PERTH’S most harmonious ladies’ singing group will team up with Australia’s premier vocal ensemble and the Australian Army’s finest khaki-clad musicians for a big musical event this Saturday at the Perth Concert Hall.
Titled Too Darn Hot, the concert will feature Australian National Champion Women’s Barbershop Chorus Perth Harmony alongside expectation-smashing Capella quartet The Idea of North fresh from touring their new album Feels Like Spring, a collaboration with star jazzman James Morrison.
Expect a safe and smoothly run event because the disciplined men and women of the Australian Army Band Perth will be on hand to impress with their finely drilled musical skills.
Perth Harmony has qualified to compete in the International Championships in Houston next year after winning gold in the 2010 National Championships held in Mandurah, with 90 ladies from Perth Harmony taking part.
One of the group’s quartets, BlackJaQ, won gold in the prestigious quartet category at the championships.
Perth Harmony master director Carole MacIntyre said barbershop music was by no means solely a male domain, despite its name that might suggest otherwise.
“Barbershop refers to the style of music,” she said.
“The men’s format was originally called barbershop, and women – as they normally do – thought they could do just as well, so they formed their own organisations.”
She said women thinking about getting involved with Perth Harmony should consider signing up for a seven-week course starting in November.
“The chorus will be running a program called Real Women, Real Harmonies, Real Fun, which is for anyone interested in learning something about barbershop, and finding out more about what we do,” she said.
MacIntyre said as well as having fun, the ladies of the chorus liked to lend their voices to help community events and charities.
“We make ourselves available to sing as often as possible, particularly around Christmas,” she said.
“We will get out and about helping people out with their own fundraising.”
Too Darn Hot, with The Idea of North, Perth Harmony Chorus and The Australian Army Band Perth, will be performed at the Perth Concert Hall from 7pm on Saturday, September 11.