Our Judging Panel 2025

Norbert Hammes
SINGING JUDGE (BHS)

After 15 years singing in the choral world Norbert discovered Barbershop music in 1987. He was a founding member of the First Cologne Barbershop Choir, EKBC.
Out of numerous quartet initiatives he was fortunate to earn two gold medals within the BinG! quartet contest with Viertakt (1993) and TONIKUM (2014)
In 2005 he started conducting and since 2010 he directs the women’s chorus Barbershop Blend from Geldern and since 2011, the Heavy Medal Chorus.
Norbert is a founding member of the German Barbershop Association BinG! Barbershop in Germany! and served as board member from 2002 – 2016 and 2023 – current.
In the recent past he was successfully active in two programs.
1. BinG! Coaching Certification Program
2. In Summer of 2023 he became a certified BHS judge in the singing category.

Steven Armstrong
​MUSICALITY  JUDGE (BHS)

 Steve Armstrong has been involved in barbershop singing for nearly 50 years, joining the Oshawa Horseless Carriagemen when he was just 13 years of age. Steve began his early directing career at the age of 19, and by the age of 32 Steve had directed both the Scarborough Dukes of Harmony and the East York Barbershoppers into international competitions. Following that, Steve was a co-founder of the Toronto Northern Lights and directed them to 14 International medals, including the International Chorus Championship in 2013. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Toronto in 1984.   
Steve has been a member of three Ontario District Championship Quartets (1988 “Flipside”, 1996 “Jukebox” and 2022 “Detour”), all of which have competed at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international competitions. In addition, Steve has been a society judge for over 38 years, served as Music Category Specialist from 2017-2019 and as Chair of the Society’s Contest and Judging program from 2020-2024.  He has served on the judging panel of several International competitions as well as many overseas contests.   
An accomplished barbershop arranger, coach and instructor, Steve’s skill and experience have been sought after by many quartets and choruses. He has coached throughout the barbershop world and he has taught at the society's Harmony University as well as schools for other barbershop organizations.  In July of 2024, Steve was honored to be inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Hall of Fame.   
Steve lives in Oshawa with his wife Lori and son Joel where they attend the local Salvation Army church.​​

Jen Carson-Fox
SINGING JUDGE (LABBS)

I first discovered barbershop at 21, thanks to my amazing mum, who started The Heartbeat Chorus in our hometown of High Peak. I had no formal singing background, just a hairbrush and a dream like so many of us! 
Over the years, I grew into leadership roles at Heartbeat and sang in my first quartet, New Generation. That led to Tone-acity, a quartet I had the absolute joy of singing with for many years. We picked up medals across the UK and Europe including Sweet Adelines region 31 Gold champions 2009,  European bronze champions 2018, One of my proudest moments was sharing the title of LABBS quartet champions in 2016, a title my mum, won herself with Montage 1990. Talk about full circle!
In 2010, I co-founded Affinity Show Choir with my mum and close friends. We had an unforgettable first year, winning our class at Llangollen Eisteddfod and going on to compete for Choir of the World. I’m still lucky to serve as Assistant Director and Tenor Section Leader with this incredible group. That same year, I stepped into the role of Musical Director for Milltown Sound Chorus.  I was thrilled to become a certified LABBS Singing Judge in 2023. 
These days, I’m loving life back in a quartet with Gen X (yep, the name says it all!). I’m also helping my mum run a local community singing project for women facing long-term health and emotional challenges, some of the most meaningful work I’ve done.
Barbershop has brought me so much joy, friendship, and purpose. I can’t wait to be part of the judging panel at this year’s IABS Convention, I'm looking forward to making lots more wonderful friends and memories.
See you there!

Paul Davies
MUSICALITY JUDGE (BABS)

​Paul has been a judge with BABS for 43 years, making him probably the longest-serving Music and Arrangement judge in the Barbershop world.
He is best known as the founder of Cambridge Chord Company, which went on to win the Pavarotti Choir of the World at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod as well as five national and two European Barbershop championships during his 18-year tenure as Musical Director.
Principal coach to several gold medal quartets, he is regularly invited to coach other groups in locations as diverse as Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus. In 2014 he was elected to the BABS Hall of Fame.
A former Coventry Cathedral chorister, Paul also adjudicates at choral events around the UK and on the continent. He is a prolific arranger in Barbershop and contemporary a cappella styles.
Among his work is an arrangement believed to be only contest-standard Barbershop piece in the Welsh language!

Alison Zdzylowsi
PERFORMANCE JUDGE (LABBS)

​Since joining my first chorus in Kent in 1987, I have had a continuous 35+ year barbershop ‘career’ encompassing competing, judging, evaluating, coaching and educating.
I qualified as a Judge in 2003 and have judged and coached in the UK and Holland, and attended training seminars in Canada (Harmony Inc) and with the BHS in 2010 and 2016. I have coached a number of award-winning quartets and choruses across the UK.
In my other life, I am Head of Science in a medium-sized mixed comprehensive school in Kent. I am mother to three children, all now grown up, allowing me to pursue other interests, spending time with family, walking, gardening and trying out new activities such as dance, Pilates and pottery!
I am thrilled to have this opportunity of joining you at your Convention and am looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones!

Gary Steinkamp
PERFORMANCE JUDGE (BHS)

Gary is a 58-year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.  He is a Director of A Cappella Syndicate, a former Director for the Spirit of Phoenix Chorus, the Tokyo Barber (a Barbershop Chorus in Tokyo), Director of the Pride of Phoenix chorus and Director for 10 years of the Phoenicians - International Chorus Champions. 
He is a 3-time District Quartet Champion and an International 3rd place medalist of the quartet Standing Room Only.   He is a Certified Judge of 25 years, and is the current Category Specialist for the Performance Category.