University News Last updated 10 April 2024
RBC鈥檚 annual Brass Prize competition is open to all second-year and above Brass students.聽This year, there were 13 entrants, and five finalists were selected after a competitive preliminary round.聽
The five finalists were: Sam Franks (trombone), Anabel Voigt (tenor horn), Jhih-Yi Chang (French horn), Carl Davis (trombone) and Morgan Hart (tuba).
The competition final took place in the Bradshaw Hall on Monday 8 April, and all five soloists performed with accompanist Jo Sealey.聽 The competition adjudicator was Tim Thorpe, who is Principal Horn of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Tim gave the prize to fourth-year trombone student Carl Davis, who wowed the audience with his rendition of Florian Magnus Maier鈥檚 鈥楽lipstream鈥� for trombone and loop station.聽He also delivered a sensitive performance of Ropartz鈥檚 鈥楶iece in EbMinor鈥�, before finishing his programme with Arthur Pryor鈥檚 virtuosic 鈥楾houghts of Love鈥�.
RBC Head of Brass Ed Jones said:聽鈥淗uge congratulations to Carl on winning this year鈥檚 RBC Brass Prize.聽He delivered his eclectic programme with real virtuosity and professionalism.聽 The level of performance during the final was incredibly high, and all five finalists should be proud of their efforts.鈥�
Pictured: (l-r) Sam Franks, Jhih-Yi Chang, Morgan Hart, Anabel Voigt, Carl Davis and adjudicator Tim Thorpe.