The Hobart Men’s Barbershop Harmony Club Inc.
The Hobart Men's Barbershop Harmony Club was founded in 1993 as "The Wellingtones" by Dr. Tim Begbie and his quartet Close Shave.
In that year Close Shave was bound for the second AAMBS Barbershop Convention in Perth, Western Australia and formed a barbershop chorus to accompany them.
Tim was the first Musical Director. The group was initially formed by invitation and a some twenty singers combined with Close Shave to make a resoundingly successful concert debut at the Glenorchy Arts Centre.
Unfortunately, the newly formed group was unable to afford the trip to Perth but the group continued in its own right in the local music scene.
When Tim found he was unable to continue as MD due to pressure of work, he still maintained contact with the group and gave support as he was able.
A succession of talented Musical Directors carried the newly formed Wellingtones forward. Beth Rankin, Brian Yates and Philip Giosio were succeeded in turn by Fred Brown. The next MD was Richard Gardam.
As the Wellimgtones morphed into Deep South, Richard was followed by Russel Bailley. The current MD is Jeremy Just.
The Wellingtones officially formed on the 13th of September 1994 with a loose structure based around the notion that:
"First and foremost we are a group of people who meet together to enjoy singing. Let's take whatever action is necessary to ensure that this continues to be so and that Tuesday nights remain a pleasurable experience and not a chore."
In this regard, nothing has changed.
This loose structure continued until 1996. As barbershop singing in Australia was becoming more popular and more organised, the national organisation AAMBS, (the Australian Association of Men's Barbershop Singers) invited The Wellingtones to become their Tasmanian representatives. On Tuesday 2nd April 1996 a constitution was adopted and an executive committee elected.
The membership of the Wellingtones varied over the years from a low of nine to a high of twenty seven.
On the national scene, the chorus has competed at conventions in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
In 2006 the Club was renamed the Hobart Men's Barbershop Harmony Club and restructured to provide an extended range of options for its members. Members can now be in one or more of our choruses and one or more quartets.
Initially created as a competition chorus, combining members of The Wellingtones, Tag Team and Close Shave, Deep South has now become the Club’s flagship chorus.
Quartets
An important role of any chorus is the formation of quartets. Many quartets have formed for short periods or specific events. Here are some of the more notable groups, some of which are still singing together.
The original quartet and still the best. Visit their own site to see what they’re doing at the moment.
The Silvertones
Noel Jacobs (tenor), Ken Hunt (lead), Fred Brown (baritone) and Gerrit Betlehem (bass)
Competed in the Australian Barbershop Convention in Sydney. They are now, sadly, no longer singing together, however, the name lives on in our recently formed seniors chorus. See below.
Ric Findlay (tenor), David Frampton (lead), Rhett Knight (baritone) and Richard Gardam (bass)
First formed in Jan 2000. The quartet took on a life of its own, performing in many private and public functions, including the Tasmanian Acappella Festival. Travelled to New Zealand to compete in the 2004 Pan Pacific Barbershop Convention and most recently participated in the 2013 bha Convention in Perth.
The highlight for this quartet was to travel to the United States, representing Australia in the International Seniors Convention. The quartet is still registered but not currently performing owing to medical issues of a couple of its members.
Fourman Material
Graeme Bray (tenor), Trevor Rootes (lead), Duncan How (bass) and John Langford (baritone)
Formed in 2005, the quartet made its debut in April at the Moonah Arts Centre Concert and the Men in Harmony extravaganza. This quartet is no longer performing.
Four Bucks Fifty Five
Formed in 2006, this ensemble consisted mainly of members who were retired and can rehearse and perform during the day. The current line up is Trevor Rootes, bass, John Langford, lead, Graeme Bray, tenor, and Rhett Knight, baritone. This ensemble competed in the AAMBS convention in Sydney in 2007.
Locksmiths
A youth quartet which formed in 2007. Tim Carolan (lead), Drew Carolan (bass), Russell Bailey (baritone) and Wil Bowling (tenor). They made their debut performance in the 2007 Tasmanian Men in Harmony Concert on Saturday, July 7th. Members of this quartet are now living interstate and overseas.
4 Auld Acquaintance
This quartet made up of Ken Hunt (lead), Graeme Bray (tenor), Tim Begbie (baritone) and Richard Gardam (bass) formed in 2009 in order to compete in the 10th AAMBS convention, Heritage Harmony in the open and seniors divisions. The quartet brought home the third place bronze medal.
With new baritone Ken Moore, this ensemble is still active, particularly as part of The Silvertones Chorus on the retired persons circuit.
next!
Graeme Bray, Rhett Knight, Russ Bailey and Michael Cromer
Choruses
This chorus formed in 2006 as a seniors chorus. The Silvertones name lives on. Three of the original members of the Silvertones are still part of this new chorus, supplemented by other retired members of the Wellingtones.
This chorus meets for rehearsals on Friday mornings. It is able to perform for organisations and venues which are only available in the daytime. The repertoire consists of popular barbershop favourites and is enhanced with individual performances by members in solo and small ensembles. Community singing is a popular feature of Silvertones programmes.
Formed in late 2006 under the direction of Adam Purton, Tag Team caters for the youth members of our club. TagTeam rehearses at the same venue as Deep South, in an adjacent room. The current musical director is Andrew Caldecoat. As Deep South prepares for convention, Tag Team is currently not rehearsing.
This is our main chorus - current destination Sydeny in September, 2017. Currently directed by Jeremy Just. Membership of this chorus is open to anyone else who is prepared to put in the required rehearsal time, currently Tuesday evening from 7:15 - 9:30pm at the Hobart Church of Christ, 8 Goulburn Street, Hobart
The Wellingtones chorus is not currently active.
In late 2014 the Club developed a new entity to act as a gateway for men to come along and develop a range of singing skills.
The Singing Shed approach features short term projects of 6 to 8 weeks where men come together together to learn 4 to 6 songs with a performance opportunity built in. These new singers are supported throughout the project by existing members of the Club.
