By the time you read this the 2019 BHA National Festival Website will have been launched.

Festival?
 

Yes, this year we are offering a diverse program that celebrates barbershop culture and will connect more intimately with the broader Hobart community.  Because of this we have chosen to call this year’s event a “Festival” - a celebration, rather than use the term “Convention” which has insular connotations.

As a contest delegate you can participate in all the traditional activities you enjoy:
Harmony Academy, John Little Show, Chorus Corral, Massed Sing, Sing with the Champs, Youth Workshop and, of course, the Contests!

Now, as part of the Festival, you can also participate with your Quartet or Chorus in:
Several Pop-Ups throughout the city, a Pub Choir, a Concert in the Town Hall and a Community Workshop facilitated by the BHA Education Faculty.

I encourage you to check out the website which is still at https://www.barbershopconvention.com.au/  despite the event’s new appellation. You will see several updates and additions to the menu.
For example, to register as a delegate, mouse-click on REGISTER in the main menu, then Delegate in the sub-menu. To register to participate in other activities described above, click on Free Workshops and Delegate Activities also found in the REGISTER sub-menu.

If you’re unsure or need help, click on HELP in the main menu then FAQ where you will see some “Frequently Asked Questions” (and their answers!).

You will see that the registration fee has had a nominal $8 increase representative of a 2% rise in the Consumer Price Index in the 12 months to December 2018. Your financial contribution covers many benefits including a high quality venue (the Wrest Point Hotel) for the contest and other activities, international and Australasian Barbershop qualified judges, the 2018 BHS Silver Medallist Quartet, Signature, the Welcome Gala Dinner, webcast access and more.

There will be more information added to the website over the coming weeks and you will be informed of these updates via Festival Newsletter.

Richard Wadick - BHA Vice President - Events

Affiliate Discount Code Update

As you may know, BHA members are entitled to a 25% discount on the BHS Marketplace site shop.barbershop.org – the same discount BHS members get. This discount applies to all clothing, merchandise, learning tracks, and printed sheet music.
Due to the increased cost of fees BHS must pay copyright holders and arrangers, discounts do not apply to digital sheet music. While this makes the price for digital sheet music slightly higher than printed music, the digital downloads are available immediately and there are no shipping charges. 
The BHA affiliate discount code for 2019 is:  2019aff
Enter this code in the Member # / Promo $ / Gift Certificate box at checkout.

More Music Available Internationally
BHS is continuously asking for worldwide rights when seeking copyright clearances. Although BHS does not always get approval, it may receive the rights to sell in some countries outside the US.

With the rollout of the new BHS website in 2018, the music pages have been updated to clearly indicate where the music can be sold. BHS now has more than 2,000 song titles that have some level of international availability. Click here to see all music with International Availability.

While any customer is able to view the entire music catalogue, if music is not licensed for Australia, BHA customers are unable to add that product to their cart.

Trevor Rootes - Secretary 

Compliance with copyright law is a vexed issue in BHA and BHNZ.  While the majority of choruses and quartets comply with the law, there are a number of misunderstandings of what is needed and some inadvertent breaches do occur.  Achieving copyright compliance is not cheap, but it is important that BHA and BHNZ are equally fair to all and everybody does pay their dues for copyright.  Copyright breaches are potentially expensive for those involved. 

A summary of the main points is:
 

• The original authors of a song own the intellectual property rights to that song but usually assign the rights to a copyright house.

• No names of those who wrote the song at the top and no copyright notice on the bottom of page one means an illegal copy (unless you are the author(s) and not just the arranger).

• It is illegal to copy sheet music obtained from BHS, from an arranger or which came with learning tracks without a print licence.

• You need permission to write a new arrangement of a song and to copy your arrangement.

• Paying an arranger fee is not paying royalties for a song and does not (in itself) meet the requirements of copyright law.

• ???????Paying for learning tracks is not paying royalties for the song and does not (in itself) meet the requirements of copyright law.

The majority of songs are somebody’s intellectual property and subject to copyright protection.  Copyright holders are entitled to royalties for any use or copying of a song.  There are separate requirements and separate royalties for sheet music, to live performances, to live or delayed streaming on social media and other platforms and to recordings in other forms.  This article will only consider the copyright laws and royalties as they apply to sheet music.  Contest rules only apply to sheet music. 

