Dressed in traditional Pacific Islander clothing, Pacific Connection took to the stage to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 2025 Chorus Contest. Based in New Zealand, the group was formed to create a space where Pacific singers could share their voices. For the contest, they were set to perform a medley of songs from the Disney film ‘Moana,’ set in ancient Polynesia. The astonishing way the group transformed the songs will take Music Man readers’ breath away.
While the original songs in the film are sung mostly in English, this medley leaned entirely into the group’s authentic Pacific heritage. Fans online adored how the performance embraced many different Pacific cultures, one commenter noting that the “majority of the singing is in the Samoan language and a mix of other Polynesian styles.” The performance reflected the backgrounds of the group’s members, who have come together to represent the unity of people from across the Pacific Islands.
I was not only amazed by how they took ownership of the medley, making it a true reflection of Pacific culture, but also by how they challenged expectations of what a barbershop competition performance might look like. While for many, barbershop conjures images of traditional American-style straw boaters and striped suits, it felt like an absolute breath of fresh air for Pacific Connection to take barbershop and bring their own style to the contest, their authenticity helping them shine.
Their performance at the 2025 Chorus Contest received an outstanding score of 98.2 and placed 3rd – the highest ever for a New Zealand group. Music Man fans may not be surprised to hear that the group are no strangers to scoring highly in competitions. In 2022, they received the highest score a New Zealand group had ever achieved in the Barbershop Harmonic Society. They repeated their performance at the world championships in 2023, where they came 8th, stunning the judges with their talent.
Pacific Connection proves not only that the members of the group are extremely talented, spotlighting Pacific culture and celebrating in a way that has touched the hearts of many, but also that they have defied convention and challenged the expected boundaries in barbershop.
By bringing their authentic selves to their barbershop performances, they have proven that the musical style is not reserved for one tradition and can be interpreted in creative ways, taking it to whole new heights. While their performance is unexpected, it will undoubtedly inspire those who wish to reflect on their individuality in a barbershop but can’t yet see a place for themselves. Instead of encouraging conformity, Pacific Connection’s performances embrace raising your voice and celebrating your identity with pride.
Pacific Connection are certainly a chorus to watch — their Moana medley reimagines barbershop with bold, authentic Pacific identity. If you want to explore their music and story further, there are useful links to find out more below this paragraph.