The most exciting event for BrassSoc in 2023 is UniBrass. We are fortunate enough to be given the opportunity this academic year to host the biggest contest in British University Brass Banding at our very own university, specifically in the fantastic venue that is the Warwick Arts Centre.
Organising this years contest is the organising committee, formed from volunteer members of BrassSoc!
The Organising Committee
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James Everitt - Chair
James is maths PhD student at the University of Warwick, having completed an MMath at Durham University. He is a cornet player, who was introduced to brass bands at the age of 7 by the Wigan Music Service. He started with the Wigan Schools Beginner Brass Band, later progressing to play with the Wigan Youth Brass Band and the Greater Manchester Youth Brass Band. As an undergraduate, James played with Durham University Brass Band and the Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band. He was President and Co-President of Durham University Brass Band’s executive committee. James now plays for the University of Warwick Brass Band and has been a Beginners Brass Coordinator for 2021/22. He has been to every UniBrass since 2017 and is very excited to be chairing the 2023 Organising Committee for the contest’s return to Warwick.
Sidney Pycroft - Treasurer
Sidney is studying for an MA in Early Modern History at the University of Warwick, having previously studied History & Politics there. He started playing the cornet in year 4 in a range of local youth and school bands. Having predominantly played in wind bands it was at university that he became immersed in brass bands, in large part thanks to the Brass Society and UniBrass. He has been Librarian and then Treasurer of Warwick Brass Society. He has also recently begun to dabble in the flugelhorn.
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Louisa Armitage - General Secretary
Louisa is a third year Classical Civilisations student. She started her musical life out on the French Horn, which she has been playing since she was seven years old, and has played in a variety of Orchestra’s, Wind ensembles and Symphonic Brass groups. Before joining The University of Warwick Brass Society in September 2020, she had very little experience of brass banding, something which has very swiftly become a passion and she is excited to be further involved university brass banding.
Finn Faria - Contest Secretary
Finn is a fourth-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering student from London. He originally started learning trumpet/cornet as part of a whole-class teaching scheme when he was 10, and continued throughout his teens, playing in various ensembles with his local Redbridge Music Service. These included the symphony orchestra, jazz orchestra, wind band, brass band and brass quintet.
Although he has generally preferred symphonic trumpet playing (recently coordinating the university’s dectet), his fondness of brass banding has grown since joining university. He has enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the group, and the opportunity to play principal cornet over the last year. He can’t wait to get more involved in brass banding as Contest Secretary for UniBrass 2023.
Emma Davey - Marketing Manager
Emma is a final year Biomedical Systems Engineering student, and a cornet player. Having wanted to learn another instrument, she joined her local brass band aged 12 and has not looked back since! Whilst at Warwick University, she has been heavily involved with their brass society – as concert manager in 2020/21, and president in 2021/22.
Emma is looking forward to getting the word out about UniBrass at Warwick, and making sure everyone knows about the best brass banding contest (she may be slightly biased…)!
Daniel Robins - Volunteer Coordinator
Daniel is in his third year studying Physics with Astrophysics and has been playing tenor horn since the age of nine. From Tamworth in Staffordshire, he joined Amington Band and loved the variety of places and people that playing in a Brass Band reveals, which has continued with the University of Warwick Brass Band. He finds the build-up to every contest very exciting, so is looking forward to helping organise UniBrass 2023. He also enjoys stargazing and underwater hockey and is learning to scuba dive.
Lily Geering - Welfare and Inclusions Officer
Lily is a theatre student and has been involved in brass banding for over 10 years – she has been playing the trumpet for the same amount of time, and also took up the euphonium five years ago for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. She currently plays baritone in the University of Warwick Brass Society. Although Lily has only experienced one UniBrass competition, she is very excited to have the opportunity to be on the committee for 2023 as the Welfare and Inclusions Officer.
Emily Fawthrop - Outreach Officer
Emily is a third year BSc Psychology student from Leeds. She tried trombone at 8, then swapped to tenor horn at 10 and hasn’t looked back. Since then, she played solo horn with her local band (Lofthouse Band) in Yorkshire, qualifying twice for Nationals, and recording a solo and composition for a CD. She’s also auditioned for the likes of Black Dyke, depped for the Shirley band, played solo horn for the National Universities Brass Band and played 1st percussion for the National finals in 2021. At University, she co-runs the beginners and intermediates brass groups. She plays solo horn for Warwick Brass Band and trumpet/flugel in the University auditioned brass dectet. She’s also played in show pit bands. She loves involving people in brass banding so is keen to lead outreach for UniBrass!
Karolina Klimczak - Creative Coordinator
Karolina is a third-year Mathematics student at the University of Warwick, originally from London. She began her musical journey on the piano at the age of 10 for about six years. She also briefly played the guitar for about two years. When she came to university, she got interested in brass bands because of her flatmate who’s in the University of Warwick brass band. After many conversations about the society and brass, she decided to join the beginners brass group and is learning the cornet. She participated in UniBrass 2021 as a volunteer and now she is very excited to be part of the Warwick organising committee. Karolina is looking forward to the competition and all the performances.
Tom Bicknell - Social Secretary
Tom is a third year History undergrad at Warwick. Originally from Hampshire, he is an avid F1 watcher and Coventry City FC fan. He began playing trumpet at age 8, playing in school bands in both Australia and England. Having played in the Hampshire County Youth Band system for four years, Tom joined Warwick Brass in his first year and was their Social Secretary for 2020/21.
Peter Langmack - Accommodation and Logistics Coordinator
Peter is a third year MChem student and has been playing the Tuba for 9 years, but only joined a brass band for the first time two years ago! He’s had a lot of other music experience including four years with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra (with three years in their upper band) and the National Schools Symphony Orchestra Symphonia for three years. He’s also competed in multiple Pro Corda and NCBF competitions. He’s been to two UniBrass contests, the first being the Sheffield 2021 contest. Peter’s excited to get further involved with UniBrass and can’t wait to undertake this exciting opportunity!
Anna Ruddock - Accommodation and Logistics Assistant
Anna is a fourth year Maths student, originally from Cardiff. She played clarinet for nine years, mostly in wind bands, but brass banding always seemed a lot of fun, so when she came to Warwick, she started learning tenor horn in the beginners’ brass ensemble.
Since then, she’s joined the main band, while remaining involved with the University of Warwick Wind orchestra as Librarian and President of its executive committee. Anna hasn’t been to UniBrass before, but went to BandCamp in 2022 and loved it, and is excited to help run the event this year.
(UniBrass, The Organising Committee, 2022)