The online contest entry seeks information for copyright compliance from entrants.  This information is required by Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) from the BHA National Competition and the potential exists for it to be requested from other contests or public performances.

BHA and BHNZ put the primary onus being on ensembles for copyright compliance.  The online entry system asks for a minimum of copyright information (and less than BHS requests at its competitions).  The system now also requires that the registrant for that ensemble to sign the entry forms electronically putting their name and the date into the system.  The registrant will also have to tick that they have complied with various aspects of contest rules.  By making these declarations and electronically signing the forms well before contest day, we hope to avoid any issues on the day.  It would be devastating for a group to be refused their spot on the contest stage or to be disqualified two weeks before contest (when they might have a chance of rectifying the matter) or even worse on contest day when there is little chance of doing anything about the breach of the rules.

The original authors of a piece of music, the person or people who wrote the words and music, have intellectual properties to that work of art.  In most cases, the authors will assign their rights to a copyright house, such as EMI Music or Sony Music.  These copyright houses have agents in both Australia and New Zealand.  The vast majority of copyright owners are represented in Australia and New Zealand by either Hal Leonard or Devirra Corporation (previously Alfred Music).
The original authors, but not an arranger, of a song own the intellectual property rights to that song but usually assign the rights to a copyright house.

Intellectual property rights expire with the passage of time and the laws differ from country to country (or region to region), but most frequently expire a set number of years after the death of the composer(s).  USA public domain laws are quite different, and songs in public domain in the USA may still be in copyright in the rest of the world, and vice versa.  For more information on Australia’s public domain laws, see page 8 of the Duration of Copyright fact sheet from the Australian Copyright Council. For more information about New Zealand’s public domain laws, see the Public Domain Guide published by DigitalNZ.  More on copyright law itself and how to determine if a song and its associated sheet music are in the public domain will be the subject of a future article. 
 
Sheet music may be purchased here or overseas.  But to be sold in Australia and New Zealand, the seller must have rights in this region to do so.  Any legitimate sheet music has the names of the authors and the arranger, if any, at the top and a copyright notice at the bottom of the first page.  No names of those who wrote the song at the top and no copyright notice on the bottom of page one means an illegal copy (unless you are the author(s) and not just the arranger).

Music can be purchased from BHS in the US.  However, BHS only has the right to sell much of its music in the US and Canada and not directly to Australia or New Zealand (which together form a single copyright region).  Some BHS music is able to be sold directly here and BHS will indicate one way or the other.  BHS can also obtain International rights on request and then sell the music, but they charge $US150 just to get the rights and it is almost certainly somewhat cheaper to get a print licence locally. 
 
Where BHS does not have International rights (and you do not want to pay BHS for them), BHS can provide a single free reference copy of a song to BHA and BHNZ registered ensembles.  As with sheet music from an arranger or from an artist who has produced learning tracks, such single free copies may not be copied for use by an ensemble without obtaining a print licence.  It is illegal to copy sheet music obtained from BHS from an arranger or which came with learning tracks without a print licence.

Songs in the Barbershop style have usually been arranged especially for the genre for obvious reasons.  Arranging an existing song gives the arranger no rights over either the words or the music.  The arranger actually needs permission from the copyright holder to arrange the song.   Permission to arrange a song is not always given.  Disney often refuses permission to use a new arrangement as does the copyright owner for Les Miserables. 
You need permission to write a new arrangement of a song and to copy your arrangement.

An arranger may charge a fee but this fee does not meet compliance with copyright law.  Arrangers may provide a copy of their arrangement.  Paying an arranger fee is not paying royalties for a song and does not (in itself) meet the requirements of copyright law.
 
A number of artists produce learning tracks.  Sometimes they use slightly different arrangements from that of “the arranger” and may provide a copy of the exact arrangement.  The artist concerned has a right to charge a fee for their rendition of the song.  Paying for learning tracks is not paying royalties for the song itself and does not (in itself) meet the requirements of copyright law.
  
Obtaining music legally is relatively easy – well, maybe not totally easy the first time.  And unfortunately is not always cheap.  But this is the subject of a future article.

