UniBrass is the University Brass Band Championship of Great Britain. Held annually, it is run by students for students. Every year university bands compete against each other to win the prestigious title of UniBrass Trophy Champion or UniBrass Shield Champion. UniBrass is an entertainment contest, with bands judged on both their musical ability and how entertaining they are. The only event of its kind in the world, UniBrass forges strong links between universities whilst keeping young brass musicians involved in live music. The contest is usually held in February to fit in with the typical university and brass banding calendar, and the host university is awarded via a bidding process. Since the first contest in 2011, the contest has travelled across the country, visiting Lancaster, Warwick, York, and Bangor and will now be hosted by the University of Sheffield for the 2021 contest.
Unfortunately, due to the current Covid-19 situation, the majority of university brass bands are very limited by their respective university’s rules and are unable to rehearse. These restrictions, along with the current uncertainty associated with the second-wave of the pandemic, have forced the UniBrass Organising Committee and Foundation trustees to make the decision that it would not be fair or feasible to hold the contest in February. The intention is to reschedule the contest for a date towards the end of the academic year, in the summer (such as June time). The rescheduled contest will still be held at the University of Sheffield, but the date is not yet determined as the Organising Committee are asking each of the bands to provide their university term and exam dates in order to find a date that suits as many bands as possible. We are also investigating the possibilities of a special project for release on the original contest date, more details on which will be released in due course. For the latest updates check out our website www.unibrass.co.uk/2021 or social media accounts @unibrass