A BHA contest is adjudicated by a panel of Australian Guild of Barbershop Judges (AGBJ) certified judges which gives each ensemble a score covering the three scoring categories of Singing, Musicality and Performance. These judges also provide face-to-face feedback on their relevant category via a feedback session after the contest.
BHA Regional Festivals are held annually, usually during April to May. Contests are open to the public and are often accompanied by a concert showcasing the best scoring ensembles on the day. Visiting judges will also often provide a harmony workshop over the Festival weekend.
BHA Regions are generally aligned with State boundaries. Scroll down to view details of Regional Contests and associated activities in your Region/State/Territory, and FAQs.
Date: Sat 10 May 2025
Venue: Goodwood Theatre & Studios (166 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood)
Day/Time (Start-Finish): Start time 09:30 Finish TBC
Contact: Simon Hosking 0406 290 341 (central@barbershop.org.au)
Ticket Prices: gold coin donation at the door
Purchase Tickets: N/A
Contest Entry Registration Fees: Chorus $150 Quartet $80 Youth/School Chorus $75 Youth/School Quartet $40
Date: Contests: Sat 24 May 2025. Harmony Workshop: Sun 25 May 2025
Venue: Contests: Cherrybrook Community and Cultural Centre, 31 Shepherds Drive, Cherrybrook NSW. Harmony Workshop: Thornleigh Community Centre, LOT 200 Phyllis Ave & Central Avenues New South Wales 2120
Day/Time (Start-Finish): TBC
Contact: Tony Sykes (eastern@barbershop.org.au)
Ticket Prices: For BHA Contestants, Non-Contestants and members of the Public. Weekend Package: $20, Separate Ticketing: Contest session (this includes admission to both Quartet & Chorus contests) - $10 Showcase & Afterglow - $10 Sunday Judges' Workshop - $10 (Thornleigh Community Centre)
Purchase Tickets: Full Package ($20), Contest Sessions Only ($10), Showcase Concert & Afterglow ($10), Educational Workshop ($10)
Contest Entry Registration Fees: Choruses $100 / Quartets $60. Contestants register here
Date: Sat 31 May 2025 to Sun 1 Jun 2025
Venue: Venue 114 (114 Sportmans Parade, Bokarina)
Day/Time (Start-Finish): Contest: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Showcase Concert: Saturday 7pm to 9.30pm
Contact: David Reid (sunshine@barbershop.org.au)
Ticket Prices: Showcase Concert: General Admission $27.50, Concession $17.50
Purchase Tickets: Here
Contest Registration Payments (Individual and Ensemble): Here
Date: Sat 31 May 2025 to Sun 1 Jun 2025
Venue: Stanley Burbury Theatre, University of Tasmania
Day/Time (Start-Finish): Saturday Contest and Evaluations 9.30 am to 5.30 pm Concert 7.30 pm Afterglow 9.30 pm Sunday Ensemble coaching
Contact: Trevor Rootes (trevor.rootes@barbershop.org.au)Ph: 0488 967 904
Ticket Prices: Contest Only $10 adult $5 child (ages 6-17) Concert only $25 adult $20 concession $10 child (ages 6 – 17) Contest and Showcase $30 adult $25 concession $12 child (ages 6-17) Performers – no charge
Purchase Tickets: Here
Contest Entry Registration Fees: Quartets $100 Choruses $150
Date: 3 - 4 May 2025
Venue: Contests: Templestowe Baptist Church (103-105 Andersons Creek Rd, Doncaster East, Afterglow: TBA, Education Day: Ss Peter & Paul's Parish Hall (23 Leeds St, East Doncaster)
Day/Time (Start-Finish): Saturday 3 May Chorus Contest 9.30am, Quartet Contest 11.30am, Sunday 4 May Education Day 10.00am
Contact: Robert Turnbull (victorian@barbershop.org.au)
Ticket Prices:
Performers - Free
Non Performers - Adults $10, U18s $5
Purchase Tickets: TBC
Contest Entry Registration Fees: BHA small $75, BHA medium $140, BHA large $200, non-BHA small $90, non-BHA medium $165, non-BHA large $240
Date: Sat 3 May 2025 to Sun 4 May 2025
Venue: Methodist Ladies College (356 Stirling Hwy, Claremont)
Day/Time (Start-Finish): TBC
Contact: Tim Chang 0468 902 830 (western@barbershop.org.au)
Ticket Prices: TBC
Purchase Tickets: TBC
Contest Entry Registration Fee/Process: TBC
Information for Contestants
Prior to entering a contest, please ensure you have read the relevant Standing Orders and understand the conditions of competing. Quartets and Choruses should check Standing Order 6 for eligibility criteria. Schools should check the Schools Comp Rules for eligibility criteria.
Please contact the BHA Administration Officer, Russell Jones (admin@barbershop.org.au) to register your quartet (if not registered already) and ensure your individual quartet member BHA memberships are up to date. This needs to be completed well in advance before an entry into a contest is possible. Similarly BHA Chorus membership needs to be up to date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I enter my quartet or chorus in the contest?
A. Please follow this link for Contest Entry https://contests.barbershop.org.au
If you haven’t used the contest entry portal before, please note it is a two-step process to set up the user login. Remember – only one person per ensemble needs to access and complete the entry. Please contact the Administrative Judge (ADM) assigned to the relevant regional contest and/or Linda Vinall (linda.vinall@barbershop.org.au) if you have any questions about entering your Regional Contest.
Please note the closing date for your regional contests.
Q. How do I pay the Contest Entry Fee?
A. Please refer to the instructions at the end of the Contest Entry process.
Q. Do I also need to separately register for the event?
A. Please refer to the relevant details in the information for your Region on this page.
Q. What is the closing date for Contest Entry?
A. The Contest Entry closing date for your Regional Contest will be displayed on the Contest Entry website Home Page.
Q. What are the contest rules?
A. BHA contest rules are contained in Standing Order 6 (also available under ‘Downloads’ on the BHA website). Schools contest rules can be viewed here.
Q. Do both quartets and choruses need to qualify at regionals before they can enter the National convention?
A. A quartet does need to qualify in the Regional Contest to enter the National event. A new quartet will need to register with BHA at least 28 days prior to contest entry. A Chorus does not need to qualify at Regional Contest to enter the National event.
Q. If my quartet is unable to compete in the Regional Contest, is there an invitational section in the National Contest?
A. There is no Invitational quartet section at the National Contest. There are Invitational sections for both quartet and chorus in the Regional Contest only. However, it is possible to lodge a video entry for assessment at the time of the final Regional Contest. Refer to Standing Order 6. Video assessments are available for quartets only.
