We’re thrilled to share that this year’s Directors’ Academy will take place at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham — and our guest educator will be none other than Sean Devine!
Eligibility and Booking
Every BABS chorus receives one free place at the Academy. A limited number of additional places are available for BABS Music Team members at a subsidised rate of £150.
We’re also excited to welcome MDs and Music Team members from LABBS and Sweet Adelines Region 31 choruses at a partially subsidised rate of £175, and to open this year’s Academy to our European partners at a special rate of £200.
(Please note: invoices will be sent to the individual who books the place, unless you let us know otherwise.)
All delegates will enjoy:
- 1 night’s accommodation (Saturday 18 January)
- Saturday lunch and dinner
- Sunday breakfast and lunch
- Tea and coffee throughout the weekend
If you’d like to arrive early, Friday night accommodation can be booked directly with the venue for £105 per person. You’ll receive the booking link once your place is confirmed.
All attendees must register via the link below.
Booking deadline: 10 January 2025
Directors’ Academy Song
This year’s song will be announced very soon! Delegates will form the Academy chorus, so please be ready to learn the song in advance. Learning materials will be shared with all registered participants.
Sessions
The full timetable and session details will be announced shortly — expect a weekend packed with learning, inspiration, and harmony!
Guest Educators
Sean Devine
Sean Devine brings over 30 years of experience in stage performance, music education, and organizational leadership to the global barbershop community. He is a champion quartet singer (2008 International Gold Medalist with OC Times), certified Performance Judge (since 2010), and a sought-after coach and clinician known for his ability to guide choruses toward authentic, impactful performance.
Sean specializes in helping ensembles unlock their full expressive potential by aligning musical excellence and vocal performance with compelling visual design. He is particularly passionate about creating purposeful, story-driven staging that enhances a chorus’s emotional connection with its audience. His work supports music directors in confidently incorporating visual performance into their ensemble’s culture—finding a healthy balance between artistry and technique.
As a coach, Sean focuses on developing sustainable chorus cultures rooted in leadership, ensemble unity, and shared vision. He is also widely respected for his skill in helping groups clarify their artistic brand—curating repertoire and performance choices that reflect identity, purpose, and audience engagement. His approach often includes strategies for marketing, promotion, and long-term organizational growth.
Born and raised in “The Sweetest Place on Earth” — Hershey, Pennsylvania (USA) — Sean began his professional career in the resident shows at Hersheypark before touring nationally with America’s Premier Doo-Wop Group, The Alley Cats. In Southern California, he performed as a Disneyland Cast Member with the world-famous Dapper Dans, helped found the Westminster Chorus, and served in music leadership with the Masters of Harmony. He later sang lead with Throwback, a 7-time International Quartet Medalist.
Since 2008, Sean has worked extensively in nonprofit leadership and fundraising. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Association of International Champions (AIC), promoting barbershop harmony worldwide through education, performance, and preservation. His work emphasizes strategic planning, resource development, and aligning mission with measurable impact.
In 2015, Sean returned to his hometown and founded Parkside Harmony, where he now serves as Artistic Director. Under his leadership, the chorus has become an 8-time Mid-Atlantic District Champion and 5-time International Chorus Medalist, opened for the GRAMMY Award-winning Pentatonix, and performed on the storied stage of Carnegie Hall.
Additional BABS Educators
Sean Bui
BABS Head of Musical Directors’ Education | seanbui.com
Sean is an accomplished conductor, composer, singer, and teacher, with an impressive background in music editing from Oxford University Press. A graduate of Royal Holloway University of London, Sean now serves as Composer in Residence and Assistant Director of Music at the Royal Chapel, Windsor.
He co-founded Quire Voices in 2011 and directs multiple ensembles including The Knights of Harmony, The Royal Harmonics, Spelthorne Choral Society, and West Sussex Philharmonic Choir. As Head of Musical Directors’ Education for BABS, Sean is a sought-after choral clinician and conducting coach across the UK.
His recent compositions include Let My Prayer Come Up and They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships, both commissioned for prestigious national events. A passionate advocate for vocal technique, Sean trained under Janice Chapman and Dr Ron Morris at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and teaches both privately and at The Marist School, Ascot.
Simon Lubkowski
BABS Director of Music & Education
Simon is an award-winning teacher, musical director, singer, composer, arranger, and BABS Singing Judge — as well as a Quartet Champion in both Men’s (The Locksmiths) and Mixed (The Light Fantastic) contests.
With nearly two decades in secondary education as Head of Music and Performing Arts, Simon has inspired countless students to discover the joy of a cappella and barbershop singing.
Today, he directs several choirs, including The Ratcliffe Chorale, Groby Sings!, The Pantones (LGBT+ Choir), and The Knighton Community Choir — as well as co-founding Lux A Cappella, the BABS Silver Medal Mixed Chorus representing the UK at BHS International in Denver 2025.
He also founded The Collective, a beloved virtual choir formed during lockdown, and is a respected vocal coach working across the UK and Europe.
When not making music, Simon enjoys good coffee, family time with his four children — Ellena, Samuel, Charlotte, and Isabelle — and life with his ever-patient wife, Kathryn.
We can’t wait to welcome you to an unforgettable weekend of learning, music-making, and inspiration on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th January 2026!
