Early barbershop quartet singing began as a male-only activity, and the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) (originally the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America or SPEBSQSA) to which The Melbournaires is affiliated, was formed in 1938 to preserve the original style including the uniqueness of the original male-only close harmony. Some years later all-female quartets were formed to sing in the barbershop style.

Like their male counterparts, female barbershop quartets have a unique sound. To that effect, Sweet Adelines Intl. and Harmony, Inc. associations were formed to support and foster female-only barbershop singing and are the female-only counterpart associations to the Barbershop Harmony Society .

However, during the 2020's, BHS and most affiliates (including the Melbournaires) have moved to remove the male only status of its members and many women are full members. Within our club (Melbournaires Barbershop Chorus Inc, or MBCI) we now have the mixed membership chorus Vocal Infusion as well as the 2 men's choruses, Melbournaires Harmony Chorus (MHC) and the Phoenix Harmony Chorus (PHC).

Here are the locations of Victoria's Sweet Adelines choruses. Ladies are invited to visit any of the choruses on their rehearsal night to discover the fun of being part of a performing chorus. Check out their websites for further information.

Within our Melbournaires Club
Vocal Infusion
Monthly (normally Sunday afternoons)
Refer to the "Ensembles" tab above.

11km east of Melbourne
Melbourne Chorus
Wednesday 7:15 to 9:30pm
Beresford Street Kew Music Centre (within Kew East Primary School)
Kew East VIC 3102
Melway 45 F3
Chorus Mobile: 0431 140 450
www.melbournechorus.org.au

28km east of Melbourne
East City Sound
Thursday 7.30pm
St. Stephen's Church
2 Warruga Ave.
Bayswater 3153
Melway 64 C6
Ph: 03 9803 2502
Ph: 03 9736 1819
www.eastcitysound.org.au

23km east of Melbourne
Vocal Vibes Chorus
Monday 7:15pm
Mullulm Mullum Anglican Church
40 Warrandyte Road, Ringwood  3134
Melway 49 H7
E: info@vocalvibes.org.au
www.vocalvibes.org.au

40km south-east of Melbourne
Southern Sounds Chorus
Monday 7.30pm
St Jude's Hall
Warrandyte Rd.
Langwarrin 3910
Melway 103 J5
Ph: Kim: 0438 260 369
Ph: Chris: 03 5971 2231
www.southernsounds.org.au
 
65km south-west of Melbourne
Geelong Harmony Chorus
Monday 6:45pm
Western Heights Uniting Church
Douglass St.
Herne Hill 3218
Melway 441 E11
Ph: 0406 666 737
www.geelongharmony.org.au
Email: info@geelongharmony.org.au