EUBB is first university band to sign up with SBBA

Friday 9 October 2020

SBBA extends a warm welcome to its latest member band. The Edinburgh University Brass Band, which was founded 15 years ago, is the first university band to join our organisation.

Membership of the EUBB, which has registered as a non-contesting band, is made up of mainly students, graduates and university staff. Numbers fluctuate with each new academic year but usually hover around the 40 mark. Following five successful years under the expert baton of conductor Ondřej Soukup, the band will be bringing a new musical director on board when rehearsals can resume.

A typical year’s activities – when not affected by Coronavirus lockdown measures – include winter and spring concerts and a social weekend away at which members rent out a hostel and spend their time being band geeks – holding Brassed Off! movie parties, card games and quizzes.

“We also do carolling beside the Christmas markets on Princes Street a couple of times a week through December, and get hired for a few carolling gigs for private gardens,” said Eilidh MacLachlan who plays baritone.

“We travel to Whit Friday every year, either to watch or participate. And we link up with other music societies in the university for joint rehearsals.”

During the COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings, the players stay connected through a Facebook page and group chat where members share brass band related content and have general discussions and also where the committee posts updates and information.

“During the summer, we’ve been attending our ‘virtual pub’ on a Friday, a really enjoyable routine for so many of us for so long!” Eilidh continued. “We log on to the chat, whether there are five or 50 of us, and talk about anything and everything, just like we would in the pub.”

EUBB has completed several virtual video performances over the summer, including Imperial March, Punchinello, Singing in the Rain and Floral Dance, and these are available on the band’s Facebook page.

Eilidh added: “At the moment the main focus of the band is keeping players connected more than keeping their lip in. Many players live in rented flats with thin walls and neighbours don’t like them practising at home so, for the time being, we’re concentrating on the social side of banding!”

There is some early speculation surrounding a potential project that would go out on the band’s social media in place of their traditional winter concert, adding to their many online performances which you can see on their Facebook page.