European Coaching Program

Developing barbershop coaches across Europe

The European Coaching Program (ECP) will train and certify barbershop coaches from all over Europe. Our aim is to develop experienced coaches into world-class coaches. This will further strengthen barbershop expertise in Europe and make it easier for quartets and choruses to access high-level coaching.

Program

In the ECP, experienced barbershop coaches will deepen their mastery of coaching techniques. The Coaching Candidates will learn to assess the strengths and growth opportunities of an ensemble, give positive feedback, set priorities, choose impactful interventions, communicate clearly, run an effective coaching session, and conduct themselves as coaches.

The ECP is a two-year training program that consists of the following elements:

European Harmony Academy

Candidates will attend the new Advanced Coaching Stream at the European Harmony Academy in August 2027 and August 2028. They will learn coaching techniques from world-class faculty, practice with quartets attending EHA, and reflect together on their experiences.

Coaching practice

Candidates will actively coach quartets and choruses on their own time. Each candidate will coach at least five groups per year and receive feedback through an online form.

Apprenticeship

Candidates will serve as a coaching apprentice at one or more Harmony College or comparable events. Coaching apprentices observe an experienced coach, discuss the mentor’s coaching style, and get opportunities to coach groups themselves and receive feedback from the mentor.

Mentoring

Each candidate will be assigned an international world-class coach as a personal mentor. Candidates will meet their mentors several times a year through video calls. They are encouraged to share coaching videos and discuss them with the mentor.

Online classes

Every few months, all Candidates will meet for exclusive online classes from world-class faculty to learn about specialized topics in coaching practice. This will include training in the BHS scoring categories, so ECP coaches can recognize opportunities for development that will actually increase an ensemble’s scores.

Peer review

Candidates will team up in pairs to give each other regular feedback and discuss their experiences and possible coaching challenges with each other.

Applications

Who should apply

The ECP is intended for people who already coach quartets or choruses and have a solid knowledge of the barbershop style. We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic people who are eager to learn and grow as coaches.

We deeply appreciate barbershoppers who want to take first steps towards becoming a coach, but the ECP is not the program for them. The national barbershop societies regularly offer Harmony College courses and Coaching Observer opportunities that support new coaches on their journey.

Note that while attendance at the ECP itself is free, Candidates are expected to attend two European Harmony Academies. Including travel, this may generate costs of approximately € 3000 over the two years. We encourage Candidates to seek financial support from their national barbershop societies.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is 15 November 2026. We will link to a Google Form from this website.

The application will include coaching videos and written questions about coaching experience, approach and motivation. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online.

Applications are assessed by an international selection team (see below). The main criteria are current coaching ability and experience, barbershop knowledge, and willingness to learn.

Coaching videos and application material will be handled as described in our privacy notice.

Coaching video. The coaching video should be a video that is at least 20-30 minutes in length, ideally uncut, and shows you while coaching a quartet or chorus. A barbershop group would be ideal, but we’ll take another musical group if this is not possible. The video should show both you and the group and have clear audio so that we can hear the effect of your coaching. In-person coaching is preferrable, but you can also record a video coaching session.

We would prefer to receive a video in English, but you can also coach a group in a different language. In this case, please make sure that the video has subtitles in English that are comprehensible for a selection team that does not speak your language. Youtube has functions for transcribing and translating videos. It is your responsibility to ensure that the video can be understood by the selection team.

If you direct a chorus, please submit a video that shows you as a coach with a different ensemble than your own chorus. The roles of chorus director and coach are quite different, and the selection team wants to see you in a coaching role and with singers with whom you are less familiar.

Certification

Candidates will be examined by the selection team before they can graduate as Certified Coaches.

After the first year, each Candidate will meet with a member of the selection team for a mid-term checkin. The Candidate and selection team member will review a video of the Candidate’s coaching together and discuss the feedback from the groups and the Candidate’s own experiences. This This results in an individual development plan for the second year.

Final interviews will take place in 2029. Each Candidate will have video calls with two selection team members to assess their coaching skills and their understanding of the coach’s role. These interviews will involve more review of coaching videos and feedback.

The successful Candidates will become Certified Coaches in the second half of 2029. The ECP will organize graduation ceremonies.

Selection Team

Jay Butterfield

BHS Singing Judge since 2016 and member of the Singing Board of Review. Founding Musical Director of Parkside Harmony and Harmony University faculty for 20+ years. Currently coaching several top 10 BHS, quartets and choruses. Holds a Bachelor Degree in Voice Performance, a Master Degree in Choral Conducting Performance, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Elizabeth Davies

BHS Singing Judge, 2023–2026. Director of Sound Harmony Chorus and Rain City Voices in Seattle, Washington. Taught multiple classes at Harmony University from 2019-2023, including “The Language of Masterful Coaching.”

