Members of the UniBrass organisation have just completed a national tour around the UK, visiting 11 universities from Huddersfield to Bangor to help bridge the gap for players between youth and adult bands that can occur when they leave home to study.

New work

The ‘UniTour’ finished with a visit to Welsh champion Cory in south Wales, who are the Education Partners for UniBrass 2015, where they performed a specially commissioned piece called ‘UniTed’, written by composer Dave Collins.

UniBrass is a charity whose aim is to promote brass banding at universities, enabling young students to remain involved in their hobby, hopefully well into their adult lives.

Organising the world's only inter-university brass band contest — hosted at the University of Warwick next February, the event has become a focal point for university brass banders all over the country.

Concept

The new composition also encourages that sense of togetherness, as composer Dave Collins told 4BR: “The concept to perform something which every band helps to contribute to and is ‘UniTed’ by their love of this genre.

Only with every band’s participation will the performance be as successful as I imagine.”

UniTour has been a very exciting new chapter for the UniBrass story. We certainly enjoyed telling everyone about the exciting world of university banding in BritainUniBrass Chairman Alexander Parker

New chapter

UniBrass Chairman Alexander Parker added: "UniTour has been a very exciting new chapter for the UniBrass story.

We certainly enjoyed telling everyone about the exciting world of university banding in Britain."