UniBrass
Congratulations to The University of Birmingham Music Society brass band on successfully defending the UniBrass Trophy as well as the University of Nottingham band on winning a first UniBrass Shield title. The 2026 UniBrass, Contest was a fabulous event, held this year at the ICC in Newport, Wales. In addition to the high quality competitive performances across the two-sections, there was also a spectacular Gala concert featuring Louis Dowdeswell as guest soloist and a gem of a performance from the South Wales Youth Band slotted in just ahead of the results. The crowd was highly appreciative and supportive of each other’s efforts all day, but the true ethos of the event was summed up when the main auditorium filled up for the results and went wild for the youth band’s programme. As the competitors cheered, sang along and even got up to dance, it left many people wondering why this isn’t the case at every band competition. UniBrass really captured the spirit of the occasion and certainly sets an aspirational benchmark for the rest of the movement. Congratulations to all involved.
Results:
Trophy Section:
Adjudicators: Paul Holland; Tracey Redfearn
Music/Entertainment = Total
1. University of Birmingham Music Society (Steve Kane): 97/40 = 137
2. Huddersfield University (Jonathan Beatty): 93/43 = 136
3. University of Sheffield, and Sheffield Hallam University (Chris Oddy): 92/42 = 134
4. Oxford University (Esme Harper/Felix Thomson): 89/41 = 130
5. University of Warwick Brass Society (Tom Stoneman): 83/44 = 127
6. University of Manchester, Salford University, and Manchester Metropolitan University (Harry Bennett): 85/45 = 126*
7. Durham University (Tomos Haines): 85/37 = 122
8. University of Chichester (Emma Button): 84/35 = 119**
9. Royal Holloway (Jams Begg): 81/38 = 119
10. Southampton University (Kevin Smith): 82/36 = 118
11. Bristol University (Ed Cheung): 80/34 = 114
*5 point time penalty
**Music element takes precedence
Most Entertaining Band: University of Manchester, Salford University, and Manchester Metropolitan University
Best Student Conductor: Harrison Bennett (University of Manchester, Salford University, and Manchester Metropolitan University)
Best Soloist: William France (euphonium) — University of Sheffield, and Sheffield Hallam University
Best March: University of Birmingham Music Society
Best Percussion Section: Huddersfield University
Most Innovative Programme: Oxford University
Shield Section:
Adjudicators: Lauren Chinn; Chris Thomas
Start: 10.30am
1. Nottingham University (Pawel Nieweglowski/Ella Fletcher): 90/47 = 137
2. Leeds, Leeds Beckett, and Leeds Conservatoire (James Kinley): 88/48 = 136
3. Bangor University (Abigail Grant): 83/45 = 128
4. Lancaster University (Madeleine Hales/Charlie Wood): 81/43 = 124
5. UWE (Anri Adachi): 82/40 = 122
6. University of York (Neo Borgia): 80/41 = 117*
7. Keele University (Joe Capstick): 77/39 = 116
8. Cambridge University (William Brawn): 79/35 = 114
9. Cardiff University (Lia Teague/Owen McCarthy): 74/34 = 108
10. University of Bath (Emma Mowat/Calvin Hesse): 75/32 = 106**
11. Newcastle University (Abs Crompton): 70/33 = 103
*4 point time penalty
** 1 point time penalty
Most Entertaining Band: Leeds, Leeds Beckett, and Leeds Conservatoire
Best Student Conductor: Abigail Grant (Bangor University)
Best Soloist: Michael A Jennings (bass trombone) — Nottingham University
Best March: Nottingham University
Best Percussion Section: UWE
Most Innovative Programme: Leeds, Leeds Beckett, and Leeds Conservatoire
Overall Awards:
Best Student Composition of Arrangement: Esme Harper (University of Oxford) ‘London Calling’
Spirit of UniBrass Award: Ilya Ruchiev
