Bella Nova offers a different for Washington, D.C., area women to enjoy acappella harmony in the barbershop style!

Created to be commuter friendly and family friendly, Bella Nova generally meets two Sunday afternoons per month, and you and singers of any age in your life (daughters, friends, co-workers, nieces, mothers, etc.) are ALWAYS welcome. Whether you’re brand new to barbershop or you’re looking to enjoy the barbershop style in a whole new way, please come see what Bella Nova is all about.

Mission: Bella Nova is an inclusive women’s barbershop chorus focused on bringing joy to our lives and the lives of others through song. We strive to create a  respectful, positive riser culture where we focus on our own performance, preparation, and improvement to support the chorus in competition and community performances.

Norms: In Bella Nova we are…

• Kind
• Respectful and supportive – we respect and support the decisions of the director as well as the work of each member
• Prepared – we learn our material and are ready to perform within set timelines
• Self-directed – we focus on our own work and improvement rather than that of others

Bella Nova launched in 2013 under the direction of notable barbershopper Richard Lewellen. Bella Nova is the first Virginia-based chapter of Harmony, Incorporated, an international, non-profit organization whose purpose is to empower all women through education, friendship and acappella singing in the barbershop style.

The pandemic has changed a lot about Bella Nova’s mission and vision for its future. Check out our FAQs for more information about how you can get involved and our approach to barbershop.