There were boisterous scenes of jubilation on the stage of Warwick Arts Centre on the weekend, as the students of University of Manchester celebrated becoming 2016 UniBrass Champions.

It marked the prelude of what surely was a long night of revelry in the bar of the University campus for conductor James Keirle and his fellow players, after they produced a hugely impressive 'Blue' inspired set to lift the new UniBrass trophy.

Full day

Brilliantly organised and expertly run, the event attracted 19 ensembles from England, Wales and Northern Ireland to the excellent facilities of the University of Warwick — with a full day of eclectic repertoire for judges Frank Renton and Russell Gray to compare and contrast.

And with over 6,000 people from China to Canada, South Africa to Iceland, dipping into the live internet coverage, it was also an event that certainly lived up to Frank's observation that UniBrass was not, '...an old fashioned way of making music for old fashioned people to enjoy'.

Colour coordinated

That was certainly borne out by Manchester's colour-coordinated triumph; a cracking combination of an intelligently constructed programme played with high-class technique and musical vigour.

The opening 'Blue' by Thomas Gansch was contrasted by 'Deep Blue' (Nearer My God to Thee), before principal cornet Ben Hale showed off his considerable trumpet skills with a fizzing rendition of Maynard Ferguson's 'Everybody Loves the Blues' — a performance that deservedly gave the biochemistry student the 'Best Soloist' award.

It was their closing item however that surely set the seal on their victory (and which also saw them take the 'Most Entertaining Band' prize) — with a cracking new work from the pen of RNCM Composition student Callum Harrison entitled 'Blue is the Mind' — which pulsated with originality, colour and excitement.

Happy MD

Not surprisingly then, MD, James Keirle (above) — who also took the prize as 'Best Student Conductor' — was a happy man. "We're delighted at the way we played,"he told 4BR.

"We decided on the 'Blue' theme and set about bringing together works that showed as much contrast and our ability to play in different styles as we could. To win the UniBrass title is a great achievement for the 33 players — the majority non-music students — as we simply set out to enjoy ourselves in everything we do. We will tonight!"

Formed in 2011 the band is planning a forthcoming tour to Edinburgh where there will give a concert in front of the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Edinburgh tour

"We have really looked forward to UniBrass this year,"Band Managers Ella Walker and Shannon Gateley told 4BR. "The commitment by the players has been brilliant and we are fortunate to have such a great conductor to lead us. The Scottish trip is going to be a fantastic mix of fun and music."

Variance

Understandably, there was a great deal of variance in the quality of performances throughout the day — something which Frank Renton humorously highlighted in his pre-results remarks: And which were greeted at times with good humored booing in return as if the students were admonishing a rather pedantic lecturer.

He lapped it up though, and later told 4BR: "It's a wonderful event — with such a great atmosphere. The success has been remarkable and now gives the organisers a bit of a headache due to the numbers taking part. It's been a great day. Not everything came off musically, but so what: All the bands and the MDs deserve huge credit."

Echoed

The sentiments were also echoed by Russell Gray, who added: "It's such a brilliantly organised contest. UniBrass is showing the way forward in so many areas — and the bands all buy into it superbly. I've had a great time — and was bowled over not just by the enthusiasm and sense of fun, but by the standard of playing too.

The banding movement cannot afford to lose touch with players when they go to university — and this contest shows us why."

Astro-physics to Plato

Russell's observation were also borne out when talking to various band managers and conductors, who revealed that the vast majority of their players were non-music students; budding doctors, chemists, engineers and mathematicians, rubbing musical shoulders with future scientists, historians, philosophers, psychologists — and even astro and particle physicists.

It is not often the talk in brass band bar centers on arguments about Einstein's theory of gravitational waves or Plato's 'Republic' — let alone how well the second cornets managed to play their parts!

Close battle

After the 19 different bands had played, most neutral listeners felt that it was going to be a close run battle between Manchester and Birmingham Conservatoire — and so it proved.

Led by Head of Brass Ian Porthouse, Birmingham delivered an imposing set — linking the choreographed opener of 'Blackbird Special' and march 'Call of the Brave', through a superb euphonium soloist in Tzu-Hsiang on 'Brillante' and 'Little Hymn' to 'Glorifico Aeternum' to close.

