Students are putting thoughts of academic exams to one side at the moment as they concentrate all their efforts on this weekend's 10th UniBrass Championships of Great Britain.
The event will take place at Bangor University in north Wales on Saturday 8th February, where 21 bands will battle it out in a musical University Challenge to see who will be crowned 2020 UniBrass Trophy and UniBrass Shield champions.
New bands
Two new bands from the University of Salford and Royal Holloway, University of London, join the line-ups this year in their bid to impress adjudicators Robert Childs and David Hirst (Trophy) and Christopher Bond and Sarah Groarke-Booth (Shield).
The organisers have told 4BR that they are particularly delighted that Royal Holloway, University of London makes the journey as they are the first band from the capital to appear in the contest. It is hoped they will now act as a musical catalyst for others to follow.
Defending champion
The defending UniBrass Trophy champion Royal Northern College of Music from Manchester made it a hat-trick of wins last year, whilst the 2019 UniBrass Shield victors, University of Chichester, have moved up a section.
The UniBrass Trophy will take place in Pontio's Theatr Bryn Terfel starting at 11.00am, when last year's runner-up the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will take to the stage under the direction of Ian Porthouse.
The UniBrass Shield will take place in the Neuadd Prichard Jones Hall starting at 10.30am with Durham University taking to the stage under conductor Isaac Conroy.
Social event
Speaking about the event, spokesperson Sophie Hart told 4BR: "UniBrass is not just a contest — it aims to promote banding across the country and introduce a new generation to community music.
As it's the 10th contest, the focus is on our community, and with that comes organising a big social for our contestants.
This year, we are reflecting the eclectic mix of programmes with two fantastic bands, the Oompah Stompers, a traditional Bavarian band and the Armchair Captains, a Bangor University based covers band with big beats!"
Sophie added: "We hope that this event will bring people from all bands together in line with Brass Band England's 'Better Banding' initiative, as it aims to build a supportive community and enhance more than just the competitiveness of contesting."
Join the action
You don't have to be in Bangor — or even a student for that matter to enjoy the contesting action.
There is still time to buy a ticket for the contest
http://tickets.pontio.co.uk/online/20Unibrass
The contest will also be live streamed by BrassPass.tv
As it's the 10th contest, the focus is on our community, and with that comes organising a big social for our contestantsUniBrass Championships
Draws:
UniBrass Trophy
Theatr Bryn Terfel
Adjudicators: Robert Childs and David Hirst
11.00am: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Ian Porthouse)
11.35am: Manchester (Dexter Drown*)
12.10pm: Chichester (Emma Button)
12.45pm: Nottingham (Eli Haines*, John Grealey*)
14.05pm: Huddersfield (Jonathan Beatty)
14.40pm: Warwick (Simon Hogg)
15.15pm: Salford (Richard Harvey)
15.50pm: University of Birmingham (Stuart Birnie)
16.25pm: RNCM (Chris Binns)
17.00pm: Leeds (Ethan Skirving*)
UniBrass Shield:
Neuadd Prichard Jones Hall
Adjudicators: Christopher Bond and Sarah Groarke-Booth
10.30am: Durham (Isaac Conroy*)
11.05am: Lancaster (Henry Lay*, Alex Hardgrave*)
11.40am: Southampton (Peter Hammond*)
12.15pm: Bangor (Tilly Scott*)
12.50pm: Bristol (Matt Roche*)
14.05pm: Royal Holloway (John Campbell)
14.40pm: York (Brandon Fletcher*)
15.15pm: Oxford (Danny Riley*)
15.50pm: Keele (Katharine Slater)
16.25pm: Sheffield (Jack Aitken*)
17.00pm: Cambridge (Daniel Phillips*)
