Central Ensembles

Birmingham Schools' Azaad Dhol Group
This group caters for Intermediate to Advanced level players of Bhangra and folk music. Each year it participates in school concerts and other multi-cultural events outside school. The group has performed in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Schools' Prom, and on 'Blue Peter' on BBC TV.

Venue: Hamstead Hall , Craythorne Avenue, Handsworth Wood
Rehearsal: Mondays: 4.00 - 5.15pm

Birmingham Schools' Brass Band
This band performs a number of public concerts each year and the repertoire is of a wide nature, taking advantage of the best composers and arrangers working in this medium. BSBB is comprised of cornets (including Eb Soprano), flugel horns, tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums, trombones, tubas (Eb and Bb) and percussion (both Kit and Tuned). Interested trumpet players may apply and, if accepted, could have the loan of a cornet belonging to the band. This band is now a member of the Brass Band registry, and will be competing in Brass Band competitions. The minimum standard for entry is Grade Five (Grade V).

Venue: Harborne Hill School
Rehearsal: Thursdays: 6.45 - 9.00pm
Patron: Steven Mead

Birmingham Schools' Concert Band
Comprises 65 players. This ensemble, which has normal wind orchestra instrumentation, covers a wide variety of styles, and gives several public performances during the academic year. Woodwind, brass and percussion players are expected to be at a minimum standard of Grade Four plus (Grade IV+).

Venue: Swanshurst School, Kings Heath
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.00pm

Birmingham Schools' Concert Orchestra
The average standard of Strings is from Grade Six (Grade VI) upwards. The average standard of Woodwind, Brass and Percussion is Grade Six (Grade VI) upwards. This large orchestra performs a varied and contrasting repertoire of film, TV and show music, as well as light popular classics. The orchestra holds annual residential courses during the Easter holidays, and has performed in many concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, London. Guest conductors have included Sir Simon Rattle, and the late Ron Goodwin, who was the Patron until 2003.

Venue: St Paul's Girls' School, Edgbaston
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Birmingham Schools' Flute Choir
Members have the opportunity to play a range of flutes from piccolo to bass. Entry level is approximately Grade Four (Grade IV) Associated Board. This group regularly participates in festivals and workshops.

Venue: Selly Park Technology College for Girls
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.00pm

Birmingham Schools' Guitar Ensemble
The average age is between 13 and 17, and the present standard is between Grades Five and Six (Grade 5/6) and with an average standard around Grade Six (Grade 6). A knowledge of chords is useful. The repertoire covered is wide in range, and includes larger works in classical style, as well as arrangements of popular standards.

Venue: Harborne Hill School, Harborne Road
Rehearsals: Thursdays: 5.30 - 7.00pm
Patron: Simon Dinnigan

Birmingham Schools' Jazz Ensemble
Comprises approximately 18 players aged between 12 and 18 years. The ensemble covers a wide range of big band styles, and develops skills in jazz playing and improvisation. Saxophone and brass players should be a minimum of Grade Six (Grade 6) standard, and rhythm section players should have a well-developed technique, and be good music readers.

Venue: Martineau Centre, Harborne
Rehearsals: Mondays: 6.45 - 9.00pm
Patron: John Dankworth

Birmingham Schools' Junior String Orchestra
The orchestra welcomes nominations from all string players in junior schools with a minimum entry requirement of Grade Three (Grade 3). They play all styles of music ranging from popular to classical.

Venue: Harborne Hill School, Harborne
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.00pm

Birmingham Schools' Percussion Ensemble
Members have the opportunity to play specialised repertoire, enabling them to learn extended techniques on a wide range of instruments, including marimba, vibraphone, orchestral and ethnic percussion. The ensemble gives several public performances during the academic year, and entry level is approximately Grade Four (Grade IV) standard.

Venue: Swanshurst School, Kings Heath
Rehearsals: Tuesdays: 6.30 - 8.30pm

Birmingham Schools' Recorder Ensemble
The Ensemble is a small and friendly group which plays a matched set of recorders provided by the Music Service. The players vary in age from 8 to 13, and are approximately Grade Three (Grade 3) in standard. During the past years the ensemble has played many varied styles of music scored for descant, treble and tenor recorders, and has taken part in many concerts.