More information is available on the BHA website at:
https://www.barbershop.org.au/commonfiles/bha/db_uploads/COPYRIGHT_GUIDELINES_May_2016_update_1.pdf

John Faris

Copyright law varies in different parts of the world. This article is written for Australia and New Zealand and may not apply in other parts of the world.

Now is the time for quartets to get organised for regional contests. 

Please remember that quartet registration/re-registration is completed annually, and is the responsibility of the quartet.

All quartets planning to compete in regional contests in 2019 need to register/re-register their quartet by Friday 15 March.
First, you must be a financial member of BHA for 2019. 

• Club members should have had their BHA membership renewed by their Club

• Members-at-Large need to complete a Member at Large Membership Renewal

• New Members-at-Large need to complete a New Member at Large Application Form 

• Next, your Quartet needs to complete the Quartet Registration and Re-Registration Form.

All forms are available in the Downloads/ FORMS section of the BHA website.
https://www.barbershop.org.au/dbpage.php?pg=forms
IMPORTANT: - you need to download the foms and save them to your own computer before completing the details. 

Trevor Rootes - Secretary

Just in case you missed the email I sent to all members in January, here is a recap…..

Feeling adventurous? Have you ever thought about having a crack at being an MC?

Well, there’s an opportunity for you right now to reveal your flair for public speaking and hone your compering skills. This year we are conducting an MC Program and all members are welcome to apply.

Application requirements are simple. All you need to do is make a video* of yourself ensuring you:
•             introduce yourself, including your name, BHA Region, Club/Chorus and Quartet (if applicable)
•             state whether you will be attending your local regional contest and the Convention in Hobart
•             perform your best competition introduction of a quartet and chorus
•             provide an account of why you joined Barbershop
•             email your entry to Jen Howson at jenhowson@me.com

All entries must be received by 7th March (deadline extended by a week) to be considered for the program.  You will receive confirmation of the entry and feedback after the 8th of March.

Selected participants in this years’ program will be chosen as MCs for your local regional contest and events.  Feedback from your Judging panel and organisers will determine if you have the required skills to acquit yourself creditably on the national stage.

We are striving for the highest level of excellence in all aspects of our events and what better than to source the talents of our own membership to fill these requirements.
Looking forward to your contributions!

*make sure you have plenty of light and there’s minimal ambient noise

Richard Wadick - BHA VP Events

One of the benefits of our affiliation with BHS in the USA is access to their magazine The Harmonizer.

The January/February2019 edition has just been published and is available here.

It’s presented in a new format with some editorial changes.

Go on over and have a look.

Trevor Rootes BHA Secretary

Brindabella Chorus (Sweet Adelines Australia) is thrilled to announce that we're bringing the legendary Steve Scott to Australia, and we'd like to share his amazing talents with you.

Steve is the Music Education Specialist for the Barbershop Harmony Society. He is highly sought after as an education and speaker in the barbershop world. Steve is an active researcher, presenting at national and international music conferences. His research interests include the biophysiology of the barbershop singing voice, barbershop acoustics, barbershop history, and Brazilian art song.

Brindabella Chorus is hosting a workshop weekend with Steve in Canberra on the weekend of 22-24 November 2019, and we’re throwing open the doors to barbershoppers from around Australia to come to the nation’s capital and learn from the best!

Some of you have already been fortunate to learn from Steve at Harmony University in Nashville over the last couple of years, and we're excited at the idea that our Australian barbershoppers can have the opportunity to learn from him in person. This will be some of the best barbershop education available in the world...with no passport required.

To learn more about this great opportunity, visit the event page on Brindabella’s website: www.brindabellachorus.org.au/stevescottworkshop 

We're also trying to gauge the level of interest so that we can book the most suitable venue, so we'd like you to complete a pre-registration survey indicating your interest. This isn't a commitment to attend, but it will help us with our planning. Once we have an idea of attendees, we'll be able to provide you with more information including registration fees. Our aim is to cover some of the costs of bringing Steve out while keeping the workshop affordable for you. Complete the pre-registration survey 

We hope to see many members of Barbershop Harmony Australia and Sweet Adelines Australia getting together to learn and share our love of barbershop harmony!

