Harmony University 2020 Cancellation Announcement
It is with great sadness the Barbershop Harmony Society is canceling Harmony University 2020.
Belmont University is joining the health protocols of other institutions to keep both their staff and visitors safe during this COVID-19 health crisis by canceling all on-site summer classes and events, including this year's HU.
The Barbershop Harmony Society stands with our partners at Belmont. Welcoming 900 people from many countries to gather is a risk we are unwilling to take in the face of the current pandemic. We agree that this decision is not only in the best interests of Belmont but also for our global population of HU students and faculty. It is for this reason that the BHS will not pursue an alternate location and we are formally canceling any in-person event in July.
This week, on or before Friday April 17, we will share more information with specifics about registration and refund options including:
(a) carry over tuition for next year, held at Belmont, July 25—August 1, 2021
(b) request a full refund, including deposits for groups
(c) donate your tuition amount (in part or in whole) to support the Barbershop Harmony Society and our Music Education programs
(d) use part of your tuition to join us at Virtual Harmony University, currently being developed for a live, interactive online experience during the week of July 26—August 1, 2020.
A decision like this creates a large ripple effect. There are many more details to share that are currently being finalized by our Music Education staff, Belmont University, and our outside granting organizations including Harmony Foundation International and The National Endowment for the Arts.
To say we are heartbroken would be an understatement.
For hundreds of us, HU is a homecoming, a harmony family reunion we attend year after year. We are in the habit of smiling at hundreds of people we pass every day on campus, singing with new friends at all hours, intergenerational acceptance, inclusion and emotional safety, and yes…ice cream every night.
If you have specific questions, you can access our Frequently Asked Questions page here.