Over 57,000 male and female singers around the globe join in a cappella singing in choruses and quartets, singing in the style called “barbershop.” They belong to 14 separate barbershop organizations, and their leaders join together to form the World Harmony Council.
The World Harmony Council is committed to encouraging and supporting barbershop harmony singing for its member organizations, and to fostering an appreciation of barbershop-style music in the world community.
The World Harmony Council’s aims are to encourage and support:
- the perpetuation of the four-part a cappella barbershop style of singing;
- the formation and development of barbershop harmony singing organizations;
- the development and exchange of new ideas and initiatives relative to the barbershop harmony singing art; and
- providing international liaison and information exchange among barbershop harmony singing organizations.
To enable these aims, and to share barbershop music on a truly international level, a showcase is held every year featuring Gold Medal choruses and quartets from every corner of the globe. Produced on a totally volunteer basis, every proceed from the show is distributed in the form of grants to the member organizations and in supporting newly established organisations and groups to attend education events.
As an exciting new initiative the World Harmony Council Executive is searching for, and identifying, new barbershoppers, with a goal of expanding organized barbershopping everywhere.
Joining with fellow singers to create beautiful and exciting music in the barbershop style is a healthful, rewarding, and inspirational experience. If you are new to this amazing artform we encourage you to do all you can to learn more, and contact us. The barbershop community is waiting for you!