It gave the band the prizes for 'Best March' and 'Best Percussion', but with a 1 point time penalty it meant it eventually fell short of their Manchester rivals by a three point margin.

Squeals

There were squeals of delight heard in the hall as the University of Nottingham finished third, as conductors Kieren Williams and Matthew Husbands led the band through a space themed programme.

The band bookended PLC sparklers 'Home of Legends' and 'Enter the Galaxies' with the excellent Claire Taylor on 'Rusalka's Song to the Moon' to contrast with 'Starlight' and 'Starburst' by Peter Meechan and Dan Price.

Also happy with the result were debutants Queen's University Belfast, who certainly made an impression as they stormed into fourth place under Niall Catney with a set that encompassed the ornithological delights of 'Goldcrest' and 'Nightingale Dances' to go with some neatly played Salvation Army inspired classics.

Luxuriant moustache

Just behind them came the University of Birmingham with a well-planned set of traditional repertoire, and the home favourites University of Warwick, who produced perhaps the most entertaining programme of the day with a brilliantly inspired Phileas 'Round the World' Fogg set led by a luxuriantly moustached MD Simon Hogg (no relation!).

Behind the top six came bands that thoroughly enjoyed themselves — from the Welsh duo of Cardiff University (who took the 'Most Improved Band' and the 'Best Student Composition' award for conductor Andy Wareham's 'The Deep') and Bangor University, right down to Oxford University in nineteenth.

Sponsorship

And with Buffet Crampon providing sponsorship of the Besson masterclasses (with over 60 people taking part on the Saturday and well over 100 on the Sunday) under the direction of Owen Farr, Richard Marshall, Steve Jones, James McLeod and Matthew Routley, a great 'Performers Platform' entertaining the crowds in the bar and Black Dyke rounding things off with a splendid concert, it was a fine way for the event to end its three year tenure at Warwick in the best possible way.

Next year UniBrass moves to the University of York — where everyone is sure to enjoy yet another memorable event.

To win the UniBrass title is a great achievement for the 33 players — the majority non-music students — as we simply set out to enjoy ourselves in everything we do. We will tonight!Manchester MD, James Keirle

Results:

Adjudicators: Frank Renton & Russell Gray
Music + Entertainment = Total

1. University of Manchester (James Keirle): 98/48 = 146
2. Birmingham Conservatoire (Ian Porthouse): 97/47 = 143*
3. University of Nottingham (Kieren Williams & Matthew Husbands):95/45 = 139*
4. Queen's University Belfast (Niall Catney): 94/43 = 137
5. University of Birmingham (Stuart Birnie): 94/42 = 136
6. University of Warwick (Simon Hogg): 92/43 = 135
7. Cardiff University (Andrew Wareham): 92/42 = 133*
8. Bangor University (Guto Pugh): 91/42 = 133
9. Southampton University (Daniel Laverick): 89/42 = 131
10. University of Sheffield (Duncan Beckley): 88/42 = 130
11. University of Huddersfield (Jonathan Beatty): 90/42 = 129**
12. Lancaster University (Ashley Wicks): 88/41 = 129
13. Cambridge University (Adam Waterson & Matthew Waterson): 88/40 = 128
14. Leeds University Union Music Society (James Hobbis): 87/40 = 127
15. University of York (Ross Gubby): 86/40 = 126
16. University of Bristol (Peter Simmons): 85/40 = 125
17. Keele University (Alistair Gibson): 85/39 = 124
18. Durham University (Matthew Ruddock): 85/38 = 123
19. Oxford University (Steve Sizeland & Freddie Meyers): 85/37 = 122

* 1 point time penalty
** 3 point time penalty
Music mark takes precedence if points total is equal

Best Soloist: Ben Hale (Trumpet) — University of Manchester
Best March: Birmingham Conservatoire
Best Percussion: Birmingham Conservatoire

Most Improved Band: Cardiff University
Most Entertaining Band: University of Manchester

Best Student Composition: 'The Deep' (Andy Wareham) — Cardiff University
Best Student Conductor: James Keirle (University of Manchester)