Bristol University Brass Band achieve success at UniBrass but student music remains under threat

By Megan Foulk, Co-Deputy Music Editor

For those involved in the brass banding community, UniBrass is the biggest event in the student music calendar. Welcoming over 800 students to a host university, university brass bands from across England and Wales compete within two sections for a chance to win the UniBrass trophy. 

Dedicated to supporting the growth of brass band communities at a time when young musicians are most likely to stop performing, the UniBrass Foundation and contest is essential in encouraging brass players and percussionists to come together and keep playing.

This year, UniBrass was hosted on the 15th of February at Cardiff University. 

Less than three weeks prior to the event, Cardiff University announced plans to close their music department due to cuts in funding. 

Operating in a deficit of £31.2 million in 2023/24, as reported by The Guardian, Cardiff University plan to cut 400 staff, axing music, modern languages, theology, religion, ancient history and nursing degrees, in attempt to save money.

With only Cardiff University and Bangor University currently offering BA music degrees in Wales, the loss of Cardiff’s music department will leave Welsh students with only one location option for studying within the border.

The result of a number of contributing factors, including changes to UK visa rules reducing international student intake, and a lack of government support for arts funding – instead favouring STEM subjects – the threat to music in higher education is not isolated to Cardiff.

The University of Huddersfield Brass Band – who have consistently achieved success at the UniBrass contest, placing second in the Trophy section this year – are also fighting cuts to their budget, with financial support being retracted by the university’s music department.

Speaking with Epigram, Vice President of Huddersfield Music Society Fin Coupe said:

‘Over the summer the university music department informed us they would no longer be subsidising our travel costs and conductor’s wages. As a result, we created a separate Huddersfield Brass Band Society, endorsed by the student union, and started fundraising via concerts and carolling so that we could continue to compete at UniBrass.’

At the forefront of this initiative was President of the Music Society, Jacob Hickson, who claimed the Spirit of UniBrass award for his commitment to university brass banding, as well as winning Best Soloist in the Trophy section.

Impossible to ignore despite the success and enjoyment of the weekend, support in fighting Cardiff University’s decision was offered by a number of spokespersons across the contest, including:

Adjudicator Mark Wilson, Principal Cornet of Foden’s Brass Band, Cardiff SU President Madison Hutchinson, Chair of UniBrass Organising Committee Ianto Williams, and Gala Concert performers Llareggub Brass Band, who hail from North Wales.

Collecting their second place trophy in the Shield section, Cardiff University Brass Band’s representative paused to shout down the microphone ‘Save our music department!’, with the university’s Welsh dragon mascot proudly in hand.

A hugely successful contest for the University of Bristol Brass Band, the non-auditioned Bristol University Music Society (BUMS) ensemble placed 3rd in the Shield section and took home two additional awards. Firstly for Most Innovative Programme and secondly for Best Student Conductor, which was awarded to Jake Wingfield, a Second Year Music student.

Manager Esther Riddy & Conductor Jake Wingfield | Grace Whillis

Whilst always an enjoyable and entertaining weekend, this year the undertone of the contest’s fragile setting couldn’t help but be felt by participating students. Moving location every two years, having been hosted at Warwick University in 2023 and 2024, it was impossible not to contemplate if Cardiff would continue to host UniBrass in 2026.

Warming up for performances in the rehearsal spaces of Cardiff University Music Department, there felt a certain irony that the department might soon cease to exist.

Out of the twenty-six student musicians that performed for Bristol on Saturday, just two study Music at the university. Yet, the band rehearse in the Victoria Rooms, the university’s music department, and are parented by Bristol University Music Society (BUMS), who are equally endorsed by the university’s music department. 

Closing university music departments doesn’t just limit opportunities for prospective students studying music at higher education level, it inhibits opportunities for music across the entire student body.

As the University of Bristol prepare to implement new course programme rules for the 2026 undergraduate intake, whereby modules of less than twelve enrolled students can no longer run, the arts continue to be squeezed until they risk existence at all.

With just eighteen first years currently enrolled in UoB’s undergraduate music degree, the introduction of a fully compulsory degree with no variation in module options will now become a reality.

University of Bristol Brass Band @ UniBrass | Grace Whillis

A decision that will trickle down, dissuading prospective students from applying for undergraduate arts degrees at Bristol and ultimately phasing degree programmes out of existence, cuts like those experienced by Cardiff University are not so very far from Bristol’s own reach.

As student music continues to be threatened nationwide, events like UniBrass highlight the importance of music in fostering community and the necessity in protecting and supporting music at a student level. 

Whether you are a music student, a student musician, or a regular attendee of live music events run by students in Bristol and across the UK every week, music’s seat as a subject at the higher education table deserves to be protected. 

You can sign the petition to save Cardiff University’s Music Department here.

Support the University of Bristol Brass Band in concert on the 13th March.

Featured Image: Leonie Bottomley

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