BABS - British Association of Barbershop Singers

10/10/2026

Best of luck to those taking the IABS stage today in the chorus competition! 🎶

We'd like to take a moment to mention the British groups taking part, you're going to absolutely smash it and we can't wait to see.

09/10/2026

Wishing all of the quartets competing at IABS today the very best of luck! 🤩

A special shoutout to our British cohort, we'll be cheering you on and can't wait to see your performances!

11/09/2026

Are you the person everyone says would make a great judge? 👨🏻‍⚖️

We are looking for individuals who already command respect as performers, coaches, directors, and educators within the barbershop world. As a candidate judge, you will undergo a comprehensive, 3-year training process designed to hone your ears and elevate your analytical and coaching skills.
This is your opportunity to step off the risers, take a seat at the judging table, and use your lifetime of experience to give back to the community we all love.

To apply, you will just need to choose which organisation you are applying to (LABBS or BABS) and select your specific category of musicality, performance, or singing.
(Applications are accepted strictly between 1st September and 30th November 2026.)

If you have any questions please reach out to Paula Taylor-Williams at [email protected]

⏳ Closing Date for Applications: 30th November 2026
All completed applications must be submitted via email to Paula before the deadline.

10/09/2026

In case you missed it in a recent email, prelims registrations are now in fact open! 🤩

Make sure to sign up so you don't miss your chance to compete at Sing2027. You can sign up on our website or by using the link in our bio!

04/09/2026

Introducing the new Vice Chair of BABS, Simon Lubkowski! 🎉

If you're lucky enough to know Si, you're aware of his unwavering passion for music & education, which ignites a fire in everyone around him! His boundless energy for barbershop and this community is a beacon of inspiration, and we're thrilled for the incredible impact he'll have in elevating our annual conventions and driving our organization forward!

Congratulations, Si!

26/07/2026

What an amazing week our BABS - British Association of Barbershop Singers and LABBS - the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers Judges have had at the Barbershop Harmony Society Judging Category School!

Representing LABBS was Anna Conochie in the Performance category and Alison Thompson in the Singing Category.

Representing BABS was Boo de Bruin in the Musicality category, Jill Foskett in the Performance category (sadly she had to catch her flight home when this photo was taken!), and Simon Lubkowski in the Singing category.

We were also so proud to witness LABBS Judge and BABS member Alex de Bruin become the first EVER certified BHS Judge in the Musicality category - a HUGE achievement!

The week was a great chance for our Judges to score, discuss, learn, reflect and share in what was an amazingly inspirational event from start to finish!

Thanks to all our Judges for representing UK Barbershop so well, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with the BHS Judges in the future.

20/07/2026

Big news for the BABS board... 😮

We've got ourselves a new Chair, Director of Events, and Director of Marketing! These are some exciting steps forward to ensuring all our bases our covered and we hope you'll wish them all a warm welcome to the roles!

You can read more about it (amongst other exciting information 👀) on our recent bulletin post here: https://www.singbarbershop.com/articles/babs-bulletin-july-ii

05/07/2026

And another record-breaking performance from a BABS group at International this week.

Meantime Chorus scored a whopping 88.2%, placing them 9th in the world.

We're so proud of them, and we're already looking forward to seeing what they do with the rest of their Championship year.

An amazing week comes to a close. We saw some UNBELIEVABLE choruses and Quartets take to the stage. The level of performances was inspirational to say the least! A huge congratulations to everyone who competed!
On a personal note, we were extremely happy to have got a new high score (88.2%) and cracked the top 10! (We came 9th). To share the stage with these amazing choruses has been a privilege. To finish in the top 10 is mind blowing.
We're so happy. Tired. Hungover..but mostly happy!

03/07/2026

A few weeks ago, at Sing2026, we made a presentation to a very special quartet, and this is an excerpt from that.

"When this quartet won the BABS Quartet Contest back in 2013, we knew they had the potential to be truly exceptional, but what makes them a rare and shining example in our history is both their incredible longevity and an unwavering refusal to rest on their laurels."

This was when we inducted The Emerald Guard into the BABS Hall of Fame, and their performance last night at the Barbershop Harmony Society's International Quartet Semi-Finals could not have been a more appropriate example of that potential manifesting itself.

With a score of 82.3 overall, they placed 19th in the world, becoming only the 3rd quartet in BABS' 52 year history to make the Top 20.

Antoine, Tim, Andy, and Duncan - you are a shining example of British Barbershop, and you've made us all so incredibly proud.

02/07/2026

Could not be more proud of these four wonderful guys.
What a tremendous journey you've been on - now go smash the semi-finals!