LABBS Judging programme
The Judging programme is steered by the Education& Judging Committee (E&J). We train our own judges through biannual training seminars, practice (shadow) judging at contests and peer mentoring and support.
There are three scoring categories, Musicality, Performance and Singing. See below for more information on why the different scoring categories exist and the focus of each. The fourth category is the Administrative category, who prepare and run all our contests.
Our judging system is the same as the Barbershop Harmony Society, which is also followed by BABS, European and Pan-Pacific barbershop organisations and Harmony Inc.. We sometimes have guest judges from these organisations and our judges are often invited to serve on their panels too.
If you are interested in training to join the LABBS judging programme, if there are spaces available we will be accepting applications between September 1st and November 30th of each year. Full details of entry to the LABBS and BABS judging programmes are available below, and are also mentioned as annexes to the Contest and Judging Handbook.
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C&J Handbook Annex 1: Application and Training Process For Scoring Judges, v2 updated September 2025 |
Being an effective Barbershop judge isn’t just about writing down scores. We are looking for applicants who are organised and reliable, have strong communication skills, have experience as performers and coaches, and who show a strong desire to help other singers improve and become more confident. Depending on the judging category you are interested in, there are some additional specialised skills that may be required. Please read the Person Specification document for more information.
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C&J Handbook Annex 2: Person Specification for Scoring Judges, v2 updated September 2025 |
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C&J Handbook Annex 3: Pre-Applicant Application form, v2 updated September 2025 |
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C&J Handbook Annex 4: Pre-Applicant Reference Form, v2 updated September 2025 |
If you are accepted as an applicant, there will be some key tasks for you to complete in January and February of the following year, including attending Day 1 of our annual Spring Seminar. Following this, if your application is successful, you will be taken forward to begin the 3-year training program as a Candidate Judge.
For more information on what will be expected of you as a Candidate Judge, and also what we will do as a Contest & Judging team to train and support you, please read the Training Outline document below.
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C&J Handbook Annex 5: Judge Training Outline – What to Expect, v2 updated September 2025 |
Why are there 3 scoring categories?
Each category is responsible for adjudicating a performance through a different lens or perspective:
Musicality
The Musicality Judge evaluates the degree to which performances demonstrate musicality in the barbershop style. The category assesses the musicianship demonstrated in bringing the song and arrangement to life. Further, the category assesses the ensemble’s skill in accurately and artistically delivering music in the barbershop style. The Musicality category assesses the marriage of technical elements, such as precise execution of harmony and rhythm, and artistic elements, such as shape, inflection, destination within a phrase, and overall arc and development of the music. Performances exhibiting high levels of musicality feature a purposeful performer, informed by the composer, lyricist and arranger, effectively integrating and skilfully delivering these core concepts. Furthermore, the Musicality category judges are advocates for the barbershop style: a) 4-part a cappella, b) featured consonant harmony via strongly-voiced chords in the barbershop vocabulary, c) melody primarily in an inside voice, d) harmonic variety and richness featuring characteristic chord progressions, and e) primarily lyrical, homorhythmic textures (although additional textures are used for contrast and development).
Performance
The Performance Judge evaluates how effectively a performer brings the song to life - that is, the believability of the theme in its musical and visual setting. They respond to both the vocal and visual aspects of the performance, but principally evaluates the interaction of those aspects as they work together to create the image of the song. The Performance judge adjudicates the quality and appropriateness of the overall effect, evaluating everything about the performance that contributes to emotional impact upon the audience.
Singing
The Singing Judge evaluates the degree to which the performer achieves artistic singing in the barbershop style. This is accomplished through precise intonation, a high degree of vocal skill and appropriate vocal expression, and a high level of unity and consistency within the ensemble. Mastering these elements creates a fullness, and expansion of sound, and when combined with expressive vocal skills will convey a feeling of genuine emotion to support the message of the song.
Education and support
LABBS runs a rolling education programme lead by our judges (fulfilling the 'E' in E&J), our wider teaching faculty and guest educators. Many of our Musicality, Performance and Singing judges are available for coaching by request. for choruses and quartets.
Musicality category judges can also advise contestants whether a song arrangement is suitable for contest. Similarly, the Performance category judges are available to advise on issues of taste and any staging queries.
