierson, as well as Forefront. Plan to spend some time watching them at work between 9.00am and noon.
 
And on the Friday, join the crowd at the Youth Concert between 9.00am and 10.15am. It will be a great show.


Trevor Rootes - BHA VP Youth

Newcastle Airport Transfers

Newcastle Airport Transfers
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Tue, 16 Aug 2016
For those delegates coming to Newcastle who will be coming by air and arriving at Newcastle Airport  you can book your transfers directly to and from Newcastle airport. You can go to this link for a quote.
http://www.newcastleairport.com.au/transport/conferences#.VueXp0ekF80
  
the following transfer pricing information may also be of assistance :

The following information was obtained from Newcastle Limousines and Pokolbin Hire Cars, a local coach hire company who provided the following prices for airport transfers.  Prices are as follows and are each way and include a trailer for luggage:
13 seat @ $215
20 seat @ $265
24 seat @ $285
28 seat @ $310.
Sedans are also available (no trailer) at:
3 seats @$75
5 seats @ $105
8 seats (stretch) @ $155

Individual Clubs can either deal direct with the company or can make a group arrangement through Newcastle organising Committee member,  Brian Bleakley on 0415 838 153 or email bjbleakley@bigpond.com
* Please note, any arrangements directed through Brian should only be by one designated member of each Chorus and should be in relation to a group bookings.

Looking for some Unique Experiences while in Newcastle for the Convention?

Looking for some Unique Experiences while in Newcastle for the Convention?
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Mon, 8 Aug 2016
Check out these amazing day tours.
 
Walk over the convict lumber yard  and and along the new Anzac Walk to see the beautiful beaches of Australia’s second oldest city.
 
Wander through Fort Scratchley, the only artillery in Australia  to fire on an enemy submarine during World War 11.
 
Take a luxury lunch cruise  around a  working harbour, part of the largest coal chain in the world, loading over 16,000 vessels annually.
 
Visit historic Port Stephens to search for humpback whales, dolphins and fairy penguins.
 
Enjoy wine tasting at one of the oldest wineries in Australia, complementing your visit with a stop at the Smelly Cheese Shop. The beautiful renowned  Hunter Valley Gardens in Spring are also part  of this  tour.
 
To book and of these tours, click on this link
 

Newcastle Convention Church Service (Updated with songs)

Newcastle Convention Church Service (Updated with songs)
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Tue, 16 Aug 2016
The convention church service will be held as follows:
 
Sunday, 2nd October at 08:30
 
Newcastle Baptist Tabernacle
25 Laman St
Newcastle,   2300
(02) 4927 8378
 
http://www.newcastlebaptist.com
 
The church is a five minute walk from Wests City Club and the service will conclude before 09:30, so those wishing to attend the BHA Forum will have plenty of time to get from one venue to the other.
 
The songs to be sung by the Congregation during the service are
The Lord's Prayer
Amazing Grace
An Irish Blessing

Sheet music for each of these songs is attached to this Newsletter.
Attachment
Attachment (222.4kb)

Convention Information Booklet

Convention Information Booklet
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dan Millgate
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Thu, 16 Jun 2016
This is the first edition of our “Hunter Harmony” Convention Information booklet;  you’ll find lots of information that you need about your 2016 Convention in this booklet which can be downloaded and printed if required.
Convention Information Booklet - Issue 1
Convention Information Booklet - Issue 1 (755kb)
For more information, see: www.barbershopconvention.com.au/

Avoid the queues in Newcastle

Avoid the queues in Newcastle
Type of post: News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Current
Date Posted: Sun, 8 May 2016
A number of the major Convention events are to be held at the newly refurbished Wests City Club in Newcastle including the Welcome Dinner, the Quartet Competition Final, the Chorus Competition, the Showcase of Champions and the Farewell Lunch.

The Club also has excellent restaurants providing a very convenient eating location throughout the Convention.
  
Being a registered Club, all non-Club members will be required to sign-in each time they visit this venue. This will inevitably cause some queueing at times as large numbers of delegates converge on the Club for the various events.

To help avoid these possible queues, Wests are providing online facilities to enable conference delegates to pre-join the Club thus avoiding possible sign-in delays when attending events at the Club. For a modest fee of just $12, or $5 for Seniors and Pensioners, you can become a full member of the Club for 12 months. Membership will also entitle you to various discounts throughout the Club.  

Go to this link and complete the application process.

Or… fill in the application form and take it with you, and complete the process when you arrive in Newcastle.

NOTE: be aware that when either completing the process online, or, filling out the form, you will need to produce ID (Driver’s Licence is OK) when going to reception to collect your membership card.

 
For more information, see: www.barbershopconvention.com.au/dbpage.php?pg=venue

Master Classes

Master Classes
Type of post: Festival News
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dick Bushell
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Wed, 17 Aug 2016
Master Classes - A Must Do...!!!
Not booked for the Master Classes following convention, then this is for you...!

Whilst we have received a number of registrations for the Master Classes, vacancies remain and this is your chance to join us for what will be a number of "Magic" sessions starting on the Sunday afternoon following the farewell lunch and concluding Monday lunchtime.  You can still get home Monday afternoon...

?2016 International Quartet Champions FOREFRONT will head up a great team of educators, including international judges and the best of our local team, to provide you with a series of coaching special events tailored for both quartet and chorus singers.  Work in small groups with the best in the business to enhance your singing and performance skills.
 
?SING WITH THE BEST, LEARN FROM THE BEST, THIS IS A MUST !!!

?Just $99 and you can book online at the convention website quoting your registration reference number, bookings will remain open until the end of August.

Keith Thornton
Barbershop Harmony Australia Convention
www.barbershopconvention.com.au