About HCNW

About Harmony College NW

How did HCNW get started?

Harmony College Northwest was created with a dream to provide a fun weekend of education and training in singing skills and the barbershop style. The early organizers wanted to share the knowledge, approaches and talent of barbershop "superstars". And, we wanted to provide coaching for quartets and choruses with coaches they might normally not have access to.

Tom Condon, past HCNW Dean says, "My sources tell me that 1980 was the first year for HCNW (then called a HEP: Harmony Enhancement [or Education] Program). Chester Colpitts, then Music VP for the Evergreen District, asked Jim Bloxzyl to set it up, because Chester lived in Canada and they wanted the school in the Puget Sound metropolitan area. Jim did just that. They were hoping for 150 students the first year; they got 210!"

Working together

Although a few Sweet Adelines attended HCNW beginning around 2000, by 2006 the number of female students was starting to creep up. In 2007, HCNW made a conscious decision to invite also the terrific teaching and coaching talent in Sweet Adelines which was right in our own back yard. Singers from both organizations enjoyed being taught and coached by members of the kindred organization; this was called out again and again in the student comments. Many quartets specifically asked to have coaches from “the other side.” By 2011, Sweet Adelines represented about 40% of the faculty and attendees at HCNW!

The barbershoppers of the Pacific Northwest and western Canada truly enjoy sharing our craft and music together, and we understand the power of working together. No other regional school in the Barbershop Harmony Society has this much participation and cooperation between the two organizations! HCNW is serving as a shining example for those districts and regions who want to pursue the value of working together, and joining forces with others with similar goals.

We've hosted some big names!

We've had LOTS of well-known barbershoppers cross our doorsteps:

BHS and SAI "bigwigs":  Jean Barford, "Queen Maker," Marge Bailey, Past SAI President; Bill Biffle, Past BHS President; Gerry Borden, BHS Board Member; Paula Davis, SAI president; Alan Lamson, Past BHS President; Marty Monson, BHS CEO;  Don Rose, Harmony University Dean; Paul Wietlisbach, BHS Director of Education; Rod Sgrignoli, BHS Board Member; and, Ed Watson, Past BHS CEO.

BHS and SAI judges: Sharon Babb, Jean & Brian Barford, Marge Bailey, Sue Beck, Lea Beverley, Ron Black, John Burri, Joe Cerutti, Paula Davis, Corinna Garriock, Rich Hasty, Rik Johnson, Tom Gentry, Alan Gordon, Jim Kalke, Susan Kegley, Kevin Keller, Mel Knight, David Krause, Joe Liles, Brett Littlefield, Marty Lovick, Sandy Marron, Tim Marron, Roger Mills, Ken Potter, Judy Pozsgay, Beth Smith, Raymond Schwarzkopf, Rod Sgrignoli, Gary Steinkamp, Reid Stewart, Dave Tautkus, and Russ Young.

Talented directors: Judy Beckman, Harmony of the Gorge (SAI); Natalie Berdahl, Bridger Mountain Harmony (SAI) and Chord Rustlers (BHS); Joe Cerutti, Pride of Baltimore Chorus (SAI)/Alexandria Harmonizers (BHS); Ted Chamberlain, Seattle Seachordsmen; Mac Dallman, Heart of the Island (SAI); Mike Elliott, Pages of Harmony (BHS) and Spirit of Spokane (SAI); Mike Gibbs, Nainimo Tidesmen (BHS); Ryan Heller, Pride of Portland Chorus (SAI); Candy Johnson, Five Valley Chorus (SAI); Susan Kegley, Pacific Sound (SAI); Nancy Kurth, Northwest Harmony (SAI); Rich Lapp, Boise Chordsmen; Lori Lyford, Scottsdale Chorus (SAI); Mike Menefee, Kitsap Chordsmen (BHS); Charlie Metzger, Gentlemen of Fortune; Steve Morin, Salem Senate-aires (BHS); Paul Olguin, Columbia River (SAI) and Tualatin Valley Harmony Masters (BHS); Ken Potter Northwest Sound (BHS) and Jet Cities (SAI).

Special faculty members:  Doug Boersma, Kim Chadwick-McCormic (Touche'), Elaine Cotton (Brava), Jack Lyon (The Most Happy Fellows), Charlie Metzger (Antique Gold), Donya Metzger, Tom Metzger (Realtime), and Jenn Perry (Moxie Ladies).

International-level quartet (and a chorus!) faculty: The Dapper Dans, Finale, Frenzy, Late Show, Martini, Masterpiece, Masters of Harmony Chorus, Max Q, Mojo, The Most Happy Fellows, Nightlife, OC Times, Overtime, Realtime, Saturday Evening Post, Storm Front, Touche’, and Vocal Spectrum.

Evergreen District Champion Quartets: FLIPSIDE (2016) 4.0 (2015), Madison Park (2014), Via Voice (2013) , Momentum (2012), Quadraphonics (2011), The New Originals (2010), Fast Track(2009 ), 3 Outa Four (2008 ), JetSet (2007), The Dean's List (2006 ), Vocal Magic(2005 ), Realtime (2004 ), Friendly Advice (2003 ), and Rivalry (2002 ).