UniBrass 2016 Preview and Prediction

University Brass Band Championship of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Butterworth Hall - Warwick Arts Centre
Saturday 20th February 2016
Live stream available below
Tickets available here 

It would be easy to dismiss UniBrass as a bit of student fun; a chance for young brass band socialites from all over the UK to get together for a good old knees up whilst enjoying a relatively 'relaxed' contesting enviroment. However, to do so would be a huge mistake. 

This is an event run by a dedicated team of young adults who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure its success. Most players with every band will be dipping into their invaluable student loans to be there, and the vast majority of bands will have been rehearsing hard to do themselves and their Universities justice come the contest. 

UniBrass has undoubtedly grown in stature and reputation over the years, and the generation of like minded brass band enthusiasts it has brought together can only be a good thing for us all going forward. This year's event will be the last in Warwick before it moves North to the University of York, and it is set to be a memorable send off for all the right reasons.

The Championship will feature a record 19 competitors, including debut performances from Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham City University) and Queen's University, Belfast - the first ever Northern Irish entry. There's also a new iconic trophy up for grabs, and a packed schedule of fringe events including a free public Besson workshop led by Owen Farr, Richard Marshall, James McLeod, Matthew Routley and Steve Jones, culminating in a lunchtime concert in Butterworth Hall at 13.25.

Between 10.00 and 18.00 live music in the foyer will be heard on the UniBrass performers’ platform featuring a variety of groups from the university and the local community, including the City of Coventry Brass Band, Buddin’ Brass, Three Spires Harmony and many more. In addition, a Fanfare team from the Corps of Army Music Brass Bands will get procedings underway with an opening Ceremony performance at 9.00, and the current European Champion, Black Dyke Band, will be taking to the stage at 20.00 to close UniBrass 2016 with a Gala Concert.

However, the main event takes place directly after the opening ceremony, and it's Bristol University who will set the bar playing from a number 1 draw. With approximately 30 minutes allocated to each band, Keele University (drawn 9) are expected to finish at 13.25, by which time the adjudicators, Frank Renton and Russell Gray, will be ready for a well earned comfort break.

Bangor University (drawn 10) are expected to get things back underway at 14.05, and Queen's University (the day's final competitor) is scheduled to finish their programme at 19.05, allowing time for the results ceremony before Black Dyke take to the stage.

Bands will be judged on their musicality and entertainment value by the experienced team of adjudicators, with the top three scoring bands winning prizes. Also awarded will be the best solo/feature, best march, best student conductor, best percussion section, best student composition (sponsored by Dave Collins), most improved band and most entertaining band. 

It's certainly set to be a great day, and as always with own choice / entertainment competitions of this nature, the result will largely be determined by personal taste. However, based on absolutely no knowledge of form, here is the BBW Editor's prediction:

1 - Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham City University)
2 - University of Huddersfield
3 - University of Manchester
4 - University of Warwick
5 - Durham University
6 - Nottingham University

Dark horse(s): Queen's, Lancaster, and University of Birmingham

Good luck to all. Full details of bands, conductors, performance times and repertoire will be made available by UniBrass on the day.


LIVE STREAM

UniBrass 2016 pre-draw as released on the UniBrass website:

1 -  Bristol University Music Society
2 -  Southampton University
3 -  Cambridge University
4 -  Leeds University Union Music Society
5 -  Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham City University)
6 -  Cardiff University 
7 -  University of Warwick Brass Society
8 -  University of Nottingham 
9 -  Keele University 
10 - Bangor University 
11 - University of Huddersfield
12 - Durham University 
13 - University of Lancaster Music Society
14 - University of Birmingham Music Society
15 - University of Manchester
16 - University of Sheffield
17 - University of York
18 - Oxford University
19 - Queen’s University Belfast

BBW's Chris Thomas will be in the auditorium giving his live thoughts via our twitter feed: @BBWMagazine. 
To read his full retrospective in the next edition of BBW, subscribe to BBW Digital here.