INTERKULTUR Competitors

The Barbershop Harmony Society is the world leader in close-harmony a cappella singing, with approximately 14,000 members across North America. Founded in 1938 as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, the Society welcomes all people of all ages to sing in more than 1200 quartets and nearly 700 choruses that range in size from a dozen to 150 singers. Allied organizations in more than a dozen countries bring the total number of active barbershop singers to more than 70,000 worldwide. Through active programs in music education, publishing, performance and outreach, the Society preserves and extends the reach of a uniquely American close harmony musical art form whose roots lie in African-American communities of the South in the late 1800s. Today, the Society now expends nearly $1 million annually in support of community and school programs that bring the fellowship, fulfillment and excitement of vocal music to a new generation of singers.

Association of Professional Choir Directors and Singers

Tasmania’s Festival of Voices returns from 3–12 July 2026, bringing warmth, connection and a winter spark to communities right across the state. For ten days, Tasmania will come alive with the sound of song – in concert halls, pubs, churches, community centres and unexpected spaces – celebrating the power and joy of singing in all its forms. In 2026, we’re proud to introduce Voices on the Road – a new series of multi-day touring experiences designed to take the Festival beyond its traditional footprint and into regional Tasmania. These journeys will see artists and facilitators travelling together, embedding themselves in communities, sharing performances, workshops and moments of genuine connection. It’s a bold next step in our commitment to making the Festival accessible, inclusive and truly statewide. From Baroque to rock, this year’s program offers something for everyone: grand choral celebrations, intimate gigs, contemporary collaborations, hands-on workshops, community singing and powerful new works. We’re partnering with extraordinary artists and local communities to create experiences that feel both world-class and warmly local – inviting Tasmanians everywhere to lift their voices and be part of something bigger. The full 2026 program will be released and on sale from Friday 20 March 2026. Join us for another unforgettable winter celebration of song, storytelling and shared experience.