We are Barbershop Blend
Barbershop Blend was founded in 1984 as Germany’s first barbershop chorus. We are a cheerful group of now 55 singers, musically guided by our conductor Norbert Hammes and co-conductor Regina Hußmann-Walter.
Our choir impresses with both – a varied repertoire of a cappella and barbershop pieces, as well as with its clear, multi-part singing which is sometimes moving and sometimes lively and captivating.
To maintain our high quality standards, we not only rehearse weekly in Geldern but also take part in regular coaching sessions with various certified, international music coaches.
And if you’re thinking: “So many women in one place, can that possibly work?”
Yes! We’re all different, and we respect and appreciate that in each other. The joy of singing together always unites us.
Come and see for yourself and get to know us!
We regularly hold open rehearsals where you can meet us personally and without obligation.
Upcoming Events
There is always something going on here! We rehearse every Monday from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM at the former Anne-Frank-School in Geldern.
Additional dates are:
- 1.+2.11.2025 – Coachingwochenende mit Stefanie Schmitt
- 15.12.2025 – Weihnachtsfeier
- 06.–08.02.2026 – Coachingwochenende mit dem "Ersten Kölner Barbershop-Chor"
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09.03.2026, ab 20:00 Uhr – Generalprobe für das Barbershop Musikfestival in Wuppertal
(Du bist neugierig, wie der Chor arbeitet und du möchtest uns einmal live zuhören? Dann sichere dir hier einen der kostenlosen raren Zuhörer*innen-Plätze!) - 13.–15.03.2026 – BinG! Barbershop Musik Festival (BMF) 2026 in Wuppertal
None of these dates work for you to get to know us?
Feel free to reach out here, and we can arrange something!
Audio samples
Barbershop Blend
Can’t buy me love
Barbershop Blend
When I fall in love
Musical direction
Choirmaster / Conductor
Norbert Hammes
Norbert had already been a choral singer for 15 years when he discovered his passion for barbershop music in 1987. He subsequently became a founding member of the “Erster Kölner Barbershop-Chor” (EKBC).
Over the years, he has participated in numerous quartet projects, winning a gold medal with two of these quartets.
Norbert has served as a conductor since 2005; he has led *Barbershop Blend* since 2010, making him the only man in our choir (he has never complained! ;)).
He is also a founding member of the German Barbershop Association, BinG! (*Barbershop in Germany!*), where he currently serves as a board member.
Since 2023, he has been a certified BHS judge in the Singing category (BHS = Barbershop Harmony Society).
As one might gather from this brief overview, Norbert—being a singer and conductor with an absolute passion for music—has completed a great many advanced training courses. Most recently, he successfully completed the BinG! Coaching Certification Program, and is thus qualified to professionally coach singers.
Co-Choir Director / Co-Conductor
Regina Hußmann-Walter
Regina has been with Barbershop Blend since 1998; as the Bass Section Leader, she has become an indispensable part of the group, and since 2010, she has served as “Assistant Director”—that is, Co-Conductor—of Barbershop Blend.
She has also taken charge of “Physical Warm-ups,” recognizing that a warmed-up voice sounds so much better when supported by a relaxed body!
Regina has participated in numerous training sessions and professional development courses for conductors and section leaders, and she remains enthusiastic and eager to explore new vocal learning opportunities.
Gallery
September 2024: Anniversary Concert at the Lise-Meitner Gymnasium, Geldern. In the center (seated) is the founder, Liss Döhring, who established Barbershop Blend 40 years ago.
The stage costumes from “40 Years of Barbershop Blend.” Whimsical, elegant, witty, casual, extraordinary—sometimes lots of bling, sometimes less… it’s all there, but always an eye-catcher!
Fantastic performances by the quartets “Take Four” and “O-Ton” at our anniversary concert in September 2024. Here, both quartets are seen performing a joint serenade to crown the occasion.
May 2025: The upper-school choir “AcaGella” from the Gaesdonck Boarding School invited Barbershop Blend to a joint concert titled “Barbershop Meets Rock & Pop.” We were delighted to accept the invitation; we had a wonderful time together and thrilled the audience with our combined performance.
November 2025: We had an interesting, exciting, fun, and very instructive coaching session with Stefanie Schmitz (center—to the left of Norbert), focusing on performance. A big thank you, Stefanie—it was great!
February 2026: A fabulous coaching weekend with Joe Cerutti and Jordan Trevis in Altenberg prepared us in February 2026 for the upcoming Barbershop Music Festival in Wuppertal. And—to top it all off—it was held in cooperation with our friends from the *Erster Kölner Barbershop-Chor* (EKBC). It doesn’t get any better than this!
March 2026: 2026 Barbershop Music Festival in Wuppertal: 5th place in the German competition (out of a total of 17 German choirs). 13th place internationally (28 choirs in total). It was great fun; it was wonderful to experience all those other fantastic choirs, and we are proud of our performance.
Get in touch
Compliments, comments, or anything else? Don’t hold back! 🙂 Feel free to write to us—we’ll get back to you!