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Durham University Concert Band is a non-auditioned ensemble open to all woodwind, brass and percussion players. We aim to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, while at the same time playing music to an excellent standard. We have played concerts in Elvet Methodist Church, Castle Great Hall and Durham Cathedral, as well as competing at the annual National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) where we consistently achieve the Gold and even the top Platinum award. We will return to compete again this year and will strive for the same successes!

The band covers a range of repertoire, from wind band classics and film music, to orchestral arrangements and jazz. For example, we have recently tackled music including Holst’s First and Second Suite for Military Band, How to Train your Dragon, Shostakovich’s Jazz Waltz, and Vaughan Williams’ English Folk Song Suite.

All our concerts are uploaded to YouTube Durham University Concert Band – YouTube

Rehearsal Times 2025/26: Monday evenings 19:00 – 21:30, The James Knott Hall, Trevelyan College

If you have any questions, please contact our President, Rufus Murray, at [email protected]!

Gallery

Our Exec

Rufus Murray (He/Him)

President Trevelyan – 2nd Year Engineering – Flute
As president, I organise general running of the band, liaise with Durham Student Music and staff to plan events, and aid the rest of the exec in their roles. I look forward to welcoming in new members next year and helping the band grow to new heights!

Timothy Harden (He/Him)

Treasurer Van Mildert – 2nd Year Politics – Clarinet
As treasurer, I deal with society finances, managing the budget and spending our income on biscuits, new music, stash, more biscuits and everything else. I’m looking forward to hanging out with everyone at Trevs after yapping with the clarinets throughout rehearsal.

Timothy Tsang (He/Him)

Conductor South – 3rd Year Music – Alto Saxophone (and Baton)
As conductor, I am in charge of leading rehearsals every week and choosing suitable pieces for the band to play! My favourite thing about concert band is that we play at a really high standard, while still managing to keep a relaxed and fun atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed!

Oscar Bovenizer (He/Him)

Conductor Collingwood – 3rd Year Mathematics – Trumpet (and Baton)
I’m looking forward to mine and Timothy’s 2nd year conducting the concert band. We’ll be picking out new music and running rehearsals. I loved my first year and can’t wait to introduce new stuff to the band!

Olly Dunlop (He/Him)

Secretary St Aidan’s – 3rd Year Chemistry & Physics – Oboe
As Secretary I manage general admin by sending out weekly emails, booking rooms and taking minutes during meetings. I’m really looking forward to performing in the cathedral concert if we get to this year!

Tomos Haine (He/Him)

Concert Manager St Mary’s – 2nd Year Music – Cornet/Trumpet
As Concert Manager, I plan all of the logistics of the band’s concerts. I’m particularly looking forward to the joint Christmas concert with Brass Band (dubb)!

Katie Bishop (She/Her)

Librarian Josephine Butler – 2nd Year Computer Science – Flute
As librarian, I’m in charge of sorting out all of the music that we will be playing. My favourite concert band memory are the laughs I’ve had with the other back row flutes and I’m looking forward to more socials and getting to compete at NCBF again!

Juno Bain (They/She)

Publicity Officer Van Mildert – 1st Year Biology – Clarinet
Hi! I’m Juno, and I’m super stoked to be Publicity Officer for concert band this year! My role involves making posters, social media posts and generally promoting the wonderful band. Concert band is such a friendly atmosphere and I can’t wait to meet some new faces and make more music…

Cassidy Plautz (She/Her)

Joint Social Secretary St. Cuthbert’s Society – 2nd Year Natural Sciences (Chemistry & Physics) – Clarinet
Hello, I’m Cassidy and as joint social sec I’m hoping to create an inclusive atmosphere within both the band and Durham music as a whole. Looking forward to repeating great events from pub quizzes to frisbee picnics, as well as holding new socials to foster DUCB’s great sense of community!

Flo Wood (She/Her)

Joint Social Secretary St Aidan’s – 2nd Year English Literature – Clarinet
As joint social sec, I help organize the band’s socials and always make sure there’s biscuits! I loved ncbf week and I’m really excited about putting together some fun socials.

Izzy Richards (She/Her)

Tech Officer Stephenson – 3rd Year Civil Engineering – Oboe
As the Tech Officer, I’m in charge of setting up the tech and recording concerts, before updating our YouTube and website. I love going to NCBF each year and I’m really looking forward to playing there again!

Jennifer Ellis (She/Her)

Alumni & Outreach Officer Trevelyan – 2nd Year BSc Geography – Clarinet
As Alumni and Outreach Officer, I organise Outreach Events with local Music Services, and keep in touch with Alumni of the band! My favourite DUCB memory is the recent tour to The Netherlands, but particularly the impromptu post-concert swim in the sea!

DUCB’S HISTORY

When Peter came to Durham in 1976 he was keen to join the university orchestra as an oboist. Unfortunately there were twelve oboists auditioning that year, including some studying music, so he was without a group to play in for the first time in quite a few years. At the start of his second year, Peter got in touch with one of his neighbours in Hatfield College, a clarinettist called Steve who practiced regularly, and the two of them started a band. They began finding others by various means, including a drummer (Tom) from Castle and a trombonist (Nick) from Collingwood and were able to start practising as a group. Peter got some music from his old school and they scrounged a little money from somewhere and bought a few marches and bits. Very democratically, Peter became conductor and Steve 1st clarinet!

There were no auditions for new members; anyone could join. They practised in the rooms opposite the Library on Palace Green.

Steve and Peter discussed a name for their band. The format of the group was really a military band, but Durham University Military Band (DUMB) didn’t seem to be quite right, so they settled for Concert Band instead. In June 1978 they performed on Palace Green one afternoon for the first time.

In 1978/9 they were able to have a stand for the Freshers’ Fair and gained quite a few members. In Peter’s final summer they used Castle’s Hall for their first proper concert and had fun on Palace Green again. To try to ensure that the band continued, they attached themselves to the Music Society and appointed an assistant conductor to take over from Peter for the following year; his name was Eric.

Since the founding group left, Durham University Concert Band has continued to grow and flourish and we are proud of all we have achieved and continue to achieve to this day.