Universities battle for the honours in brass band contest

University of Nottingham Brass Band, from a previous UniBrass Competition

UNIBRASS, the world’s only inter-university brass band championship, returns to Bangor University on February 8, starting at 10.30am, with the last bands in each section playing at 5pm.

The contest, run for students by students, will feature brass bands from across the UK descending on Bangor to compete in the Trophy and Shield sections, in the 10th annual University Brass Band Championships of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In addition to the contest taking place at Theatr Bryn Terfel and Neuadd PrichardJones, there will be non-competitive performances throughout the day from local bands and groups.

The Trophy Section will take place at Theatr Bryn Terfel, in the Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, which has assigned seating.

This means you will have to select your seats before purchasing your ticket.

The Shield Section will take place in the Prichard Jones Hall, in Bangor University’s Main Arts Building, which has unreserved seating.

Tickets for the UniBrass 2020 contest can be bought directly from the Pontio website (www.pontio.co.uk), and include access to both the Trophy Section in Theatr Bryn Terfel, and the Shield Section in the Prichard Jones Hall.

A full timetable of the bands playing can be found on the festival website, www.unibrass. co.uk.

Tickets cost £10 for a child or student, £12 for senior citizens and £15 for adults.

This year there will be two bands playing at the UniBrass 2020 Social, namely the Oompah Stompers Bavarian Party Band, and the Armchair Captains.

The contest secretary has communicated information about the social to the bands.

There won’t be a Gala Concert this year as the organisers have decided to place more focus on the social elements of the contest weekend, in order to build the UniBrass Community even more.

If you are at university, or about to go to university, and are inspired by this year’s competition to want to take part in next year’s contest, the UniBrass website has a lot of useful information under the heading Join a Band.

Across the UK there are around 40 university and conservatoire brass bands and brass ensembles, some of which are run entirely by students, while others are run by staff from the university music department.

You may be able to find out more about your university’s band at the freshers’ fair in the first few weeks of term.

Or it may be that your university doesn’t have a band. If so, all is not lost. Another university nearby may have a band that you can join.

Alternatively, you might decide to start your own brass band.

The UniBrass Foundation can help with advice on how to do this, and may also be help with publicity to attract potential recruits.