Oriel students help Oxford to joint-best finish at University Brass Band Championships

Esme Harper and Felix Thomson conducted Oxford University to their joint-highest finish at the University Brass Band Championships. 

The pair both study Music and helped their band to a fourth-placed finish at UniBrass, the annual contest for university brass bands for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The group also won the Most Innovative Set Award for their telling of Freddie Mercury’s life in honour of what would have been his 80th birthday this year.

Oxford University’s brass band marked their 20th anniversary last year and the group’s placing at UniBrass 2026 reflects an improvement in results at the competition. 

“It’s fantastic to see how far the band has come in that time,” said conductor Harper. 

“We’ve smashed record ticket sales and it’s been fantastic to have some of that success be acknowledged on the national stage at UniBrass.” 

Thomson is Oxford brass band’s assistant conductor and has been a part of the group for the last year and a half.  

“It can be stressful if you’re underprepared, but if you’re well prepared, I think it is a very rewarding thing,” he said. 

“To stand up there, knowing a piece back to front, knowing exactly where to look, who to look at, how to be expressive, and try to draw the best out of your players is a very, very rewarding experience.” 

Harper had another reason to celebrate in Newport. She won the Best Student Composition or Arrangement Award with ‘London Calling’, which is an orchestral march by Eric Coates.  

“It was fantastic,” said Harper.  

“There are a lot of student composers out there at other universities and to be singled out among them is really quite an honour.

“To be able to select a piece of music, to have a vision of how you want it to be played, how you want that to be achieved, and then to go out there and deliver that is fantastically rewarding on a personal level.” 

The next two editions of UniBrass are set to be memorable for Oxford, with the 2027 and 2028 instalments being held in the city.  

“We’re very, very excited to host it here to show other banders our wonderful city,” said Thomson. 

“I’m sure a great many of them will be excited to see Oxford. It’s going to be a wonderful competition.”