Canberra 2025 - Barbershop Harmony Festival

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Mr Ian Mulholland

Life Member, Life Judge - Music

  • Club Details
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  • Office(s): VP Contest & Judging
  • Bio/Profile
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  • Ian Mulholland has been a member of BHA since 1987 (37) years. He joined because he enjoyed the challenge of a cappella harmony singing, and that enjoyment (and challenge) remains 38 years later. 

    Ian has served on the National Council of BHA for a total of 18 years, as BHA President (4 years), as VP Music (6 yrs), VP Events (2 yrs), Board Member (1 yr), and most recently as VP Contest & Judging (5 yrs). During his time as BHA President, he also served on the World Harmony Council as BHA’s representative.

    He was instrumental in forming the Australasian Guild of Barbershop Judges (AGBJ) in 2004, and has been a qualified AGBJ Musicality Judge for 20+ years. He has been Chair of AGBJ for a total of 15 years so far.

    Ian was made a Life Member (and Hall of Fame Legend) of BHA in 2009 and continues to serve BHA in several capacities, including Immediate Past President and VP Contest & Judging.

    Ian’s barbershop experience has included four national gold medals with quartet (Bad Habits and Alliance), and six gold medals with chorus (Vocal Evolution and Boulevard Harmony). Along the way there have numerous silver and bronze medals as well. He was also a Chorus Music Director, winning silver and bronze medals. Serving on Regional and Club Boards (as President and VP Music) has also been part of Ian’s all round barbershop expertise.

    He is also a Pan Pac quartet and chorus gold medallist, and has represented BHA at the International Contest many times in both quartet and chorus. 

    Ian is a prolific barbershop song arranger (Ian edited the first edition of The Great Australian Barbershop Songbook published in 2004), and has tertiary level AMEB qualifications in musicianship.

    By day, Ian is a qualified geologist (and has won industry awards in that field also), holding a Master’s Degree in Science and a Graduate Diploma of Education (with distinction). These days his work is more of a part-time activity as he enjoys semi-retirement. Other pursuits include golf and playing in a semi-professional rock band. He has also performed semi-professionally in music theatre both as a performer and as a music director. Ian and his wife enjoy travel and spending time with their family.

    Ian brings a wealth of experience and barbershop knowledge to the National Council and he is pleased to give back to an organisation that has given him so much in return. His current focus is on making the contest and judging experience an enjoyable and valuable experience for every level of quartet and chorus.