Student brass band celebrates championship success

The University of Chichester’s brass band is celebrating after taking third place in the national Unibrass competition in Warwick last week.

The students are ‘ecstatic’ about the result, which saw them placed behind the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the University of Huddersfield – and they have now been invited to represent England in the European Brass Band Championships. Unibrass adjudicator John Barber congratulated all the bands for the “brilliant standard throughout the day, with performances that would be very much at home in any Championship Section competition anywhere”.

Chichester’s ensemble was led by Emma Button, associate lecturer and instrumental tutor at the University, and they opened the competition with their weather-themed musical set.

Emma said: “The whole band is absolutely ecstatic about Saturday’s result. The competition is always high as we are competing against not only northern bands – the beating heart of brass banding – but also Music Conservatoires.

“Our programme this year was based on weather and included Prismatic Light, Misty (featuring euphonium soloist Joseph Baldwin), Bring Me Sunshine and Gaelforce. “I am incredibly proud of what the students have achieved at this year’s contest and I’m excited about our next adventure.” In May, the band will be visiting Lithuania, where they will represent England in the Premier section of the European Youth Brass Band Championships in Palanga. This four-day event is the biggest competition in the brass band annual calendar and Emma says: “It’s a huge honour to be invited to compete as the representatives for England.”

They would appreciate any donations towards travel and accommodation: https://www.justgiving. com/campaign/universityof-chichester-brass-band.