Our Judging Panel 2024

 Barry Clinton
SINGING JUDGE (BABS)

 Barry has been a Barbershopper for 36 years and sang with Hallmark of harmony in Sheffield UK and several quartets over the years. Barry became the chorus director for Hallmark of Harmony (UK) in 2000 and became a singing judge in 2007. He is the current BABS Singing Category Director. Barry has judged at several IABS conventions over the years and last visited us in Cork in 2016 with his chorus ‘The Grand Central Chorus’ - taking home a first-place chorus medal!  Barry is delighted to be invited back to the 2024 IABS convention and looks forward to meeting up with old friends and making new ones​

Emma Shanks
​MUSIC JUDGE (LABBS)

Barbershop found Emma in 2003 when she joined Heartbeat UK Chorus. Twenty-one years later and she's one of two Assistant Musical Directors for Heartbeat, baritone section leader, LABBS Musicality judge, an enjoyably busy coach, and a bit of a barbergeek if the truth be told. Emma's competitive streak continues to be been satisfied through chorus, quartet and small group competitions, in barbershop world, and through local, national and international music festivals. Competitive efforts have earned her a variety of different coloured shiny things, with top quartet marks scored in 2012 (SAI R31) and 2013 (LABBS) - both with Echo Quartet - and in 2015 and 2019 with Heartbeat (SAI R31).

When not barbershopping, Emma is a lapsed classically trained pianist, has a degree in Music, Acoustics and Recording and has worked in the acoustics industry for 25 years. She is currently in training as a Professional Cat Cushion for her elderly felines, although suspects her training will never be complete.

Coming to the IABS convention has been a long-held barbershop ambition of Emma's. She is especially delighted to be in Ireland for her 21st barbershop birthday as her very first competition with Heartbeat was at the Sligo International Choral Festival in Nov 2003. Do say hello to Emma, grab her for some tag singing... she makes no promises on remembering notes or names though!

Sarah Netherton
SINGING JUDGE (LABBS)

Sarah is a Sweet Adeline's Candidate Sound Judge, and a certified LABBS Singing Judge.  On top of all that, she is a faculty member of Sweet Adeline's Region 31 and acts as their  Quartet Liaison.  

Her first experience of barbershop was 18 years ago with Champagne Cornwall Chorus. She joined them on baritone that December 2006 and swiftly became part of a new quartet, and she attended her very first competition the following May with both groups! She was totally hooked, (perhaps better described as totally obsessed) and has remained so!

Sarah sings baritone with Fortuity Quartet which was formed in 2010 competing in both LABBS and Sweet Adelines organisations, becoming LABBS Quartet Champions in 2011 and Sweet Adelines Quartet Champions in 2013 and again in 2018.  Sarah feels blessed to have had opportunities to receive excellent barbershop education from her peers and heroes across several Barbershop organisations, and is dedicated to always learning and sharing, particularly anything related to good, healthy, vocal technique.

At home, Sarah works as a Solicitor, helping to resolve disputes, and in her "spare" time loves to gig, row on the sea, and spend time with her family, both of the human and furry variety, with the newest addition to the family, her Border Terrier - Ro!

Kirk Young
MUSIC JUDGE (BHS)

Kirk Young is a music educator and arranger who has had Barbershop success as bass for Category 4 and currently Brouhaha.  He has been on faculty for Harmony University for 22 years, and is a well renowned coach and clinican.  Kirk is an impressively dynamic individual who uses his personal energy to inspire others to tap into theirs. 

​This is his first time at an IABS convention so be sure to give him a proper Irish  welcome!

Joe Hunter
PERFORMANCE JUDGE (BHS)

Joe is a born and raised New Yorker and has been singing and performing for as long as he can remember and probably for quite some time prior to that! Joe is a founding member of the Big Apple Chorus and was the Musical Director from 2000-2013.  He directed the Long Island Twin Shores Chorus from 1994-2007.  In 2013 he retired and was named as Director Emeritus. He and his wife, Diane, recently moved to Northern Kentucky and he is a proud member and Music VP of the Cincinnati Southern Gateway Chapter, and recently accepted the position of lead Musical Director for the Cincinnati Delta Kings Chorus. 

He has been barbershopping for the last 48 years, and is a past BHS Presentation Category Specialist and 15-time PRS and PER Board of Review member. Additionally he  was the Project Manager and one of the architects for the development and implementation of the new Performance Category.  Joe also serves as mentor for Harmony Inc’s Performance Category.  He is also a certified CDWI (Chorus Director Workshop Intensive) trainer and sought-after coach.  He has served multiple times as faculty at Harmony University and has also served at numerous regional schools, Top Guns and youth camps. 

Joe has sung with many different quartets, most notably 4 Under Par (International finalists and all around wild and crazy guys), Reveille (7-time International Competitors), and Up All Night (8-time International Competitors and current BHS Seniors silver medalists).  All these quartets are known as original, entertaining groups that have looked to push the creative envelope and develop a varied and proprietary repertoire.

In the real world, Joe was an SVP of Technology, where he managed teams of software developers. Ironically, in this role he also focused on performance!

Jill Foskett
PERFORMANCE JUDGE (BABS)

Jill first Certified as a Performance Category Judge in March 2018. She has been involved with Barbershop since 2004 and sang with an SAI Chorus, LABBS Choruses, LABBS Quartets and BABS Mixed Voice Choruses, one of which she founded as the Chorus Chairperson. 

Before finding Barbershop, Jill was a seasoned Actor in Amateur Dramatic Societies and particularly enjoyed comedy and character roles. She is trained in classical Ballet and tap dancing, for which she achieved a Gold Medal as an adult, so she is particularly interested in physical performance and visual interpretation.  Jill is passionate about self-development and enabling the development of other people. She has qualifications in teaching adults,  assessing learning and skills, coaching and careers guidance. Much of Jill’s work has centred around working with people who experienced barriers to work and learning and she puts this into practice in her work within the BABS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Team. 

Jill loves Barbershop and strives to help others to improve on their Performance skills and work to their highest potential​, and she is really excited to get to see what you'll all bring to the stage in Killarney!