Southwest Vocal Alliance is Arizona's premiere award-winning mixed barbershop chorus and 2024 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention participant. We're a fun-loving a cappella chorus that sings and performs a wide variety of songs and styles, including barbershop, pop, rock, country, and doo-wop. SVA is part of the Far Western District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. To get a taste of our musical style, check out this video!
We rehearse every Monday from 6:30-9 pm at Orangewood Presbyterian Church, Page Hall. 7321 N 10th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020.
We’re open to all genders, ages, and vocal backgrounds! 1-2 years of musical experience is preferred, but no previous a cappella experience is required. Reading or sightreading music isn't required, and we have audio learning tracks to help you learn your part.
You don’t need to prepare anything in advance, and you can drop by any Monday. Learn more about what to expect at your first rehearsal!
(480) 389-5125
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our newsletter, and visit our website svabhs.com.
Here are some ways to support SVA:
To join SVA, you must pay SVA dues and be a paid member of our parent organization Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). Please note that dues are non-refundable.
Rehearsal time is vital for the performance quality of our ensemble. While we understand we all have lives outside of this chorus, it is expected that each member attends at least 70% of the rehearsals. This is subject to director discretion.
Here’s an overview of a typical joining process (usually 4-6 weeks):
All communication happens through Discord, a community app that's available on Desktop, iOS, and Android. When you attend a rehearsal, we’ll invite you to join our Discord!
Music is available on our website (after you attend at least one rehearsal), and reading or sightreading music isn't a requirement. We have sheet music and audio learning tracks.
After your first rehearsal, you’ll have access to our audition song (Hallelujah). You can also borrow a guest book during rehearsals, but the guest book can't be taken outside of the rehearsal location.
Tip: listen to the learning tracks with headphones so you can hear your part in the left headphone.
You can purchase shirts, hoodies, and more on Bonfire.com. A portion of the sales goes directly to supporting our chorus.
Southwest Vocal Alliance is excited to have Danny Ryan as our Director, coach, and mentor. He was an instrumental part of founding SVA. Find out more about Danny here.
Barbershop singing is a distinctive style of a cappella music characterized by four-part harmony, typically consisting of Tenor, Lead, Baritone, and Bass voices. The harmonies are close and ringing, creating rich, resonant chords that rely on precise vocal tuning and a strong sense of musical unity. Learn more
Chartered in September 2019, the Southwest Vocal Alliance was one of the first new mixed chorus charters of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Founded in 1938 as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of BarberShop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) preserves and extends the reach of a uniquely American close harmony musical art form whose roots lie in African-American improvisation and European harmony traditions. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee since 2007, our nonprofit organization provides active programs and resources in music education, publishing, performance, and community outreach. Originally founded as an all male organization, the BHS opened its membership up to all genders in the summer of 2018. In doing so, men’s, women’s, and mixed quartets and choruses can now compete in the same contest and celebrate in the same harmonious family.