Brass United retained the Unibrass title at Lancaster University on Saturday after producing a stunning performance under the direction of MD Adam Cooke.

Musical treat

Made up of students from the Royal Northern College of Music and University of Manchester, the band provided a packed Great Hall audience with a real musical treat to take the honours ahead of rivals University of Huddersfield, with home town favourites, Lancaster University in third.

The band’s ranks were packed with some of the country’s leading young performers such as Joe Murray, Benjamin Richteon, Paul Shafi and Hannah Drage, whilst their winning programme featured the world première of 'Initiate!!' by Benjamin Tubb, a former RNCM student, as well as the prize winning ‘Best March’, ‘Knight Templar’.

Quality

And to emphasise the quality at the MD’s disposal, their ‘Best Soloist’ winners were BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloists for 2010 & 2011, Matthew White and Lewis Musson.

They teamed up to play a fizzing rendition of the duet 'Brillante’, whilst a delightful rendition of ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ segued into a rousing finale of excerpts from the former British Open set work, ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’.

Congratulations

Speaking to 4BR, MD, Adam Cooke added: "They are a great bunch of people and deserve huge congratulations for their efforts today.

Ideally, we would have liked to have done more rehearsals, but with the players involved with their own important studies and band commitments away from university it has meant a bit of juggling."

Demanding

However, Adam was still delighted that the band was able to perform such a demanding programme: "I know I’m very fortunate to have such a talented group of musicians at my disposal, and I wanted to choose a programme that played to their strengths.

We don't get the chance to play together too often, but these players are used to performing serious music."

The eventual winning margin was only two points, but 4BR understands that the winners incurred a points penalty for over-running on the allocated time.

Fabulous day

Amid the vibrant atmosphere at the results ceremony adjudicator Derek Broadbent told the audience that the day had been a credit to all those involved: "What an absolutely fabulous day of music making it has been," he said.

Derek also praised the bands for their wise programme choices and made sure he had a new percussion fan club, as he singled them out for their efforts – although he wittily made sure they knew just how important they were in the great scheme of brass banding things after a misplaced wolf whistle caught his ear!

Consistency

Derek further commented that he wished that he could award a prize to all the featured soloists on the day, although he also highlighted the need for consistency in the playing of the march.

He concluded: "As a day's music-making and as a day's entertainment, there can be none better than today."

Echoed

Entertainment adjudicator Paul Andrews, echoed Derek's comments, although he felt he had a more difficult task in sitting back to watch the bands and conductor's before picking up his pen.

His welcome directness with his comments was summed up as he said: "Conductors must try and bridge a connection between their bands and the audience. Some were more successful than other today."

Polished

Huddersfield University led by Jonathan Beatty claimed second place as they delivered a polished programme that included ‘Saints Fantasy’ and a wonderful display of baritone playing from featured soloist Heather Law with 'Donegal Bay', before closng with 'Gaelforce'.

Meanwhile, there were wild celebrations at the results ceremony after the home team of Lancaster University finished third.

Mindful that they perhaps wouldn't score as heavily as other bands with their playing, the Lancastrians opted for a choreographed programme that was slickly presented under the direction of joint MDs, Chris Childs and Jonathan Parton.

They also featured a very fine soloist in Hannah MacKenzie who delivered a fine rendition of Goedicke's 'Concert Etude'.

Live streaming

4BR was later informed that the Unibrass organisers were delighted by the response created by the live streaming of the whole competition.

The 'live' audience at the venue certainly got their value for money too, with a souvenir programme that featured full details of all the pieces the competing bands played – at just £2.00.

World premiere

With comfort breaks during the day and an hour set aside for lunch, the event ran without a hitch, whilst prior to the announcement of the results came the world premiere by Brass United of, 'Lord of My Youth’ from composer, Marcus Venables.

I know I’m very fortunate to have such a talented group of musicians at my disposal, and I wanted to choose a programme that played to their strengthsAdam Cooke

Thrilled

A delighted, but understandably exhausted Unibrass Chairman, Rhian Davies couldn't contain her delight at how the day had gone when speaking to 4BR:

"I’m thrilled at how the event has gone. The difference in the standard from a year ago was unbelievable."

Rhian was also keen to thank all those involved in its promotion too: "On behalf of Unibrass I'd like to thank the Arts Council of England and the BFBB for their continued support, but especially the army of volunteers who've made this possible.

They helped make Unibrass, not just a memorable day, but a contest that the brass band world should be proud of."

Looking ahead

Rhian also looked ahead by confirming that the contest will take place next year at Lancaster before hopefully moving to a different venue in the following years.

"Unibrass was set up to keep university students involved in banding. Of course, we will all graduate and move on, so in 2014, the event will take place at a different venue."

The Lancaster University student told 4BR that any University interested in hosting the event should contact them at www.unibrass.co.uk

Incredible

Rhian concluded: "Today has been incredible, and I’d encourage people within close proximity of universities to communicate with them and get involved with brass banding."

Results:
Adjudicators: Derek Broadbent & Paul Andrews

1. Brass United (RNCM & University of Manchester) (Adam Cooke) — 137
2. University of Huddersfield (Jonathan Beatty) — 135
3. Lancaster University (Chris Childs & Jonathan Parton) — 132
4. University of York (Matthew Thomas) — 127
5. Cardiff University (Jeremy Meddows-Taylor & Martin Humphries) — 125
6. Southampton University (Matthew Milnes) — 121
7. Keele University (John Watson) — 118
8. Oxford University (Peter Bassano) — 116
9. University of Birmingham (Christopher Sheldrake) — 112*
10. Bangor University (Meurig Jones) — 112*
11. Cambridge University (Peter Edwards) — 109
12. University of Hull (Peter Kench) — 105

*Music points take preference

Soloist: Matthew White & Lewis Musson (euphoniums) — Brass United
Best March: 'Knight Templar' — Brass United
Most Entertaining Band: Brass United