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From 02.10. to 05.10.2026 in the youth hostel Oberwesel
The Harmony College is an annual long weekend organized by BinG! where the full intensity and inspiring emotionality of barbershop singing in four-part harmony can be experienced. All singers have the opportunity to develop their musical skills, get involved and have a lot of fun.
BinG! Harmony College 2026
From: Friday, 02.10.2026 - 1 pm
Until: Monday, 05.10.2026 - 3 pm
At: Rheintal-Jugendherberge Oberwesel
Future Harmony Colleges:
01.10. - 04.10.2027
30.09. - 03.10.2028
30.09. - 03.10.2029
03.10. - 06.10.2030
How long will it take?
274Days
15Hours
Where will the event take place?
In recent years, the BinG! Harmony College has become a real magnet for barbershoppers and a cappella enthusiasts from all over Germany. The broad spectrum of learning content, the fun of singing together (sometimes late into the night...) and the good atmosphere have ensured that many participants keep coming back.
Prices 2026 (Coming soon):
Accommodation in the youth hostel (shared room)
xxx € - BinG! Member
xxx € - Non-members (BinG! membership from 25€/year)
xxx € - Young Voices HC (up to and including age 26)
xxx € - Young Voices QC (up to and including age 26)
xx € - Surcharge for “double singers” (registration of 2nd quartet)
External accommodation (self-organized)
xxx € - BinG! Member
xxx € - Non-members (BinG! membership from 25€/year)
xxx € - Young Voices HC (up to and including age 26)
xxx € - Young Voices QC (up to and including age 26)
Our Faculty 2026
Bios by clicking the name
Aaron Dale
Aaron Dale was inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Society Hall of Fame in 2024 and received the Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Arrangers in 2020. His arrangements have shaped the sound of champion ensembles worldwide, including Westminster Chorus, O.C. Times, Masters of Harmony, Vocal Majority, Scottsdale Chorus, Ringmasters, Vocal Spectrum, Crossroads, and many others. He co-founded and directed the international 3rd-place medalist chorus, Kentucky Vocal Union.
Based in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Aaron is a lifelong educator, percussionist, and published composer with Row-Loff Productions. He holds degrees from the University of Kentucky and Campbellsville University and has taught and coached ensembles since the early 1990s. He is a highly sought-after coach for champion-level groups worldwide and has taught seminars and courses for the Barbershop Harmony Society and other music education events around the globe.
Alex Morris
Alex graduated with a bachelor's degree in music (composition) from the University of Western Australia in 2009. Since then, he has been actively involved with orchestras and festivals, most recently holding the position of general manager at Stonnington Symphony. Alex is in demand worldwide as a vocal coach for ensembles, gives lessons and leads workshops, and regularly lectures at BHS Harmony University. In 2022, Alex was inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Australia Hall of Fame.
Alex is the former music director of Vocal Evolution, with whom he won three gold medals at Barbershop Harmony Australia (BHA), as well as former music director of the Geelong Harmony Chorus (Sweet Adelines Australia), the shOUT Youth Chorus, and the cult choirs Shania Choir and The Shanties Choir, which tour regularly in Victoria and abroad. Alex is currently co-music director of the exciting new Laneway City Singers, who won the silver medal in their first BHA competition.
Alex has been a member of the Sweet Adelines Australia Regional Education Faculty and the BHA Education Faculty. In 2013, Alex became the first non-North American certified music judge for the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Alex performs regularly as Bae Marie, using queer performance art to create interactive experiences for children and adults. In December 2021, Alex launched Sunday School for aspiring queer DJs in Naarm (Melbourne).
Alexander Koller
Alexander is a BinG! Certified Coach and was a Musicality Judge for the American Barbershop Harmony Society from 2023 to 2026. He has been an enthusiastic barbershopper ever since he sang in the Big Apple Chorus during a year-long stay in New York twenty years ago. Since then, he has sung in several German quartets and was the founder of the European Harmony Brigade. Alexander has been a lecturer at a number of German and international events, such as the Virtual Harmony University, the European Quartet School, and the European Harmony Academy. His coaching often focuses on bringing out the musical details of an arrangement and setting the music in motion. He looks forward to working with you and to many days in the afterglow!
Allen Otto
Allen has been involved with performance and production for 23 years, including acting, directing, coaching, and training. He is currently the visual creator and performance coach for Space City Sound in Houston, TX. He holds his Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University and Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston School of Law, and is currently the managing partner for Allen Otto Law, PLLC. Allen is the owner of Behind the Door Immersive Theatre Company and is senior creative staff with the Houston based immersive theatre company, Strange Bird Immersive.
Allen is currently on the board of review for the Performance Category in the Barbershop Harmony Society, has perennially been on faculty at Harmony University as an instructor and Dean, and has been a certified theater adjudicator in Texas since 2013. His performance packages have been on the division, district, and international stages and he continues to bring innovative solutions to performance to choruses and quartets across the society and to international affiliates through his coaching and
teaching. www.allenotto.com
Cay Outerbridge
Cay is an all-rounder in the barbershop: singing teacher, choir director, coach, BHS Musicality Judge, arranger, producer of learning materials, and quartet singer. He is the musical director of two renowned choirs in Boston, Vocal Revolution and VocaMotion, and sings bass in Daily Special, an internationally successful quartet. He coaches singers and quartets around the world with a scientifically based, empathetic, and personalized approach.
