Web Links

LABBS is the UK's own organisation for female barbershoppers. They use the Barbershop Harmony Society's system for contest and judging, and work closely with their brother organisation, BABS.

BABS is the UK's own organisation for male barbershoppers. They are affiliated to the Barbershop Harmony Society.

The BHS, (or, as I like to think of it, TSFKASPEBSQSA - The Society Formerly Known as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) is the first and oldest barbershop organisation in the world. Their headquarters have recently moved to Nashville, and from there they extend support to other national and regional organisations the world over.

CASA was founded by Deke Sharon, master arranger of contemporary a cappella, and member of the Housejacks. As well as information and networking opportunities, the organisation runs competitions, youth/educational programmes and bestows its own annual awards. Busy bunch of people!

SAI is the world's first and biggest barbershop organisation for women. The headquarters are in the barbershop heartland of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and there are members all over the world.

For readers from the British Isles, the local outpost is Region 31, Quartet of Nations: http://www.sweetadelines.org.uk

The ABCD runs conducting courses and regional training days, and presents an annual convention each August. Its magazine, Mastersinger is published quarterly.

The ACDA is a non-profit organisation that presents regional and national conventions each year, and publishes The Choral Journal each month.

Lots of useful stuff here - links to choirs, to organisations, to resources. There are also a number of email discussion lists to sign up to.

Directory of UK choirs and choral events. Two singers joined Magenta after finding us listed there, so I can vouch that it works.

As well as a huge list of British choirs, this site includes information about festivals, educational events and choral job opportunities.

WebMag with an abundance of news, events listings, useful links and learning resources. The sections on advice and events are mostly focused on the UK choral scene and its contexts (including things like data protection and copyright law), but the learning section will help singers the world over.

Formed back in 1920, this association of British choirs offers practical support and advice to its more than 500 member choirs.

Online shop for sheet music and recordings. Set a time limit and budget before you visit or we may never see you again.

Another site selling arrangements, recordings and other things of interest to the acappella afficionado.

Alas, there are no more new entries in this inspiring blog. But browse the archives for Kathy Sierra's imaginative and intelligent ideas on how how to incite people to passion.

A rich, and many-layered musical blog that ranges much more widely than its title suggests. Intelligent and humane writing, supplemented with generous musical examples and lots of links to related interesting things. Can you tell that I like it?

Some cool posts about the nitty-gritty of a cappella arranging as well as other miscellaneous musical topics.

Tom Metzger's blog about ways to improve your stage presence, confidence and emotional impact as a performer.

This is a blog by choral conductor Terre Johnson, who is based in the other Birmingham - in Alabama. He has a compelling vision of why music is important to its participants and their communities, and his posts offer both analysis and inspiration in their efforts to persuade.

This was so good I just had to share it.