A Weekend of Growth and Harmony for Fascinating Rhythm
| Type of post: | Choir news item |
| Sub-type: | Choir Documentation |
| Posted By: | Kate Bishop |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Fri, 5 Jun 2026 |
Ten members of Fascinating Rhythm were proud to attend LABBS Harmony College 2026, held over the final weekend of April. Joining singers from across the UK, our members immersed themselves in a weekend full of education, inspiration, friendship and outstanding barbershop harmony.
Fascinating Rhythm delegates took part in every stream except Extreme Quartets, embracing the opportunity to learn from some of the very best educators in the barbershop world. Whether attending chorus, quartet, arranging or the directors’ sessions, everyone returned home energised with fresh ideas, new skills and renewed enthusiasm for singing.
The weekend opened with an extraordinary keynote speech from guest educator Blair Brown, who sings with the BinG! World Mixed Quartet Champions, Double Date. Her presentation, From Chords to Compassion, was emotional, challenging, uplifting and unforgettable and it set the tone for the entire weekend.
Speaking with honesty, humour and vulnerability, Blair explored how authentic performance can create deep human connection in an increasingly divided world. She referenced a challenging world living in a vacuum of empathy and within an epidemic of apathy, referencing the current global climate and political tensions, including her own experiences in the USA. She reminded us that music has the power to cut through fear, isolation and negativity. She described that “music is about human impact” and reinforced that barbershop singing has the unique ability to move people emotionally because every singer is actively involved in telling the story through text, harmony and connection.
Rather than focusing purely on technical performance, Blair challenged delegates to think about why they sing and what they want audiences to feel. She spoke passionately about truth-telling through music, encouraging performers to stop “acting” emotions and instead genuinely connect to the story they are telling. One of the most memorable moments came as she described how emotion lives physically within us, in the head, heart, gut or groin, and she urged us as singers to identify where the feeling sits in order to perform more authentically.
Blair also spoke openly about vulnerability, explaining how the emotional sensitivity she once viewed as a weakness ultimately became her greatest strength as a performer. Her message was powerful: audiences are not looking for perfection, they are looking for honesty, humanity and connection.
Perhaps the most moving takeaway was Blair’s belief that barbershop performance can genuinely change lives. In difficult times, singing together creates a safe haven, a place where people feel understood, valued and less alone. She reminded delegates that performers never truly know what someone in the audience may be going through, and that one authentic performance could mean everything to someone silently struggling. She suggested that the goal of performance is not technical perfection alone, but to ask:
This keynote speech left a huge impact on the entire audience including our Fascinating Rhythm members, with one member commenting that “the whole audience was raring to go afterwards.” Many described it as one of the most inspiring and thought-provoking talks they had ever heard at a barbershop event.
A major theme carried throughout the weekend was authenticity in performance. Understanding the emotion, backstory and intention behind a song became central to many coaching sessions. Delegates were encouraged to think carefully about who they were singing to, what had just happened in the story and why the words mattered. By tapping into genuine emotion, singers can move beyond simply performing notes and instead create a meaningful emotional experience for the audience.
Four Fascinating Rhythm members (Brenda, Joan, Julie and Anne-marie) attended the Chorus Stream, where they enjoyed singing alongside women from across the UK who share the same passion for barbershop harmony. The chorus coaching sessions were a particular highlight, especially those led by Blair Brown, whose ability to transform a song within minutes left a lasting impression on participants.
Three members (Lesley, Kate and Carole) attended the Quartet Stream as members of Neptune. Neptune secured one of only six quartet places available, making the experience especially valuable. The coaching sessions were intensive and fast-paced, with experts from each judging category offering targeted feedback and encouragement in rapid succession. It was an experience the quartet jokingly compared to “speed dating”.
The quartet members particularly valued not only the expert tuition and support from the coaches, but also the dedicated time spent working together. They left Harmony College with a much clearer understanding of how to strengthen their overall performance.
Sophie, one of Fascinating Rhythm’s newer members, attended the Arranging Stream led by Alex De Bruin. The course provided a fascinating introduction to barbershop arranging and encouraged participants to expand their musical understanding. Although some concepts initially felt challenging, the supportive atmosphere meant everyone felt comfortable asking questions and learning together.
Inspired by the course, Sophie returned home and immediately arranged a new four-part warm-up for the chorus. This is a wonderful example of how Harmony College sparked creativity and confidence that continued well beyond the weekend itself.
Meanwhile, Fascinating Rhythm’s Musical Director Wendy and Assistant Musical Director Laura attended the Directors Stream, where they greatly valued the opportunity to delve deeper into the art of directing and to exchange ideas and experiences with other directors. Wendy said “the weekend has been fabulous, and it has really reinforced the importance of singing to the audience rather than to the director. I’ve always believed this, it is all about the audience, we sing to them and for them, bringing them into our performance to create an emotional connection.” She is looking forward to bringing the skills and ideas she has gained from the weekend to help the ladies of Fascinating Rhythm feel confident in creating an authentic audience connection through their performances.
Outside of the main streams, the hugely popular “pick and mix” elective sessions offered something for everyone, with topics ranging from vocal skills and performance craft, to music theory and directing. Several Fascinating Rhythm members intentionally attended different sessions so they could bring ideas and learning back to share with the chorus.
Later on Sunday afternoon, the showcase performances provided the perfect ending to the weekend. The choruses and quartets took to the stage to sing their hearts out in front of an enthusiastic audience, before everyone joined together for a powerful massed rendition of Gold (the LABBS Polecat for 2026) which formed the Harmony College anthem, in a packed auditorium.
For Fascinating Rhythm members, Harmony College 2026 was far more than an educational event. It was a chance to connect with the wider barbershop community, challenge themselves creatively, gain fresh inspiration and celebrate the joy of singing together.
