British Association of Barbershop Singers

The British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) is a British organisation of male barbershop singers. It was formed in 1974 and is affiliated with the Barbershop Harmony Society. Since 2023, BABS and its female counterpart in the UK, the Ladies' Association of British Barbershop Singers, have been in talks to consider proposals to work more closely together.

Every year the association runs contests in parallel for barbershop choruses (male and mixed-gender) and quartets as part of the BABS Annual Convention. The British convention is the largest barbershop convention of its kind outside of North America. The chorus competitions are currently each held on a single day, while the quartet competition is spread over the convention weekend (with a preliminary round to eliminate all but the top 16 quartets usually held about 6 months prior to the semi-finals).

Concurrent with the national quartet contest, BABS holds an International Quartet Qualifying Contest, which past BABS gold medal quartets may also enter, to determine qualification for the next year's BHS International Quartet contest. In conjunction with the preliminary quartet contest, BABS also holds Seniors Quartet and Youth Quartet contests; BHS is asked to permit the respective winners to compete in the subsequent corresponding international contest, subject to a qualifying score.

National contest winners (in the categories of chorus and quartet) by year are as follows: See also, the List of British Association of Barbershop Singers quartet champions for further detail.

{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" |- ! width="60" | Year ! Chorus ! Quartet ! Youth Quartet ! Seniors Quartet ! Mixed Chorus |- !2026 |Meantime Chorus |Overtime |Live Lounge |The Artful Codgers |Endeavour |- !2025 |Cottontown Chorus |The 1234 |The Six Foot Four |The Old Romantics |Lux A Cappella |- !2024 |Meantime Chorus |Fifth Element |Ami Quartet |Mixed Blessings |Crucible Vocal Project |- ! 2023 | Cottontown Chorus | Trailblazers | | Midnight Train | Bristol A Cappella

! 2022 | Meantime Chorus | Limelight | Hot Ticket | Crown Derby

! 2014 | Hallmark of Harmony | Park Street | Proper Sound | Figaro

! 2013 | Cottontown Chorus | | Park Street | Soundcheck

! 2012 | | iQ | Mach 4 | Just In Time

! 2011 | Cottontown Chorus | Crossfire | Mach 4 | Rockaholix

! 2009 | Cottontown Chorus | Evolution

! 2008 | | Monkey Magic

! 2007 | Cottontown Chorus | Q.E.D.

! 2006 | Cambridge Chord Company | Pitch Invasion

! 2005 | Cottontown Chorus

! 2004 | Cambridge Chord Company | Prime Time

! 2003 | | Sound Crew

! 2002 | Cambridge Chord Company

! 2001 | | Matrix

! 2000 | Hallmark of Harmony

! 1999 | Cambridge Chord Company | Shockwave

! 1998 | Shannon Express | Chordial Exchange

! 1997 | Hallmark of Harmony | Cambridge Blues

! 1996 | | Hooked On Harmony

! 1995 | Shannon Express | Smilin' Thru

! 1994 | Hallmark of Harmony | Sound Assembly

! 1993 | | Island Engagement

! 1992 | Rainy City Chorus | Quattro

! 1991 | Hallmark of Harmony | Talk Of The Town

! 1990 | | Curtain Call

! 1989 | Hallmark of Harmony | Quartz Precision

! 1988 | | High Time

! 1987 | Pilgrimaires | Times Square

! 1986 | Hallmark of Harmony | Junction 33

! 1985 | Pilgrimaires | Gilt Edge

! 1984 | Crawley Chordsmen | On Spec

! 1983 | | Mancunian Way

! 1982 | Roker Peers | Limited Company

! 1981 | | Regency Pride

! 1980 | | Par Four

! 1979 | valign="bottom" colspan="5" | No competition

! 1977 | | Fortunairs

! 1976 | Crawley Chordsmen

! 1975 | Crawley Chordsmen | Five Bridge Four

! 1974 | No competition | Ringleaders

Notes

References

External links BABS website

British Association of Barbershop Singers

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