Debbie Cleveland
Debbie holds a B.A. in Music Education/Voice from University of South Florida and a M.Ed. Education & Curriculum Univ. Arts in the Classroom.
She is highly experienced as an educator, for example 36 Years High School Choral Director, Barbershop Harmony Society/NAfME “Educator of the Year” 2018, Sweet Adelines International/NAfME “Educator of the Year” 1997. She got consistently rated as „Superior” at District and State Level and received several awards.
She won a silver medal as lead od Dynasty at 2024 SAI Internationals, as Lead of The Buzz at 205 SAI Internationals and as Lead of Showtime at 1994 SAI Internationals.
Debbie has performed, coached and taught barbershop singing all over - the U.S., Canada, several European countries, Australia and New Zealand, and she loves to share the passion of singing!
Katy Dane
Katy Dane has been a director, coach, and educator in the barbershop community for over 15 years. As the founding director of A Cappella Unlimited (SAI), she led the chorus to a 2nd-place international finish at Harmony Classic in 2019. She also directed A Cappella Texas (BHS), earning multiple Most Improved and Audience Choice awards in Texas. Some notable leadership roles include becoming the first woman to serve on the SWD Board as VP of Music & Performance, SING! Texas (President), Region 10 Education Team, Harmony University faculty (7 years) serving as Dean of Music Education for four of those years. Most recently, she directed the Everyone in Harmony Chorus at BHS Midwinter Convention (2023) & A Cappella Jugendcamp with BiNG! (2025). In 2022, Katy was named Music Educator of the Year by the National Association for Music Education in partnership with the Barbershop Harmony Society. ) Katy has just completed her 23rd year teaching choir and orchestra in the United States and has recently relocated to Toronto, Canada with her barbershopper husband. Together, they are joyfully expecting a “baby barbershopper” in 2026!
Lucas Bitzer
Lucas has been fascinated by barbershop and choral music since childhood and has been singing in quartets and choirs for over 22 years.
As a coach and lecturer, his passion is discovering and developing potential in people and ensembles. He is a certified BinG! coach and regularly lectures at various barbershop events (BinG! Harmony College, FABS Coaching Day, BHS Harmony University). In 2024, he was accepted into the BHS judging program as a candidate judge in the singing category.
His training as a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique—a method for training body awareness and changing unfavorable habits—and as a voice teacher at the Lichtenberg Institute for Applied Voice Physiology shapes his holistic approach.
Lucas holds a doctor's degree in and so he brings a special enthusiasm for overtones, sound phenomena, and scientific connections to his courses and coaching sessions.
In addition, he is a passionate member of the board of BinG!-Chorjugend, where he is committed to promoting young singers and passing on his enthusiasm for barbershop to the next generation.
Mark Kettner
Mark Kettner was a specialist in the “Performance” category and has been a certified judge since 2010. In addition, Mark has been director of the Appalachian Express Chorus (NE Tennessee Chapter) since January 2014 and a member of the choir since 2002. He has been a member of BHS since 1988. In addition to directing the chorus, Mark has also trained quartets and choirs in the US and Canada, as well as worldwide. He also lectures at several district schools. Mark is grateful for the opportunity to teach and train singers around the world and to judge barbershop performances. Mark has lived in Johnson City, Tennessee, for 23 years with his wife Rebecca and their children Graysen and Jasper. He works at the Eastman Chemical Company as a manager for chemical engineers and scientists.
Nathan Ogg
Nathan Ogg is an accomplished conductor, educator, and organizational leader known for his work in Jazz, Folk, the American Songbook, and a cappella traditions. He studied Vocal Music Performance at Capital University and Choral Conducting at The Ohio State University, later earning a degree in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University.
Active in the barbershop community since 2000, Nathan has competed internationally with both quartets and choruses, earning a gold medal with the Music City Chorus and a top-20 international placement with Harmonic Thunder quartet in 2022. He is currently Musical Director of The River Blend Mixed Chorus, a Certified Master Director with Sweet Adelines International, and a certified Singing Judge with the Barbershop Harmony Society.
In addition to his work on the podium, Nathan is a respected vocal coach and clinician, frequently leading workshops across North America. His consulting work supports arts organizations worldwide in areas such as education, outreach, leadership development, and organizational health.
Peter Cunningham
Peter is the Chair of the Music & Dance Department and Director of Choirs and Voice at Kilgore College, and has been a dedicated member of the Barbershop Harmony Society since 2008. A certified Singing Judge, he also serves on the Singing Category Board of Review and has been a faculty member at Harmony University since 2017. Peter's performance credentials include singing Lead in The Academy, the 2014 International Collegiate Quartet Champions, as well as Lead and Baritone in Southern Stride, the 2018 U.S. representatives to the World Mixed Quartet Contest. Currently, he sings Lead with Opus IV, the 2024 Southwestern District Quartet Champions, and 21st place in the 2025 International Quartet Competition. In addition to performing, Peter is a sought-after clinician and coach, having worked with youth events, choruses, quartets, and individual singers across the globe.
