Our History

The Great Northern Union Chorus (GNU) was chartered as a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society as part of the Land o’ Lakes District in 1986.  We won our first regional championship that same year.  Since then, we have appeared on the BHS International Chorus Contest stage more than 20 times and placed in the top ten each time, including 12 top five medalist finishes and two silver medals.

For 35 years, our goal was for men to use exquisite harmony to cooperate unselfishly and express their authentic selves.  Our typical annual calendar included spring and holiday concerts, tours of greater Minnesota, youth outreach workshops, charitable appearances and barbershop singing contests.

Starting in 2020, following the inspiration from the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Everyone in Harmony mission change, GNU began the work to include all voices on our risers regardless of gender. Cultural change is not easy, and as a prominent men’s chorus in the region, we received some push-back. But we are glad for the decision to become radically welcoming. Our bonds as singers are stronger than ever. And we take particular joy in being able welcome anyone who wants to sing at a high standard.

A new vision is born: Harmony In Union With Humanity.