The Regional Convention in beautiful Toowoomba was an outstanding experience for the Clippers, and for all the other participants. Thank you to High Altitude Harmony for their great organisation and wonderful hospitality.

The Clippers had three quartets in the mix, ‘Three Squirrels and a Nut’, ‘5 Young Cannibals’ and ‘Shortlist’ as well as our full chorus.

The refurbished Empire Theatre was an awesome venue and provided wonderful big stage performance experience. All groups performed well and with excellent feedback from the judging panel. However standards are high in the Sunshine Region so the Clippers had the pleasure of being in the audience for the fabulous ‘Concert of A Cappella Champions’ in the evening with outstanding contributions from guest quartet Blindside and dazzling displays of costumes, songs and dance from our talented and dedicated Sunshine Region champions.

After the concert we adjourned to the neighbouring hall for an exuberant and energetic afterglow. With risers in place the compere got the audience to join groups for fabulous mass renditions of barbershop favourites intermingled with contributions from Blindside and other groups. For those of us who could stay, this was the highlight of the Convention that expressed the best of Barbershop and its community. Well done HTH! A night we won’t ever forget.

On May 18 the Clippers joined with the Savoyard Singers as the main acts for St Gabriel’s church fete in Carindale. The modern church building is a great performance space and the chorus bookended the musical theatre acts of the Savoyard Singers. The mixture of styles and a good supper made for an enjoyable and profitable evening showcasing barbershop as a community activity.

Shoppers at Bunnings in Cannon Hill were treated to a feast of music on Sunday (June 9) as the Clippers ran the fundraising Sausage Sizzle. Sausages were harmonised with onions and given the veneer of sauce for tenor-like sparkle, all on the bass of sliced bread. Appetites were slaked while ears were caressed with many of our favourite songs and polecats. A great way to put the Clippers out there and raise funds for the group.

Special thanks to our indefatigable treasurer and organiser Steve Deans for taking this task one and special thanks to Merv Harcourt who ran this event for 16 years and has now passed on the baton.

Steve Deans