Celebrate National Barbershop Quartet Day in Gainesville with Songfest 2026
Press release from Barbergators Chorus
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the Spring of 1938, Owen “O.C.” Cash and Rupert Hall, both businessmen from Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a chance meeting in the lobby of the Muelhbach Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. As their conversation ambled toward their mutual love of singing, they lamented about the decline of popularity of barbershop quartets.
Shortly after, Mr. Cash dictated a letter to his secretary in which he and Hall invited several singers they knew to a “songfest” at the Roof Garden at the Tulsa Club on the corner of 5th and Cincinnati on Monday, April 11, 1938, at 6:30 p.m.
The tongue-in-cheek invitation began, “In this age of dictators and government control of everything, about the only privilege guaranteed by the Bill of Rights not in some way supervised or directed, is the art of Barber Shop Quartet singing.”
He signed the letter, “O. C. Cash, Third Assistant Vice Chairman.”
Fourteen were invited, and 26 “crashed the party.” Thus began the Barbershop Harmony Society.
To celebrate this momentous event, the Barbergators Chorus held it’s first “Songfest” in 2013. Songfest continues, today!
The Barbergators Chorus is thrilled to announce Songfest 2026, a free concert and festival celebrating the vibrant a cappella and choral music scene in Gainesville. This event will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, located at 419 NE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32601.
Songfest 2026 promises an evening of exceptional vocal performances, showcasing the talent and diversity of local ensembles. Each group, including the host Barbergators Chorus, will present a two-song set, offering a dynamic and engaging musical experience for all attendees. The performance order will be randomly selected on stage, adding an exciting element of spontaneity to the event.
You can expect to see ensembles such as Venus A Cappella, UF Honor Chords, Voices Rising Community Chorus, 1000 Voices of Gainesville, Resonance, The Shabbatones, and Cappella Nova. Nowhere else will you find all of these ensembles performing on the same stage. It’ll be a mixture of traditional choral music, collegiate a cappella, ethnic music, and of course, barbershop!
Beyond the musical showcase, Songfest 2026 aims to support music education in the community. The event will serve as a fundraiser for the Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) Honor Choir program. Donations will be gratefully accepted at the door, with all proceeds directly benefiting this vital initiative.
“Songfest is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the power of the human voice and support the next generation of singers,” said Dave Jacobs, President of the Barbergators Chorus. “We invite everyone to come and experience the joy of live a cappella and choral music while contributing to a worthy cause.”
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
- Location: First United Methodist Church, 419 NE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32601
- Admission: Free (Donations to ACPS Honor Choir Program gratefully accepted)
Join us for an unforgettable evening of harmony, community, and support for music education.