Glenda Lloyd
 
Lead, UMQ Quartet - BHA 2017 and 2018 Silver Medallist Mixed Quartet
Bass, Debacle Quartet - 2018 Sweet Adeline Australian Champion Quartet
Master Director, Brindabella Chorus – 2017 International Champion Midsize Chorus

Sunshine Region Convention hosts, High Altitude Harmony, invite the region's singers and supporters to join them in Toowoomba on April 27 / 28 for some friendly barbershop rivalry. On Saturday evening, invited quests and the top chorus and quartets from the day's competition will be featured at the public 'Concert of A Capella Champions'. The venue for this event will be the stunning Empire Theatre, in Neil Street.

Convention Registration via the link on the poster will open by Sunday February 24th.

Detailed information on how to ensure you and your chorus/quartet are registered to compete will be provided via the HAH website at www.haharmony.com.au/regional-comp by February 24th.

 

Miner Chords Recruiting Now

With Regionals practically in our backyard (Toowoomba is an hour’s drive from Ipswich) the Miner Chords would very much like to at least perform, if not compete.  I say it like this because we have recently lost 2 long standing members (to retirement, not the grim reaper) who were backbones of their sections.  They will be missed not only because of their singing, but because they are lovely people and integral to the fabric of the chorus.

I have not been a member of the Miner Chords for very long.  I have also been a member of other choirs.  The Miner Chords are by far the most welcoming group, I felt immediately at home, immediately part of the group.  One of the men who left us recently told me that he was sad to go because he had made such good friends there and that several of them mixed socially as well.  In a way the spirit of barbershop (blokes waiting for a shave, hanging out in the barber’s shop and humming and singing ‘tags’) is alive and well in the Ipswich group.

We need some new recruits.  Especially in tenors and baritones – so anyone you know who is moving to Ipswich, send them along to us.  Open arms and warm welcomes await.

We were invited to audition for Australia’s Got Talent but have decided that we need to be a larger chorus with a bigger repertoire to compete – we don’t want to be part of a bloopers show later on!

We have put ourselves down for the Help Is On the Way concerts (information elsewhere in this newsletter).  I think there’s a lot of experience to be gained for us there and it will become part of our performance repertoire.

We meet each Wednesday night at 7pm in the Old Court House – on the outskirts of the CBD, with easy parking.

Visitors, guests and new members most welcome.

Norid Krausz
President
Miner Chords, Ipswich




 

Eugene Liew
VP Marketing

Hills Harmony Roundup

At the AGM our Hills Harmony stalwarts again put their hands up to volunteer for executive roles within the club. Peter Garnett starts his eighteen year as Treasurer, Dick Bushell is again our BHA representative, edits this communication newsletter for BHA nationally and is focusing on generating performance opportunities for us.  Phil Montgomery continues as Secretary, answering our fan mail and David Farley is President, taking up the batten again from Dick.  Our members want to publicly acknowledge the effort these tireless workers put in to keeping Hills Harmony thriving.  We recognise it and thank them.

Adding a little Spanish flavour, Dave Farley has been our “Ill Presidente” recently undergoing surgery which has been a great success.  Dave is up and about and most importantly it has not affected his singing voice.  There are a couple our members who are developing ailments but we all try to “carry on carrying on” and get up on the risers with a smile.  It really does make us feel better.

Our Christmas party social night was a great way to thank our partners for their support during the year and the open mike gave everyone an opportunity to shine in different ways.  I am honoured to have received the Hills Harmony “Barbershopper of the Year” award.  A spectacular shield among the tiny number of awards I have collected.  Exciting to think an old guy with crook knees can still make a contribution and be appreciated for it. 

Our executive team is busy planning our year’s activities and we are looking to have a booking once a month or even more regularly if we can achieve it.  We are busking, giving concerts, continuing our outreach efforts with Wollongong Men’s Chorus and taking every opportunity to spread the joy of singing with others.  Look out for us around the traps.  Hope you all have a wonderfully harmonious 2019.

Paul Meller
Vice President
Hills Harmony

As the morning sun peeked over the Sydney Myer Music Bowl and highlighted the rolling parkland of Kings Domain, another beautiful Melbourne day was about to welcome Australia Day 2019. Apart from the thousands of Australians from dozens of countries displaying their national costumes and heritage, another offering for the day was the pending entertainment in the Domain.