Mark Kettner

BHS Performance Judge since 2010 and former Performance Category Specialist. Musical Director of the Appalachian Express Chorus and an experienced coach and educator.

Allen Otto

BHS PER judge since 2019 and member of the PER Board of Review. Former Dean and continuing faculty of the PER College at Harmony University, with PER packages featured on the international stage yearly for over a decade. Coaches acting and singing groups at all levels, from gold medalists to first-timers.

Gary Plaag

BHS Performance/Presentation Judge, 1998–2019. International chorus and quartet coach and Harmony University faculty member for 17 years; professionally a communication and presentation skills coach.

Jordan Travis

BHS Singing Judge, 2014–2020. International vocal coach and music educator; Artistic Director of Voices Unlimited, A Cappella Showcase, and the Golden Horseshoe Choruses.

Paul Wigley

BHS Musicality/Interpretation Judge since 1986 and former Music Category Specialist. Long-time director of the Minneapolis Commodores and faculty member at BHS Directors Colleges across the United States.

Timeline

September 2026 Website and initial call for participation
1–15 November 2026 Application period
15 December 2026 Candidates selected
January 2027 Virtual start, mentors assigned and coaching begins
August 2027 First ECP week at European Harmony Academy
February 2028 Mid-term check-ins and individual development plans
August 2028 Second ECP week at European Harmony Academy
2029 Final interviews and graduation

Background

The European Coaching Program is modeled after the BinG! Coaching Certification Program, which ran in 2019-2023. Our aim is to streamline and improve over the elements that made the CCP a success and make it attractive to Candidates from all across Europe. We list the BinG! Certified Coaches of 2023 as a reference for the level of Candidate the ECP is aimed at.

Lucas Bitzer

BHS Singing Judge since 2026 and 2013 European men’s quartet champion. Certified Alexander Technique teacher and Lichtenberger voice teacher. Faculty member at BHS Harmony University and barbershop education events across Europe.

Miriam Günther

Music educator, singing teacher, and coach of pop, jazz, and barbershop choruses. Faculty at the State Music Academy of North Rhine-Westphalia. German quartet champion with SPLASH!. Founding member of the Heavy Medal Chorus.

Norbert Hammes

BHS Singing Judge since 2023. Founding member and current Vice-Chair of BinG!; German quartet champion with Viertakt in 1993 and TONIKUM in 2014. Director of Barbershop Blend since 2010 and director of the internationally competitive Heavy Medal Chorus.

Alexander Koller

BHS Musicality Judge, 2023–2026. Founder of the European Harmony Brigade and co-organiser of the Coaching Certification Program. Faculty member at BHS Virtual Harmony University, BinG! Harmony College, the European Quartet School, and European Harmony Academy.

Mareike Meise

Musical Director of the A Cappella Company, and four-time champion with the Harmunichs. Completed Estill Voice Training® Level 2 and B-Level Jazz/Pop Choral Conducting at the Federal Music Academy in Wolfenbüttel. Her coaching combines Estill-based vocal technique and Complete Vocal Technique with a focus on authentic, expressive performance.

Stefanie Schmidt

BHS Performance Judge since 2023. Co-founder and co-organiser of the Coaching Certification Program and European Harmony Brigade, former director of the A-Cappella Ladies, and European Harmony Academy faculty member. Her coaching focuses on authentic communication and draws on her theater and jazz dance experience.

Organizers

The easiest way to contact the organizers is by email to ecp27@googlegroups.com.

Naud Berkhuizen

BHS Performance Judge since 2026. Performance coach of Mixed Nuts, a top-20 International mixed chorus, and singer with Game On!, World Mixed 2026 finalist. Faculty at Harmony College Northeast, the European Quartet School, and the European Harmony Academy. Brings a professional background in change management and systemic coaching to his musical work, focusing on the gap between intent and impact.

Alexander Koller

Stefanie Schmidt

BHS Performance Judge since 2023. Co-founder and co-organizer of the Coaching Certification Program and European Harmony Brigade. Faculty member at BHS Virtual Harmony University, BinG! Harmony College, the European Quartet School, and the European Harmony Academy.

Endorsements

The European Coaching Program is officially endorsed by national barbershop societies from all across Europe.