Venue: George Dixon International School
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30 - 11.30am

Birmingham Schools' Recorder Sinfonia
The Sinfonia is a small and tightly knit group, rehearsing and performing a varied repertoire, which ranges from the 16th Century to the avant-garde and includes a number of specially commissioned works. The Music Service provides a matching set of wooden recorders from the tiny 'Garkleinflötlein' to the Great Bass. Players should be of about Grade Six (Grade 6) standard or above, and should have a strong commitment to the recorder as a serious instrument.

Venue: George Dixon International School
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30 - 12.00pm

Birmingham Schools' String Sinfonia
The Orchestra caters for string players with a minimum entry standard of Grade Five (Grade V). The music played covers many styles from Baroque and Classical to more recent popular arrangements by local composers. During the year they take part in workshops, which include developing composition skills, chamber music, folk music and sight singing, as well as several public concerts.

Venue: St Paul's Girls School, Edgbaston
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.00pm

Birmingham Schools' Symphony Orchestra
The Orchestra has a national reputation for quality performances of standard orchestral repertoire, often with professional guest soloists. The average minimum standard is Grade Six (Grade VI). The orchestra has performed in many major venues, including the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as the Adrian Boult Hall and Symphony Hall in Birmingham. Recent concert tours have been arranged to Hungary (1997), Japan (2001), Italy (2005) and Czech Republic (2008).

Venue: Harborne Hill School, Harborne Road
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.00pm
Patron: Sir Simon Rattle

Birmingham Schools' Training Brass Band
This ensemble comprises the same instrumentation as the Brass Band. BSTBB offers the opportunity to young brass players to rehearse and perform traditional and modern brass band repertoire. Players normally progress from this ensemble into the Brass Band. Minimum standard for entry is Grade Four (Grade IV).

Venue: Harborne Hill School, Harborne Road
Rehearsals: Thursdays: 6.30 - 8.45pm

Birmingham Schools' Training Guitar Ensemble
This group caters for the large number of young guitarists who have reached around Grade Four (Grade IV) standard, and who require ensemble experience. Although players use Spanish guitars, and adopt classical posture and technique, various styles of music are rehearsed and performed, including jazz and ragtime, as well as traditional guitar repertoire.

Venue: Harborne Hill School, Harborne Road
Rehearsals: Thursdays: 5.30 - 7.00pm

Birmingham Schools' Training Jazz Ensemble
Comprises the same instrumentation as the Jazz Ensemble, and provides an opportunity for less experienced players to develop basic skills in jazz playing and improvisation in a big band context. Saxophone and brass players should be a minimum Grade Four (Grade 4) standard, and rhythm section players should have a good basic technique, and be able to read music.

Venue: Martineau Centre, Harborne
Rehearsals: Mondays: 6.30 - 8.30pm

Birmingham Schools' Training Wind Orchestra
This ensemble, with normal wind orchestra instrumentation (woodwind, brass and percussion) will, for most of the players, provide their first experience in a full size wind orchestra after playing in an Area Ensemble. Players are expected to have reached Grade Three plus (Grade 3+) standard.

Venue: Selly Park Technology College for Girls', Selly Park
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.00pm

Birmingham Schools' Wind Orchestra
This orchestra comprises woodwind (including saxophones), brass and percussion instruments, and plays a wide range of musical styles, including original compositions, arrangements of well-known orchestral items, as well as more popular concert band pieces. The entry standard is Grade Six (Grade VI) for brass players and Grades Six / Seven (Grade VI/VII) for woodwind players.

Venue: George Dixon International School
Rehearsals: Saturdays: 9.30am - 12.30pm

City of Birmingham Young Voices
This exciting choir is open to all between the ages of 12 and 21, and no audition is required. A number of high profile performances are given each year, and have recently included singing at Buckingham Palace.

Venue: CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, B1 2LF
Rehearsals: Thursdays: 4.30 - 6.15pm