Rick Spencer
Rick Spencer joined the Barbershop Harmony Society in 1989 and has spent most of his life introducing others to the art form of barbershop. Rick has been a certified musicality judge since 2007 and works as a coach, lecturer, and arranger. Rick worked for the Barbershop Harmony Society Headquarters for 12 years in various leadership positions, including Director of Music & Education, where he was responsible for the Society's music education and youth programs.
As an active quartet singer, Rick has won numerous district-level awards and placed 4th in international competitions. Rick is active in the barbershop choir scene in Nashville, led the TuneTown Show Chorus (SAI) from 2015 to 2020, and is currently assistant director of the Music City Chorus (BHS), which won the silver medal at the International Choir Competition in 2025.
Rick is originally from Connecticut and holds a degree in music and music education from the University of Connecticut.
Robert Mance
Robert Mance has been the artistic director of BHS medalist chorus Central Standard since 2011. In 2016, Robert became the founding artistic director of SAI international finalist chorus Vocal Standard.
Robert has completed the coursework for a doctoral degree in choral conducting at the University of Kansas. In addition to his work with the choruses, Robert spends his days as a full time coach of quartets and choruses. He has most recently served as Director of Music at Shawnee Presbyterian Church where he also maintained a private voice studio.
Robert previously served as interim Director of Choral Activities and interim Voice Area Director at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. He is an active clinician for high school vocal ensembles, maintains a recording studio, and serves as a BHS judge in the singing category and formerly in the music category. Robert completed his undergraduate studies at McGill University in Montreal in voice performance, and completed his graduate studies at Westminster Choir College in Princeton in
choral conducting and voice pedagogy.
Robert Ross
Music and Performing has always been a passion and has become a mainstay in Robert's life, leading to being a part of the Toronto Northern Lights, and has done so for more than 16+ years. Robert served as the head performance coach for a stint with the Northern Lights and has won numerous international medals with the chorus including Gold in 2013. Robert has performed all over the world including China, Sweden, Germany, England, The Netherlands, USA, and Canada. He was the Bass of Ripple Effect, the three time Ontario District MBHA Quartet Champion and the 2018 3rd place World Mixed Quartet Champion. They were also the first ever Ontario District Mixed Quartet Champion in 2019, then Ontario District representatives to the BHS international contest in 2022. Robert was also the assistant director of the Simcoe Gentlemen of Harmony, and serves as the VP Youth-in-Harmony for the Ontario district of the BHS. He also serves on the board of directors for Sing Canada Harmony. Robert is proud to be the Performance Director to the incredible Voices Unlimited. The newest venture in his barbershop career is singing Lead in the Quartet; Northern Pursuit. Robert is a sought after coach for Quartets and Choruses all over the globe, and has served on faculty for different Harmony Colleges and Harmony University. He was also the 2018 winner of the Larry Dale Coach Of The Year Award. He enjoys working with all levels of performers to use their own organic feelings to build genuine, heartfelt, and believable performances, allowing them the chance to honour their music and to take the audiences on an emotional journey. Robert has achieved a major goal in barbershop by becoming and currently is a Performance Judge for the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Stefanie Schmidt
Stefanie has been active in barbershop for over 15 years. She is a quartet singer, conductor, and coach for German and international ensembles. Stefanie is a certified BinG! coach and the first person in Europe to be a judge for the Barbershop Harmony Society in the area of performance. Stefanie's great passion is all aspects of human communication. As a coach, she focuses particularly on helping ensembles to perform individually and authentically and to harness their natural expressiveness when singing.
Tindra Thor
Dr. Tindra Thor has lived and breathed music since the age of three, starting in church choirs and moving through music schools. For the past twenty years, barbershop harmony has been a constant companion. Since 2017, Tindra has served as director of Stockholm City Voices. Tindra often arranges and choreographs performances starting in conceptual ideas and envisions every performance as a complete aesthetic encounter – a fully sensorial experience where voices, bodies, and visuals converge. She is passionate about bringing together artistry and scholarship, helping singers not only to refine their sound but to also embody their full expressive power.
A performer at heart, Tindra has studied musical theater, conducting, and music education, and sung in internationally competing quartets (including the former BinG! mixed quartet champion Potential Scandal!). Beyond the stage, Tindra holds a doctorate with a research focus on aesthetic practices and often explores how the sonic, the corporeal, and the visual intertwine.
Impressions - Harmony College 2024
The Harmony College Team
Danny Wohlbrück
Organizational Teamlead & ticketing
Pia van Boxen
Housing & Timetable App
Susanne Christensen
On site organization & Coesfeld Cup
Albrecht Quincke
Communication & Timetable App