Student musicians at the University of Huddersfield are top of the brass!

For the second year running they have carried off the increasingly prestigious UniBrass trophy, beating bands from 14 universities throughout the country.

After performing a varied and demanding programme, the University of Huddersfield Brass Band was awarded 133 points, pushing the bands of Manchester and York universities into second and third place. There were 15 entrants overall at the contest, which took place in Warwick.

Conductor Jonathan Beatty, one of the team of brass tutors at the University of Huddersfield, was delighted that the band retained the top spot it earned in 2013.

UniBrass – or the University Brass Band Championships of Great Britain – was established in 2011 and in the first two years of the contest, the Huddersfield band came second in the overall rankings, scoring its first victory last year.

“The standard in UniBrass is definitely rising. There were more entries than ever this year and to win again was an excellent achievement which shows how we successful we are as a university department,” said Mr Beatty, who is himself a leading trombonist.

The University of Huddersfield Brass Brand is regularly coached by the Head of Brass and Woodwind, Philip McCann, a globally-renowned cornet player.

The band’s 2014 UniBrass programme included the new work Momentum, by Ben Hollings, a composition student and a tenor horn player with the band.

“It’s a great opener, with big chords and exciting rhythms, “said Mr Beatty.

The band also played Leoncavallo’s On with the Motley, from the opera Pagliacci, The Melody Shop by Carl King and Fire in the Blood by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, a tribute to the musical heritage of the Salvation Army.

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