The first ever University Brass Band Championship of Great Britain, was held at Lancaster University last weekend where 12 bands full to the brim of some of the most talented students with a passion for brass bands locked horns in academic musical battle.
Entertainment
The event was hosted by the University of Lancaster Music Society (ULMS) in association with the British Federation of Brass Bands and proved to be a wonderful weekend of entertainment and instruction.
Workshops
Following the contest on the Saturday, Sunday was filled with the sound of five bands (Bangor, Cardiff, Southampton, York and Lancaster) enjoying workshop tuition and guidance from Richard Evans, Philip Harper and Mike Fowles on music such as ‘Barbarian Horde’, ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Centre Stage’.
Immense achievement
University President Max Stannard told 4BR that the event couldn’t have got off to a better start. "It has been amazing and an immense achievement. It’s also been hard work too, but to hear the bands play and everyone enjoy themselves made it all worthwhile."
He added: "The standard was very good and the students enjoyed the straightforward appraisals given by adjudicators Richard Evans and Alan Fernie. Everyone now knows what is expected of them for next year and beyond."
Keenly fought
In what proved to be a keenly fought contest there was great entertainment on offer as bands of varying sizes and quality produced their 25 minute programmes.
It was Brass United directed by Adam Cooke who eventually took the honours to become the inaugural University Champions, with a programme that started with an appropriately named opener from talented composer Benn Tubb entitled, ‘Launch’, followed by the march ‘Blaze Away’.
It has been amazing and an immense achievement. It’s also been hard work too, but to hear the bands play and everyone enjoy themselves made it all worthwhileMax Stannard
Paganini
Euphonium star Matthew White on tip top form with ‘Bravura’ to win the ‘Best Soloist’ award, before the band finished with a fine performance of ‘Paganini Variations’.
Brass United was made up of students from the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester, with many of them already familiar with the Wilby work as they prepare to play with their own bands at the various Area contests over the next few weeks – although it was still a performance many a top section band would love to be able to pull off.
Great success
It secured the band a five point winning margin ahead of second placed Huddersfield University, with Cardiff University in third.
As Max concluded: "The contest ran very smoothing. It was only ever 5 minutes behind schedule and the live streaming was a great success with 250 hits at its peak. A great night was had as Oompah-Fessional Brass provided entertainment with students dancing to the ‘Floral Dance’"
Results:
1. Brass United (RNCM & University of Manchester) — 140
2. Huddersfield University — 135
3. Cardiff University — 134
4. University of Birmingham — 131
5. Keele University — 126
6. Oxford University — 125
7. Lancaster University — 123
8. Edinburgh University — 119
9. Cambridge University – 118*
10. Southampton University – 118*
11. Bangor University — 118
12. University of York — 117
*Highest points award for music element.
Best March: Birmingham — Liberty Bell (Sousa)
Best Soloist: Matthew White (Euphonium) — Brass United
Most Entertaining: Brass United
