The Organising Committee
UniBrass Organising Committee
The committee is responsible for organising and running the contest, both in public and behind the scenes. Without their hard work and dedication, UniBrass would not be able to run each year at all, let alone be the spectacular event that it is.
Angus Currie
Chair
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Raised in Macclesfield, Angus graduated from the University of Bristol in 2022 with a degree in Physics. He began playing in brass bands at age 8 and played Euphonium as a child with the Macclesfield Youth Brass Band, Foden's Youth Band and National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. He has also played with university bands at the University of Bristol (including as musical director of the Bristol University Brass Band) and at the University of Warwick, where he is currently completing a PhD in Analytical Science. Angus is the Chair of the organising committee for the 2024 UniBrass contest.
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Henry Austin
Treasurer
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Henry is a second year Economics student from Sussex who has been playing the trumpet and piano since the age of seven. Before University, he had the privilege of being the principal trumpet and brass section leader for his county's symphony orchestra and big band for a number of years. Brass banding (and the cornet!) is a new adventure for Henry which began at the Warwick University Brass Society freshers' week rehearsal. When he's not making music, Henry plays rugby union for his university and hometown.
James Silvester
General Secretary​
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James began playing the trumpet in primary school. During secondary school, he joined his local Music Centre’s brass band where he took up the cornet and had lots of fun there. He continued doing this all the way until the end of sixth form. Now, James is a BSc Economics student at the University of Warwick and a proud member of Brass Society.
Sidney Pycroft
Contest Secretary
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Sidney recently completed an MA in Early Modern History after a BA in History & Politics, both at the University of Warwick, He currently works at Warwick Students’ Union. He started playing the cornet in local youth and school bands 15 years ago. Thanks to the Brass Society and UniBrass he became a brass bander at university, having predominantly been a concert band player. His first UniBrass was Bangor 2020. He also plays the trumpet (and cornet) in the university Wind Orchestra, as well as the flugelhorn and has recently enjoyed learning the French Horn. Alongside working on campus and being involved in a variety of musical activities and societies he has also been heavily involved in the wider university community.
He was Librarian then twice Treasurer of the Brass Society, he then became Treasurer for UniBrass 2023. Organising UniBrass 2023 and working with the wider charity, including volunteering at UniBrass Band Camp makes him very excited to see how UniBrass grows in 2024 at Warwick.
Nick Godfrey
Contest Assistant
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Nick is in his third year of a four-year maths course (MMath) at the University of Warwick. He has been playing percussion since he was eight, and cornet since he was nine. At the beginning of the 2022/2023 academic year, he moved from 3rd cornet to soprano cornet in his university band, and has loved it ever since. He has been playing in brass bands for twelve years, although he had never participated in traditions like contests or Whit Friday before coming to university.
He was the concert manager, and is now the librarian/equipment manager, for the University of Warwick Brass Society. He has played in the last two Unibrasses, and is excited to be on the organising committee for the next one.
Rosie Barber
Marketing Manager
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Rosie is a second year Maths student at the University of Warwick. She started playing the trumpet when she was 10, playing in various bands in Brussels where she grew up. When she came to university, she joined the Brass Society playing cornet in the main band. This year, she has changed over to baritone horn and is learning the trombone in the Beginners Band ensemble. After loving her first UniBrass at Warwick in 2023 she decided to join the organising committee for 2024 and is looking forward to getting the word out about how exciting this amazing contest is.
Ruyi Wang
Accomodation and Logistics Coordinator
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Ruyi is a first-year student who unexpectedly discovered brass banding only upon entering university. Passionate about music, she has actively participated in school choirs and orchestras. Despite her lack of experience with brass, Ruyi is excited to have been welcomed as a percussionist in the brass society. She is currently absorbing knowledge from all aspects of brass banding and is motivated to persistently pursue this collective musical journey within the brass banding community.
Emily Fawthrop
Social Secretary
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Emily is a psychology graduate originally from Leeds. She’s been involved in brass banding since the age of 12, starting off in a Wakefield brass band on tenor horn. Since then, she’s played horn (and been President) in Warwick BrassSoc, played trumpet/flugel in Warwick University Symphonic Brass and is currently playing with the Shirley band on solo horn. She was involved in the UniBrass organising committee last year as Outreach Officer and is excited to be on the committee again. She’s loved University brass banding and loves spending time with brass banders across the country, so she’s looking forward to organising the social this year!
Louis Snow
Creative Coordinator
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Louis is a Warwick University graduate, having studied Maths and Physics for 3 years. He's been playing the tuba since he was 16, and has been heavily involved with the university brass band since joining in his second year. After a year as the society's Marketing Manager, he's staying connected with brass banding culture through UniBrass.
After performing in two UniBrass contests, he's looking forward to going behind the scenes and working to help put it all together again.
Ellie Williams
Volunteers Coordinator
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Ellie is a second year Maths and Physics student at the University of Warwick. Originally from the Brecon Beacons, Ellie grew up a singer and double reed player, performing with and helping to run a wide variety of choirs and orchestras over the years. She was introduced to the world of brass banding in her first year after volunteering at the UniBrass 2023 contest. Ellie now plays Baritone in the University of Warwick Brass Society’s main band, and loves every second of it! She is also trying out Euphonium in the beginners’ brass ensemble when her degree allows for the time off. After loving the last contest, she’s very excited about being on the 2024 organising committee and helping to run the contest this year, as well as performing at UniBrass for the first time.
Alice Buist
Marketing Assistant
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Alice is a first year Maths student at the University of Warwick. She started learning the bugle and snare drum at age eight when she joined a local marching band, and started learning the trumpet when she started secondary school. At the end of 2019 she joined a brass band playing 2nd cornet and has enjoyed brass banding since then. After attending the UniBrass Band Camp over summer, she joined the Brass Society at Warwick on solo cornet and decided to join the 2024 UniBrass organising committee to spread her love for brass banding with others.