The Melbournaires had once again been invited to this quite prestigious event organized by the RACV, and were the lead act of the day. Warm-up time was under the trees in the park, where a few curious on-lookers were absorbed by the techniques involved. The layout was slightly changed from previous shows, in that tables and chairs were appropriately placed to allow more families, more comfort, and more encouragement to linger longer and catch all of the entertainment.

The Melbournaires sang for thirty six minutes interrupted only by the ubiquitous helicopter which unfortunately these days, is par for the course when large crowds gather. The sound system however, was much improved, and the constantly increasing number of listeners, seemed to be enjoying the amazing sounds of barbershop harmony. 26 members of the Melbournaires were present, (25 were requested,) and with MD Ians’ clever arrangement of singers on the stage, the full range of harmonies could be heard drifting across the colourful landscape.

It was soon time for the procession to start, which is another highlight of the day as the dancing, drumming, and unique instrumentals, drew many more families and supporters through the venue. Altogether  a wonderfully inspiring day, and one the Melbournaires look forward to every year.

Terry Phillips

Well, the start of another barbershop year and we are using a whole heap of tactics that Kelly Shepherd taught to our Music Team via our first coaching session. They include 5 minute warmups as you travel to rehearsal. Duet singing between sections. Short intense work sessions, followed by short breaks. It is different for us but, we reckon the benefits will show through in the long run.

Last week we had to relocate from our usual rehearsal venue and in the confusion nearly forgot it was our 11^th birthday. Luckily, someone remembered and the accompanying photo shows our Co-MD, Mike Ludwig and our latest recruit Rod Hugget cutting the cake. As can be seen in this alternate venue, the chorus is reflected in the mirrors in the room. So, of course we had to utilise them.

Now that’s a bit of a worry. You think that you are doing really well and projecting to the audience and then see yourself in the large mirrors. Lo and behold! You’re crap!
We had the various rows relocate to the back, so that everyone had a chance to be in the front row and could critique their performance. Nearly put us off our cake at suppertime.

Other news. Last article I flagged that we are hosting Sunshine Regionals in April. From the 27^th to 28^th at the beautiful Empire Theatre. It should be a great couple of days and Saturday night will culminate in the Concert of Champions.
We have been advised that tickets for this standout event are selling fast. So if anyone in the barbershop world, or their friends are interested in attending and seeing the best, strut their stuff, go to the Empire’s web-site, or follow this link:
 
www.empiretheatre.com.au/event/651/concert-of-a-capella-champions

If you are coming from interstate don’t forget that Toowoomba has it’s own airport. Wellcamp Airport has flights daily to and from Sydney and Melbourne. Looking forward to a big turnout at this exciting event.

As is our practice, we are continuing to post interesting stuff on our web-site, haharmony.com.au Check it out. And don’t forget to visit us on Facebook.

Paddy Boxall

Good afternoon,
 
I am writing to let you know about an exciting choral project that the Queensland Music Festival are planning for next year.
 
In 2019, QMF will be producing the Help is on its Way project, a National choral initiative fostering a dialogue around mental health, raising awareness of available services and encouraging help-seeking behaviour, particularly for our men and boys.  We are reaching out across the nation with an inclusive and open invitation for choirs and individuals of all levels, abilities and sizes to learn the powerful hit, 'Help is on its Way' and share the once in a lifetime opportunity to sing with the legendary Glenn Shorrock.
 
After the Festival has officially announced the project in April 2019, we hope you will be able to include ‘Help is on its Way’ in your performance repertoire all we would ask is that you share with your audience that this song is part of a larger project designed to foster a dialogue around mental well being. 

The Help is on its Way project will culminate in a mass choral event in Brisbane on Saturday 27 July 2019 with performances, activations and concerts throughout Queensland during the Festival. No matter where you live there will be many exciting ways to be involved.  

Register your interest now for access to the musical arrangement, guide tracks and everything you need to start learning and preparing the song, as well as regular updates about the project.  
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://rego.qmf.org.au/pages/?PageID=68&mp=HIOIW
TO REGISTER NOW: https://rego.qmf.org.au/forms/choircallout/
 
Warm regards,
Isabel
 
______________
2019 QMF Choral Team
The Help is on its Way Project
Queensland Music Festival
L1, 381 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006? 
PO Box 1060, Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006? 
T +61 7 3010 6600
F +61 7 3010 6666? 
E hioiw@qmf.org.au? 
W qmf.org.au