Salford University and Salford City Reds are asking local people to help them choose a musical fanfare to herald the rugby team’s dramatic entrance onto the pitch in all future games.
Music students at the University are competing to clinch the winning prize and hear their fanfare broadcast to thousands of fans at The Willows during home games.
With the help of judges from Salford City Reds including CEO David Tarry, three finalists have been selected – and local people are being encouraged to listen online and vote for their favourite below
Composed by postgraduate and undergraduate music students, and performed by the University’s brass band, the three fanfares combine brass and percussion instruments to create a rousing musical entrance.
Nick Garbett, a final year BA Music student, is one of the finalists. He said: “I’m delighted to be shortlisted. The possibility of hearing my music as the players run onto the pitch is really exciting. I’m a big rugby fan so it would mean a lot to me to win.”
Nick’s tutor, Dr Mick Wilson added: “Salford City Reds originally contacted us to ask if we could come up with a fanfare, and it was an opportunity our students relished. I’m extremely impressed by the standard of entries and I’m confident the winning tune will do the Reds’ proud.”
The deadline for all votes is Good Friday (10 April) and the winning fanfare will be announced and played at The Reds’ home game against Hull FC on Saturday 25 April.
Salford City Reds’ CEO, David Tarry said: “Our partnership with the University continues to go from strength to strength and asking their students to come up with our new fanfare was a further opportunity to cement our relationship.
“The standard has exceeded our highest expectations and I’m sure whichever entry wins, our supporters will be happy with the result and the winning composer will rightly be proud of their achievements.”
The competition is the latest project between the University and the Reds as part of their official community partnership. The partnership has involved the Reds’ first team receiving fitness testing in the University’s hi-tech human performance labs, as well as the team relocating their training base to the University campus.
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