02.10. - 05.10.2026

Harmony College

The centre of our annual activities is Harmony College. In a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, we learn from the best and enjoy the afterglow!

Harmony College is an annual long weekend organised by BinG! where participants can experience the full intensity and inspiring emotionality of barbershop singing in four-part harmony. All singers have the opportunity to develop their musical skills, get involved and have lots of fun.

Next date: from 2nd of October to 5th of October 2026 at the Oberwesel Youth Hostel

x

Additional Harmony College dates

  • 01.10. - 04.10.2027

  • 30.09. - 03.10.2028

  • 30.09. - 03.10.2029

  • 03.10. - 06.10.2030

Programme

Harmony College offers a full program of personal and musical development. Three project choruses for high voices (SSAA arrangements), low voices (TTBB arrangements) and mixed voices (SATB arrangements) invite participants to learn two pieces in advance and, under the direction of two faculty members, prepare them for performance together over the weekend. Numerous courses on music/selection, voice training, performance and other topics related to barbershop singing and ensemble organisation are available. There's spechial coaching offered to quartets. And - last but not least - there is the afterglow for tags, for exchanging ideas and, of course, for singing together. On the penultimate evening, the Chorditorium offers musical entertainment, and on the final day, the three choruses perform on the HC stage in the closing concert.

Coesfeld Cup

First held in Goch in 1995, this BinG! competition has been taken along to each new “home” of Harmony College over the years and has become a permanent fixture in the BinG! calendar. In honor of the origins of Harmony College, which was first held in 1991 as a choir workshop in Coesfeld, the annual competition was named the “Coesfeld Cup” in 1998. It is thus the oldest barbershop competition in Germany.

Right on the Rhine

Harmony College takes place in Oberwesel, on the picturesque Middle Rhine near the legendary Loreley.

From: Friday, October 2nd, 2026, 1 p.m.

To: Monday, October 5th, 2026 - 3 p.m.

Where: Rheintal Youth Hostel Oberwesel, Auf dem Schoenberg, 55430 Oberwesel

Oberwesel is easily accessible by train via Koblenz or Frankfurt/Mainz. A limited number of parking spaces are also available at the youth hostel.

In 2027, the HC will move to Haus Schönblick in Schwäbisch Gmünd, as the youth hostel in Oberwesel has reached full capacity and extensive renovation work is also planned there.

Prices

Accommodation in the youth hostel (shared room)

  • 339 € - BinG! Members

  • 409 € - Non-Members (Hint: BinG! membership starts at just 25€/year)

  • 209 € - Young Voices (age up to & incl. 26 years)

  • 259 € - Young Voices + QC * (age up to & incl. 26 years)

  • +80 € - Surcharge for “double singers” at QC * (= members of 2 quartets)

External accommodation (self-organized)

  • 279 € - BinG! Members

  • 349 € - Non-Members (BinG! membership from 25€/year)             

  • 179 € - Young Voices (age up to & incl. 26 years)

  • 229 € - Young Voices + QC * (age up to & incl. 26 years)

* : + QC = including quartet coaching

Harmony College Team

The contact persons for all matters relating to Harmony College are

Danny Wohlbrück
Danny Wohlbrück
Organizational management & ticketing
 
Pia van Boxen
Pia van Boxen
Accommodation Youth hostel
 
Sabine Christensen
Sabine Christensen
On-site organization & Coesfeld Cup
 
Albrecht Quincke
Albrecht Quincke
Communication & Timetable App
 

In recent years, BinG! Harmony College has become a real magnet for barbershop singers and a cappella enthusiasts from all over Germany. The wide range of learning content, the fun of singing together (sometimes late into the night...) and the great atmosphere have ensured that many participants come back again and again.