Getting there: where is the Conference? Parking and building location
Conference sessions will take place in the Oastler building at the University of Huddersfield. The University's main Queensgate campus sits on the edge of the town centre, a 10-minute walk (directions here) from Huddersfield train station.
Select conference sessions will take place at the Brass Bands Archive, housed in the University's Heritage Quay records management site, a few minutes walk from the Oastler building. Directions will be provided on the day.
Parking is available is in number of public and campus car parks. Please find public car park information here. Please note the Kingsgate car park closes at 5.30pm. Available campus car parks:
Wakefield Road - what3words: closed. twist. vest
Queen Street South - what3words: hails. fonts. elbow
Firth Street - what3words: damage. poem. Rated
If using a campus car park, please state at the barrier that you are attending The Brass Band Conference to gain entry. Wakefield Road is the nearest campus car park to the Oastler building. Please bear in mind that parking in each campus car park is limited so please leave plenty of time to find a space and walk to the Oastler Building (building no. 37 on the map below).
There are aditional limited disabled spaces dotted around the campus.
Helpful maps:
- Campus entrance, map and car parks (NB Street Car Park unavailable for this event)
- Acessible route map with disabled parking spaces
If entering the campus on-foot via the main entrance on Queensgate, please take a left at the mini roundabout, continue past the Richard Steinitz Building on your left, then enter the next building on your left, the Oastler building.
For further transport information, please visit the University's Getting Here page.
Who is the Conference for?
The Brass Band Conference is for anyone and everyone who cares about the past, present and future of brass bands. The event attracts band members from bands across the country as well as conductors, composers, academics, educators and writers. Whoever you are, we'd love to have you in the room to share your own opionions and experiences.
What time is the Conference?
Registration, with complimentary teas and coffees, is open from 9.45am. We ask that you refrain from arriving before 9.30am whilst our staff team is setting up the hall and welcome desk ready for your arrival.
Conference sessions run between 10.30am and 5pm, with a lunch break at 1.15pm. For timings of individual sessions, please visit the Conference page.
At 5pm, delegates are invited for networking drinks at the Brass Bands Archive - just down the corridor in the University's Heritage Quay records site.
How do I book tickets?
You can find the Conference listed on the BBE Events page, where you'll be able to book your place. If you experience any difficulties filling in the form or making payment, please contact us at info@bbe.org.uk.
What information do I need to know?
On booking your Conference place we will communicate with you by email. First, we'll send you a confirmation of your booking. In September, we'll contact you to request some simple delegate information including if you have any dietary or access requirements. If we have any breakout sessions which have limited capacity, we'll let you know in advance so that you have the opportunity to secure a place.
In the week leading up to the event, we'll contact you again with reminders of where to go, what to expect, and how to make the most of the day.
Do I need to sign up for sessions in advance?
Talk and Tours of the Brass Bands Archive is the only session with limited availability. Delegates were contacted in September with the opportunity to reserve a place at this session. There are a (very) few places remaining - a registration sheet will be available on the welcome desk of the morning of the event if you wish to sign up. There may also be an opportuntiy to attend a tour during the networking drinks reception, subject to demand.
Who is speaking at the Conference?
We have 22 speakers confirmed for the event. Find our more about them on our Conference page.
Are refreshments provided?
Lunch will be provided, along with morning teas and coffees, with the cost being covered by your conference ticket. We will contact you to give you the opportunity to alert us to any special dietary requirements. Special dietary requirements must be received a certain amount of time before the event (currently expected to be 10 days) in order to guarantee that they will be catered for.
In line with our aims to reduce our ecological footprint, all food served will be vegetarian. You are welcome to bring your own food with you should you wish. If you’ve told us you have an allergy or gluten intolerance, your lunch will be packaged separately and labelled.
Can I store my luggage?
There will be a space within the atrium for you to leave any coats and bags if you wish. Please note that this area will not be manned so we cannot guarantee the security of any items left in this space. You are welcome to take items with you into the hall.
Is the building accessible?
All Conference spaces are accessible by wheelchair. The main conference space is on ground level. Break-out sessions that are not taking place in the main hall will be in break-out rooms on the first floor - there is a lift on the ground level to access these. The main Heritage Quay space is accesible via a wheelchair lift.
Delegates will be asked at the point of registration to disclose if they have any access requirements. We ask delegates to share their access needs as far ahead of the event as possible to enable us to fulfill them. If you would like to speak to us about access, please email conference@bbe.org.uk.
Will Conference sessions be recorded / photographed?
This year's conference will not be live-streamed as we feel delegates will have a better experience in the room where they will be able to network with other brass banders. We have developed an affordable pricing model as well as launched a travel bursary scheme in order to make the event financially accessible to as many people as possible.
You are welcome to take photos throughout the day and share them how you wish. We request that you please do not approach our staff directly for access requests to photos and videos. Any requests for materials can be sent to clair@bbe.org.uk.
A photographer and videogeapher will be on site and photographs taken will be distributed to the brass band media as well as used in Brass Bands England's future communications. Please alert one of our team on your arrival should you wish to not feature in any photographs or films.
What if I need to cancel my place?
Due to the nature of organising large-scale events we cannot guarantee refunds for cancellations to the Brass Band Conference. If you have a valid reason why you will be unable to attend, we will consider refund requests received in writing to events@bbe.org.uk that are received no later than 10 working days prior to the event. If you have claimed a free Member Ticket for your Member Band and fail to attend the event or fail to cancel your place prior to 10 working days before the event, a catering fee of £10 will be invoiced to your band.