The University Brass Band Championships
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Audience Information
Information for UniBrass Audience
UniBrass 2024 is to be hosted by the University of Warwick on Saturday 17th February 2024 at Warwick Arts Centre, featuring 23 university bands and over 750 students.
There is also a pre-results show from the Warwickshire and Coventry Youth Brass Band and a evening gala concert from the world's no.1 brass band, Foden's Band with guest soloist James Fountain, principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra!
Trophy Schedule
Band | Time |
|---|---|
Chichester | 10:30 |
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire | 11:00 |
Manchester and Salford | 11:30 |
Durham | 12:00 |
Warwick | 12:30 |
Oxford | 13:00 |
Royal Holloway | 14:05 |
Huddersfield | 14:35 |
Leeds | 15:05 |
Sheffield | 15:35 |
York | 16:05 |
Bristol | 16:35 |
Warwickshire and Coventry Youth Brass Band & Results | 17:10 |
Shield Schedule
Band | Time |
|---|---|
Nottingham | 10:45 |
Keele | 11:15 |
UEA | 11:45 |
Cambridge | 12:15 |
Birmingham | 12:45 |
KCL | 13:50 |
Bath | 14:20 |
Lancaster | 14:50 |
Bangor and Liverpool | 15:20 |
Cardiff | 15:50 |
Southampton | 16:20 |
The Contest
"The most innovative thing to happen to brass banding in 100 years" Brass Bands England
23 bands and over 700 performers from universities and conservatoires across the UK will put on bespoke 20-minute entertainment sets to entertain both the audience and our adjudicators, in an effort to win the UniBrass Trophy and UniBrass Shield.
The contest features some of the most creative brass band performances of the year, before culminating in a results ceremony with an atmosphere like no other, making it an event not to be missed.
The Gala Concert
Featuring James Fountain and the Foden's Band
The Gala Concert is a highlight of the annual UniBrass contest weekend, featuring the greatest in brass banding talent. This year’s highly anticipated concert will host the world's current number one brass band, the Foden’s Band, alongside celebrated trumpeter James Fountain as special guest soloist. James Fountain is the principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Trumpet at the Royal College of Music. Foden’s have won 13 British Opens, 16 National Championships of Great Britain, and 7 Brass in Concert titles. They are the current holders of the British Open and Brass in Concert titles for 2023.
Around the world, Foden’s is a trademark that musicians associate with extraordinary musicianship.
Venue Information
The Warwick Arts Centre is situated at the heart of the University of Warwick.
There is car parking nearby at many university car parks and the Arts Centre is served by very regular bus services to Coventry and Leamington Spa (12X, 11, U1, U2).
The Shield Section will be held in the Theatre and the Trophy Section held in the Butterworth Hall. Both of these venues are inside the Warwick Arts Centre, with a less than 2 minute walk between them.
Accessibility guides for the Warwick Arts Centre are available here:
Our Contest Sponsors
The Royal Bengal is a long running partner of the University of Warwick Brass Society who are hosting this year's contest.
Years of experience in all areas of the music business give Prozone Music’s team the knowledge to guide you in the right direction when choosing your instrument or accessory.
Musical Instruments & Accessories
Sheet Music & Musical Giftware
For All Your Musical Needs
Mercer & Barker Ltd was created as a company and launched in the Autumn of 2019 and is the brainchild of Carl Mercer and George Barker, a collaboration of two Tuba players and friends striving to design, develop and create brass instrument mouthpieces of the highest quality using the best of British precision engineering.
Forton Music is dedicated to publishing music written and arranged for all musical groups. We offer a range of instrument specific music arranged and composed for ensembles of all sizes, and our music is played by ensembles worldwide. We have a large number of composers that we represent who work in all styles and genres. Many of our publications are now listed on various exam syllabi.
The Royal Marines Band Service is the musical wing of the Royal Navy and an independent element of the Royal Marines. It currently consists of five bands plus a training wing – the Royal Marines School of Music at HMS Nelson – and its headquarters is at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth.
Wessex Tubas was established by experienced British tuba player, Jonathan Hodgetts, in 2010, with the aim of bringing the pleasure of brass music making to the masses.
Having played most available mutes, Tony realised there was an opportunity for a more mellow timbre, that would be pleasing to listen to, whilst still clearly being a straight mute sound. Something to bridge the gulf between the edgy metallic mute and the softer fibre/wood sounds.
The Dirty Duck is hosting our social, and providing a space for participants throughout the day
Warwick Students Union have support in organisation and a venue for the social
We are extremely grateful to the Warwick Retired Staff Association's support for UniBrass 2024. The WRSA's support has helped keep the event affordable for participants and allowed us to deliver this fantastic event.
British Army Band Tidworth is comprised of musicians from The Royal Corps of Army Music and is one of 14 Regular Army Bands in the British Army. Based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, the band was formed in September 2019.
The band is one of two established brass bands in the British Army; the other brass band being based in Catterick Garrison. This year, the band are opening the results ceremony with a fanfare