2021 UniBrass Championships
Although there were many challenges to overcome for the UniBrass Foundation and University of Sheffield organisers, the event proved to be a fine success. The contest format was a unique hybrid of one virtual and eight live performances, that took place in the open air near the University of Sheffield Students' Union Building.
Congratulations are deserved for overall winners, Durham University, although the University of Nottingham certainly ran them very close, losing out only because of the deduction of 4 penalty points for going over the 21minute time limit. Durham University Band also claimed the ‘Best Entertainment’, ‘Best Percussion’ and ‘Best Student Conductor Prizes.’ The band was clearly delighted issuing the following statement on their social media account: "We've only gone and won it! Overall 1st place! Most Entertaining! Best Percussion! Best Student Conductor! Well done to everyone in the band especially to Martin Davies for his 'diamond' performance winning the 'Best Percussion' section as a one-man section! Louisa and Thomas stunned the audience with their amazing acting and to Saffie for the fabulous time machine! And last but definitely not least, our fabulous conductor Thomas Hicken, who won 'Best Student Conductor." The audience and adjudicators Alex Kenyon and Adam Cooke were equally delighted by the band’s programme which included: the march ‘Barnard Castle’, Gregson’s ‘Laudate Dominum’, ‘Sandpaper Ballet’, which gave the lone percussionist another chance to shine, before finishing with music from the film ‘Back to the Future’.
Commenting on the undoubted success of the event, UniBrass Foundation trustee, Andy Straiton said: "We are absolutely delighted to have put on a fantastic day in Sheffield. As the first 'in person' UK brass band contest in over 15 months we have faced numerous challenges in making this happen, and it is testament to the hard work of all involved in UniBrass and the bands that perform that we had a covid safe and thoroughly enjoyable day and we as an organisation are immensely proud."
Results:
Musicality/Entertainment
Musicality takes precedence over entertainment in event of a tie.
Live Performance Section:
1. Durham University (Thomas Hicken): 90/48 = 138
2. University of Nottingham (Kieren Williams): 95/46 = 137*
3. University of Huddersfield (Jonathan Beatty): 94/45 = 137**
4. University of York (Sabrina Duxbury): 88/47 =135
5. University Warwick Brass Society (Matt Jackman): 89/43 = 132
6. University of Sheffield (Theo Letts): 87/42 = 129
7. Cambridge University (Josh de Gromoboy): 84/40 = 124
8. Leeds University Union (James T Heaton): 86/41 -4 =123
* incurred a 4 point time penalty
** incurred a 2 point time penalty
Virtual Performance Section:
1. Bristol University Brass Band (Angus Currie)
Overall Awards:
Most Entertaining: University of Durham
Best March: University of Huddersfield
Best Student Conductor: University of Durham
Best Soloist: Emily Roberts (flugel) — University of York
Best Percussion: University of Durham
Best Section: Cornet section of University of Nottingham
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