British Association of Barbershop Singers
British Association of Barbershop Singers | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Barbershop music |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Website | www |
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:
Year Chorus Quartet Youth Quartet Seniors Quartet Mixed Chorus 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 The Breakfast Club Midnight Train Bristol A Cappella 2022 Meantime Chorus Limelight Hot Ticket Crown Derby The Bristol Mix 2020 No competition 2019 Hallmark of Harmony Sound Hypothesis Apollo II Bagatelle A Kind of Magic 2018 Cottontown Chorus The Locksmiths Northern Quarter One Foot in the Stave Momentum 2017 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Portobello Road Sound Hypothesis Three 'n' Easy EQMC 2016 Cottontown Chorus Finest Hour 4 On Demand South Parade Strictly A Cappella 2015 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol] Tagline Trailblazers The Grand Dads 2014 Hallmark of Harmony Park Street Proper Sound Figaro 2013 Cottontown Chorus The Emerald Guard Park Street Soundcheck 2012 The Grand Central Chorus iQ Mach 4 Just In Time 2011 Cottontown Chorus Crossfire Mach 4 Rockaholix 2010 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Steel 2009 Cottontown Chorus Evolution 2008 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Monkey Magic 2007 Cottontown Chorus Q.E.D. 2006 Cambridge Chord Company Pitch Invasion 2005 Cottontown Chorus The Works 2004 Cambridge Chord Company Prime Time 2003 The Grand Central Chorus Sound Crew 2002 Cambridge Chord Company The Light Industrial Choral Society 2001 The Grand Central Chorus Matrix 2000 Hallmark of Harmony The Likely Lads 1999 Cambridge Chord Company Shockwave 1998 Shannon Express Chordial Exchange 1997 Hallmark of Harmony Cambridge Blues 1996 The Grand Central Chorus Hooked On Harmony 1995 Shannon Express Smilin' Thru 1994 Hallmark of Harmony Sound Assembly 1993 The Grand Central Chorus Island Engagement 1992 Rainy City Chorus Quattro 1991 Hallmark of Harmony Talk Of The Town 1990 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Curtain Call 1989 Hallmark of Harmony Quartz Precision 1988 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol High Time 1987 Pilgrimaires Times Square 1986 Hallmark of Harmony Junction 33 1985 Pilgrimaires Gilt Edge 1984 Crawley Chordsmen On Spec 1983 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Mancunian Way 1982 Roker Peers Limited Company 1981 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Regency Pride 1980 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Par Four 1979 No competition 1978 Crawley Chordsmen Newtown Ringers 1977 The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Fortunairs 1976 Crawley Chordsmen The Barrytones 1975 Crawley Chordsmen Five Bridge Four 1974 No competition Ringleaders