As one member beautifully summed up:
“It was something special to be in such a big room of women with a shared passion, all singing together and cheering each other on.”
Fascinating Rhythm delegates took part in every stream except Extreme Quartets, embracing the opportunity to learn from some of the very best educators in the barbershop world. Whether attending chorus, quartet, arranging or the directors’ sessions, everyone returned home energised with fresh ideas, new skills and renewed enthusiasm for singing.
The weekend opened with an extraordinary keynote speech from guest educator Blair Brown, who sings with the BinG! World Mixed Quartet Champions, Double Date. Her presentation, From Chords to Compassion, was emotional, challenging, uplifting and unforgettable and it set the tone for the entire weekend.
Speaking with honesty, humour and vulnerability, Blair explored how authentic performance can create deep human connection in an increasingly divided world. She referenced a challenging world living in a vacuum of empathy and within an epidemic of apathy, referencing the current global climate and political tensions, including her own experiences in the USA. She reminded us that music has the power to cut through fear, isolation and negativity. She described that “music is about human impact” and reinforced that barbershop singing has the unique ability to move people emotionally because every singer is actively involved in telling the story through text, harmony and connection.
Rather than focusing purely on technical performance, Blair challenged delegates to think about why they sing and what they want audiences to feel. She spoke passionately about truth-telling through music, encouraging performers to stop “acting” emotions and instead genuinely connect to the story they are telling. One of the most memorable moments came as she described how emotion lives physically within us, in the head, heart, gut or groin, and she urged us as singers to identify where the feeling sits in order to perform more authentically.
Blair also spoke openly about vulnerability, explaining how the emotional sensitivity she once viewed as a weakness ultimately became her greatest strength as a performer. Her message was powerful: audiences are not looking for perfection, they are looking for honesty, humanity and connection.
Perhaps the most moving takeaway was Blair’s belief that barbershop performance can genuinely change lives. In difficult times, singing together creates a safe haven, a place where people feel understood, valued and less alone. She reminded delegates that performers never truly know what someone in the audience may be going through, and that one authentic performance could mean everything to someone silently struggling. She suggested that the goal of performance is not technical perfection alone, but to ask:
- How will this make the audience feel?
- Will people leave feeling more human than when they arrived?
This keynote speech left a huge impact on the entire audience including our Fascinating Rhythm members, with one member commenting that “the whole audience was raring to go afterwards.” Many described it as one of the most inspiring and thought-provoking talks they had ever heard at a barbershop event.
A major theme carried throughout the weekend was authenticity in performance. Understanding the emotion, backstory and intention behind a song became central to many coaching sessions. Delegates were encouraged to think carefully about who they were singing to, what had just happened in the story and why the words mattered. By tapping into genuine emotion, singers can move beyond simply performing notes and instead create a meaningful emotional experience for the audience.
Four Fascinating Rhythm members (Brenda, Joan, Julie and Anne-marie) attended the Chorus Stream, where they enjoyed singing alongside women from across the UK who share the same passion for barbershop harmony. The chorus coaching sessions were a particular highlight, especially those led by Blair Brown, whose ability to transform a song within minutes left a lasting impression on participants.
Three members (Lesley, Kate and Carole) attended the Quartet Stream as members of Neptune. Neptune secured one of only six quartet places available, making the experience especially valuable. The coaching sessions were intensive and fast-paced, with experts from each judging category offering targeted feedback and encouragement in rapid succession. It was an experience the quartet jokingly compared to “speed dating”.
The quartet members particularly valued not only the expert tuition and support from the coaches, but also the dedicated time spent working together. They left Harmony College with a much clearer understanding of how to strengthen their overall performance.
Sophie, one of Fascinating Rhythm’s newer members, attended the Arranging Stream led by Alex De Bruin. The course provided a fascinating introduction to barbershop arranging and encouraged participants to expand their musical understanding. Although some concepts initially felt challenging, the supportive atmosphere meant everyone felt comfortable asking questions and learning together.
Inspired by the course, Sophie returned home and immediately arranged a new four-part warm-up for the chorus. This is a wonderful example of how Harmony College sparked creativity and confidence that continued well beyond the weekend itself.
Meanwhile, Fascinating Rhythm’s Musical Director Wendy and Assistant Musical Director Laura attended the Directors Stream, where they greatly valued the opportunity to delve deeper into the art of directing and to exchange ideas and experiences with other directors. Wendy said “the weekend has been fabulous, and it has really reinforced the importance of singing to the audience rather than to the director. I’ve always believed this, it is all about the audience, we sing to them and for them, bringing them into our performance to create an emotional connection.” She is looking forward to bringing the skills and ideas she has gained from the weekend to help the ladies of Fascinating Rhythm feel confident in creating an authentic audience connection through their performances.
Outside of the main streams, the hugely popular “pick and mix” elective sessions offered something for everyone, with topics ranging from vocal skills and performance craft, to music theory and directing. Several Fascinating Rhythm members intentionally attended different sessions so they could bring ideas and learning back to share with the chorus.
Later on Sunday afternoon, the showcase performances provided the perfect ending to the weekend. The choruses and quartets took to the stage to sing their hearts out in front of an enthusiastic audience, before everyone joined together for a powerful massed rendition of Gold (the LABBS Polecat for 2026) which formed the Harmony College anthem, in a packed auditorium.
For Fascinating Rhythm members, Harmony College 2026 was far more than an educational event. It was a chance to connect with the wider barbershop community, challenge themselves creatively, gain fresh inspiration and celebrate the joy of singing together.
As one member beautifully summed up:
“It was something special to be in such a big room of women with a shared passion, all singing together and cheering each other on.”
