• Early Bird registrations close on 31^st May and the savings are substantial, so don’t leave it too late, get in early and save!
   
• Accommodation close to the venues will be in short supply, at the moment there is plenty available at all price points, so once again, don’t leave it too late.
   
• Quartet results and qualification levels will be finalised by mid-May, so you’ll still have time to access early bird registrations.
   
• Forefront is our visiting quartet, check out the website for more information on these four brilliant singers and listen to selected tracks.
   
• New this year, a series of Master Classes replacing Harmony College.  A more compact format for the Sunday afternoon, evening and Monday morning.

• Pricing options apply this year, buy exactly the package you need for partners and friends, we’ve made it easier and less expensive, don’t miss out! Now is the time to be making your plans for Newcastle, whether a Chorus or Quartet…

• Foster and encourage barbershop singing, providing contest opportunities together with educational, social and recreational activities, including Harmony College/University.
• Provide contestants the opportunity to compete in a contest with more than one country.
• ?Provide the opportunity for BHA and BHNZ contestants to achieve International Qualification from their respective Association.  

The death occurred in Perth last month of Laurie Russell, following a long illness. The funeral was attended by many lovers of singing and admirers of Laurie’s many skills – including John Christie, David Macgill and Bruce Okely.

Very few in the Australian barbershop movement would be aware that, had it not been for Laurie’s initial enthusiasm, there might not have been such a movement in Australia.

Laurie, as the founder and leader of a quartet called The Four Notes, was largely responsible for the fact that the quartet, and their wives, attended the 1984 Convention of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (Inc), held in St Louis, Missouri.

The Four Notes (from left): Laurie Russell, Bruce Okely, David Macgill, John Little

The other quartet members were John Little, David Macgill and Bruce Okely. When they returned to Perth the latter three, full of enthusiasm (and only a limited amount of knowledge of barbershop) set about forming firstly, a barbershop quartet, then a barbershop chorus, which led to a State barbershop association, which led to the National barbershop association – currently known as Barbershop Harmony Australia.

Laurie Russell chose to continue performing and teaching traditional and classical vocal performance. However he never lost interest in his old friends and the progress of the barbershop movement.