Now we’ve met all of Committee it’s time to meet this years Conductors! These are some more friendly faces for you to look out for in Fresher’s week who will help you settle into the society and the ensembles. First up we meet this years Brass Band’s Conductors who this year are Alex Hardgrave and Henry Lay
Alex Hardgrave
Degree: PhD Biomedicine
Instrument: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piano
Ensembles: Brass Band, Wind Band, (Small Groups: Inglourious Brassterds, Dance Band, Oompah)
About Alex
I’m Alex, and I’m really looking forward to being one of the Brass Band conductors this year! I joined ULMS way back at the start of my undergraduate degree here at Lancaster in 2013, when it feels like a lot of the current members were still in primary school! I’ve been in the Brass and Wind Bands ever since, and have also been in the Big Band a few years. Aside from main ensembles, I’ve been in many small groups ranging from Dance Band to a Robbie Williams tribute band! I’ve been involved in musical theatre a lot during my time here, MDing and playing in lots of pit bands, such as Fame, West Side Story, and last year’s collab Hairspray. Outside of ULMS I’m studying for a PhD in Biomedical and Life Sciences, specifically in Immunology.
Henry Lay
Degree: Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology
Year: 4
Instruments: Trumpet/Cornet
Ensembles: Big, Brass, Wind and Choir (Small Groups: Dance, Oompah and Inglorious Brassards)
About Henry
Hi, I’m Henry and I’m going into the fourth year of my Physics degree. I play trumpet with the Wind and Big bands as well as a selection of our smaller groups and I sing with the choir. Last year I played principle cornet with the Brass Band and I’m hugely excited to be conducting them next year. As you can probably already tell ULMS has somewhat taken over my life in the last few years but when I’m not at a rehearsal, meeting or social I occasionally fit in doing some of my degree or going for a run.
Brass is one of the bigger ensembles in ULMS and it has a fantastic balance between working hard on our music but enjoying ourselves as we do. Our trips to Unibrass and Whit Friday each year really exemplify this balance. I’m really looking forward to continuing that next year by working the band nice and hard whilst hopefully not annoying anyone too much! I hope everyone else is as excited for next year as me!