The University of Otago Sextet has lost none of its magic for a group of former members and accompanists from the mid-1970s who have gathered in Dunedin for a reunion.
Prof John Dawson, now a scholar in the university law faculty, was the driving force and, in the words of one participant, ''main nag'' behind the reunion.
And the gathering has brought together former Sextet members from as far afield as London, in the case of Mike Cordery, and Perth, in the case of his brother, John.
One slightly quirky fact is that of the 10 Otago Sextet singers who performed between 1975 and 1978, only two of them, John Dawson and Bill Sandston, did not have a brother who was also performing.
Three former Sextet accompanists, Dr Caroline Corkill, Rose Hepozden and award-winning Auckland composer John Gibson, also attended the reunion.
A forerunner to the Sextet started performing in Dunedin in 1903, the Sextet acquired its current name in 1912, and the parody barbershop group, wearing its distinctive clown suits, celebrated its centenary in 2003.
Commentators have highlighted the way in which some apparently contradictory elements contribute to its success, including heavenly harmonies and the devilishly witty satirical humour.
Richard Madden, who teaches music at Columba College, helped revive the Sextet in 1975 after the group had not performed for several years.
The Sextet was one of the traditions that added to Dunedin's appeal, he said yesterday.
''I think it's quite a special part of Dunedin and Otago University.''
The current Sextet members were proud of the long tradition and keen to maintain it.
The former Sextet participants dined out on Thursday night and last night sang together and enjoyed a performance by the current Sextet.
They have further activities planned for today, he said.
