UniBrass Foundation announces 2026 Adjudicator team
- sidneypycroft
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
The UniBrass Foundation is excited to publicly announce the four-person adjudicator team for the 2026 Contest hosted on Saturday 14th February 2026 at the ICC Wales, Newport!
Tickets can be purchased via bit.ly/unibrass2026 or if you cannot make it in-person, stream passes can be purchased from unibrass.co.uk/watch
The Shield Section will be judged by the fabulous Lauren Chinn and Chris Thomas!
Lauren Chinn is a brass performer and educator with over a decade of experience at the highest level of banding and youth music education. She has been a member of Flowers Band since 2015, during the band’s most successful period, including their National Championships victory in 2024. Now holding the Flugelhorn seat, she has established a strong reputation as a soloist, features on the band’s latest CD, and was awarded Best Flugelhorn at the 2024 Brass in Concert Championships.
In addition to performing, Lauren is part of the band’s creative team, contributing to the design and delivery of their Brass in Concert programmes. A former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, she now serves on its pastoral team, supporting and nurturing the next generation of brass musicians.
Joining Lauren will be acclaimed trombonist Chris Thomas.
Chris started playing at the age of eleven, and following initial tuition from Mr Richard Nash and a brief spell in The Tredegar Junior Band, Chris was appointed principal trombone of the Sun Life Band at the age of seventeen. A period of travel that took him all over the world saw him forge a reputation as one of the finest amateur performers of his generation. He has presented masterclasses and performed in concert halls as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Japan and throughout Europe. In addition, he has performed as featured soloist at the National Brass Band Championships Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In July 2000, Chris was appointed principal trombone of the Cory Band and, with them, has amassed a total of four National Championships wins, seven British Open wins, and six European Championship wins. Chris joined Flowers Band in January of 2024 and is looking forward to his 30th European Brass Band Championship appearance in April!
Lauren and Chris will be judging all the bands performing in the 2026 Shield Section.
Shield Section
Bangor University Brass Band
Cambridge University Brass Band
Keele University Brass Band
Nottingham University Brass Band (Defending Best March)
Liverpool University Brass Band
UWE Brass Band
University of York Brass Band (2025 Trophy Audience Award)
Lancaster University Brass Band
Cardiff University Brass Band (Defending 2025 Shield Audience Award)
University of Bath Brass Band (Defending Best Percussion)
Leeds, Leeds Beckett, and Leeds Conservatoire Brass Band
Newcastle University Brass Band
The Trophy Section will be judged by the esteemed Paul Holland and Tracey Redfern!
Tracey Redfern was born in Stirling, Scotland, and began her musical education at the Music School of Douglas Academy in Milngavie, Glasgow. She studied of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma, BMus (Hons) and a Professional Performers Diploma.
As a soloist, Tracey has performed with Manchester Camerata, the Northern Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Camerata Scotland. Tracey is currently principal trumpet with the Northern Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and the Northern Ballet Sinfonia.
In the 1990’s Tracey played soprano cornet with the Fodens band, winning various competitions during that time, including the National Championship,s which was a particular banding highlight. She has been guest soloist and cornet tutor with the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland and, more recently, a tutor with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, of which she is a former member.
Joining Tracey is Paul Holland, current MD of the Flowers Band!
Based in Gloucester and originally from South Wales, Paul Holland is one of Europe’s most respected and in-demand brass band conductors and adjudicators.
As a performer, Paul enjoyed significant success with the Black Dyke Band and was part of the historic “Grand Slam” winning team that simultaneously held the European, British Open, and National titles. During his music studies at Huddersfield University, Paul also performed with elite bands including YBS, Brighouse & Rastrick, Grimethorpe, and Foden’s.
He is currently the full-time Musical Director of the Flowers Band and the Woodfalls Band and serves as Professional MD with Brass Band Schoonhoven (Netherlands), Tertnes Brass (Norway), and Wallberg Band (Switzerland).
As an adjudicator, Paul maintains a busy and prestigious schedule. He has judged at the highest level across Europe, including the British Open, Spring Festival, National Championships of Great Britain, SIDDIS (Norway), Swiss Open, French Nationals, Butlin’s Mineworkers, and events in Denmark, Lithuania, and beyond.
In recognition of his contributions to the brass band world, Paul was awarded the Iles Medal in 2025.
Lauren and Chris will be judging all the bands performing in the 2026 Trophy Section.
Trophy Section
Huddersfield University Brass Band (Defending Best Solo/Feature and Spirit of UniBrass Award)
Royal Holloway Brass Band (Defending Most Innovative Programme & Best Percussion)
Oxford University Brass Band (Defending Most Entertaining & Best Student Conductor & Best Student Composition or Arrangement)
University of Warwick Brass Society
Southampton University Brass Band
The University of Manchester, Salford University, and Manchester Metropolitan University Brass Band
University of Chichester Brass Band
Bristol University Brass Band (2025 Shield Most Innovative Programme & Best Student Conductor)
University of Birmingham Music Society Brass Band (Defending Trophy Champions & Best March)
The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University Brass Band (2025 Shield Champions & Most Entertaining & Best Solo/Feature)
Durham University Brass Band
Get YOUR tickets now! We look forward to welcoming you to the ICC Wales, Newport, on Saturday 14th February 2026!
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