Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome anyone who plays a traditional brass band instrument: cornet, soprano cornet, flugelhorn, tenor horn, euphonium, baritone, trombone (tenor and bass) and tuba (E^b and B^b), as well as percussion players (kit, tuned, and timpani). We are also open to any trumpet players.

Unfortunately, we cannot take French horn players in UYBB, since finding brass band music that covers French horn isn’t possible. However, our friends at Concert Band or Concert Orchestra would be very happy to have you along!

If you are a conductor, there is an opportunity to audition to be our conductor at the end of the academic year. Find out more here.

We welcome people of all abilities to come and try brass band out. You don’t need to audition to join us. Our players study all different subjects and most of the music students among our ranks aren’t playing their first study instrument in band!

We also send out music so you have a chance to practice at home.

We play a wide variety of pieces. We generally try to have a theme for UniBrass and our concerts, but we also try different pieces throughout the year. We play a lot of concert music, film music, test pieces and marches, as well as Christmas music at the appropriate point in the year!

If you have suggestions for pieces, we are happy to try them! We have a very extensive music library for a uni band, which has been populated over the years by our members’ suggestions.

Unfortunately, we aren’t in a position to teach new players within the band. However, the Music Society provides a number of opportunities to receive instrumental lessons. Find out more and get in contact with the Music Society here.

We know that some freshers are currently playing on an instrument belonging to their home band or local music service which they won’t be able to bring to uni. We don’t have a huge budget for instrument purchases but we do have a small number of band-owned instruments you may be able to borrow from, subject to availability. We can also help you explore the possibility of hiring an instrument locally. Get in contact with the committee and we can discuss the options.

If you’re a percussionist, we have you covered! We own or have access to a full set of percussion instruments including kit, marching drums, tuned, and timpani.

We have a large range of socials throughout the year including games nights, three-legged bar crawls, club nights and film nights. Our Social Secs try to make sure there is something for everyone! Each Sunday we go to the Vanbrugh JCR for a chill after rehearsal.

We attend UniBrass each year. UniBrass is the University Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. It is an entertainment contest with two sections. We have recently performed very well there, placing 2nd in the Shield Section and winning Best March in 2022, and placing 6th in the Trophy section with the Best Student Conductor Award in 2023.

We also participate in the Whit Friday Marches each year – a fun, yearly event, where several villages in Greater Manchester run their own mini-competitions that are attended by bands from across the country! It’s a brilliant afternoon, spanning into the evening, of playing, marching and optional drinking.

We always welcome enquiries to hire the band, whether for a university event or something happening in the wider community. We have a wide range of repertoire including concert pieces, marches and Christmas carols. We have previously played at award ceremonies, church services, and even at York RLFC matches, to name a few examples. Although we usually play as a full band, our members can also perform in smaller groups of five or more players.

Our availability is generally restricted to university term time, however we may be able to provide a small group of musicians for events which fall within the holiday periods.

Please send us an email with your requirements.

Friends of band members, UYBB alumni, and other players visiting the university are welcome to join our rehearsal at the discretion of the Chair and Conductor. Please email us at least three days before rehearsal.