Cocktail Hour Quartet

Cocktail Hour sing a mix of classic barbershop and contemporary a cappella, with a real passion for jazz in both these styles. The quartet formed in July 2020, straight out of covid lockdown, and comprises Bianca (tenor), Ainslie (lead), Jenni (baritone), and Zana (bass): all members and musical leaders of Hobart Harmony, Tasmania’s only women’s barbershop chorus.  

Cocktail Hour is a registered quartet with both Sweet Adelines International (SAI) and Barbershop Harmony Australia (BHA) and has competed at a national level with both organisations. They placed third nationally in their first Sweet Adelines Australia national contest in May 2022 and have consistently placed in the top four since that time. They are regular competitors in BHA Tasmanian regional competitions and won the BHA Nationals inaugural first-place women’s quartet award at the national contest in Hobart in November 2022.  

Away from the barbershop competition stage, Cocktail Hour particularly enjoys singing at local events here in Hobart, whether it be small private events, concerts or corporate gigs. They are regular performers with Festival of Voices, having performed in a range of concerts and pop ups over the last four years, including venues such as Government House, Federation Concert Hall, St David’s Cathedral, and City Hall. They particularly love doing “pop ups” at places such bars, hotels and wineries… it must be in the name! 

As well as rehearsing and performing together, members of Cocktail Hour love leading, teaching and coaching Hobart Harmony and other barbershop choruses and quartets bothC locally and nationally, sharing their knowledge, skills and experience to help others grow in this remarkable artform. 

Image credit: Paul Redding