SFE Conferences
For more information about joining one of our Central Ensembles please contact ensembles@servicesforeducation.co.uk
It is free to take part in our Central Ensembles, but you/ your child will be required to audition.
Our ensemble members are nurtured and supported by skilled professional tutors and conductors, developing their confidence and musical abilities.
Members will also take part in memorable performances on the stages of Birmingham’s most prestigious venues, celebrating their musical achievements to packed audiences. These groups also regularly represent Services For Education on the Regional and National Stage.
All our ensembles serve as an extension to weekly instrumental/vocal lessons and school music making. By joining one of our groups your young musicians will be representing your school at city level.
Our Central Ensembles offer progression for intermediate to advanced young musicians.
Services For Education Central Ensemble Open Rehearsals
18th– 24th January 2025
Young musicians from across Birmingham are invited to join one (or more) of our FREE Open Rehearsals
What are Central Ensembles?
Central ensembles are designed for intermediate (approximately Grade 2 standard upwards) through to advanced performers. Ensembles rehearse weekly during term time with members benefiting from specialist ensemble tuition supported by skilled professional tutors and conductors, developing their confidence and musical abilities.
What are Open Rehearsals?
Open rehearsals offer a chance to meet current ensemble members, conductors, and tutors from across our ensembles system as well as join in with the rehearsal. They take place on the normal day and time of weekly rehearsals.
Who can attend?
Services For Education (Birmingham Schools’) Central Ensembles are open to young musicians in full time education who attend a Birmingham School or live within the city of Birmingham.
Why join a Central Ensemble?
Our ensemble members are nurtured and supported by skilled professional tutors and conductors, developing their confidence and musical abilities.
Members will take part in memorable performances on the stages of Birmingham’s most prestigious venues, celebrating their musical achievements to packed audiences. These groups also regularly represent Services for Education on the Regional and National Stage.
All our ensembles serve as an extension to weekly instrumental/vocal lessons and school music making. By joining one of our groups your young musicians will be representing their school at city level.
Register to attend an Open Rehearsal:
- Decide which open rehearsal(s) you would like to attend.
- Visit https://ensembles.servicesforeducation.co.uk/
- Login to or register for an account
- If you are new to the portal, click ‘add child’ (this can be multiple times on each account)
- If you already have an existing account, click ‘view’ next to your child’s name.
- Click ‘Join an Area Ensemble’
- Complete the information and select the open rehearsal option of your choice
Registration is open until 13th January 2025.
You will receive a confirmation email on Wednesday 15th January with further details about the open rehearsal you have selected and a list of items you need to bring.
If you have any questions, please email ensembles@servicesforeducation.co.uk
SFE Ensembles Team
|
Proposed Date/Time |
Event/Venue |
|
14th December 2024 7pm |
Central Ensemble Showcase Ruddock PAC King Edward’s School, Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2UA |
|
15th December 2024 6pm  |
Central Ensemble Showcase Ruddock PAC King Edward’s School, Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2UA |
|
15th March 2025 7pm  |
Central Ensemble Showcase Ruddock PAC King Edward’s School, Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2UA |
|
16th March 2025 6pm   |
Central Ensemble Showcase Ruddock PAC King Edward’s School, Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2UA |
|
22nd March 2025 7pm  |
Central Ensemble Showcase Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B4 7XR |
|
23rd March 2025 6pm  |
Central Ensemble Showcase Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B4 7XR |
|
2nd April 2025Â Â 6:30-8pm |
Rock & Pop Area Gala 1 South & City College Digbeth Campus, High Street Deritend, Birmingham B5 5SU |
|
7th April 2025 6:30-8pm  |
Area Gala 2 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B4 7XR 6:30-8pm |
|
8th April 2025 6:30-8pm   |
Area/School-based Gala 3 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B4 7XR 6:30-8pm |
|
8th April 2025 6:30-8pm  |
Area/School-based Gala 4 CBSO Centre, Berkley St, Birmingham B1 2LF |
|
9th April 2025 6:30-8pm   |
Area/School-based Gala 5 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B4 7XR Â |
|
9th April 2025 6:30-8pm  |
Area/School-based Gala 6 CBSO Centre, Berkley St, Birmingham B1 2LF |
|
10th April 2025 6:30-8pm  |
Area/School-based Gala 7 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B4 7XR |
|
3rd May 2025 TBC 10am-6pm |
Outdoor Festival MAC Outdoor Theatre Cannon Hill Park |
|
Monday 14th July 2025 7pm |
Youth Prom 1 Symphony Hall Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA |
|
Tuesday 15th July 2025 7pm |
Youth Prom 2 Symphony Hall Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA |
|
Wednesday 16th July 2025 7pm  |
Youth Prom 3 Symphony Hall Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA |
|
Thursday 17th  July 2025 7pm |
Youth Prom 4 Symphony Hall Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA |
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ÂEnsemble  |
Instrumentation |
Venue |
Day/Date |
Time |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Steel Band South   |
Steel pans |
University of Birmingham School 12 Weoley Park Rd, Birmingham B29 6QU |
Monday 20th January 2025 |
4:30 – 5:30pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Raga & Tala  |
Sitar Tabla  |
King Edward VI Handsworth School Rose Hill Rd, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham B21 9AR |
Monday 20th January 2025 |
5.00 – 6.00pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Training Percussion Ensemble    |
Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH |
Tuesday 21st January 2025 |
5.30 – 7.00pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Percussion Ensemble   |
Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion  |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH Â |
Tuesday 21st January 2025 |
7.00 – 8.30pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Double Reed Ensemble  |
Oboe Cor Anglais Bassoon Contra Bassoon |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH |
Wednesday 22nd January 2025 |
5.00 – 6.00pm |
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|
Birmingham Schools’ Steel Band North   |
Steel Pan |
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Earlsbury Gardens, Handsworth, Birmingham B20 3AE |
Wednesday 22nd January 2025 |
4:30 – 5:30pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Training Brass Band    |
Cornet Flugel Horn Tenor Horn French Horn Euphonium Baritones Trombones Bass Trombone Eb/Bb Bass Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion |
St George’s Upper School, Calthorpe Road, Birmingham B15 1RX |
Thursday 23rd January 2025 |
5.00 – 6.30pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Brass Band   |
Cornet Flugel Horn Tenor Horn French Horn Euphonium Baritones Trombones Bass Trombone Eb/Bb Bass Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion |
St George’s Upper School, Calthorpe Road, Birmingham B15 1RX  |
Thursday 23rd January 2025 |
6.30 – 8.30pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble   |
Classical guitar |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH |
Thursday 23rd January 2025 |
6.00 – 7:30pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Sinfonia  |
Classical guitar |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH Â |
Thursday 23rd January 2025 |
6.00 – 8.00pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Ensemble   |
Classical guitar |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH Â |
Thursday 23rd January 2025 |
6.00 – 8.00pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra   |
Violin Viola ‘Cello Double Bass Flute Clarinet Oboe Bassoon French Horn Trumpet Tuba Orchestral Percussion Drum Kit Harp Piano |
University of Birmingham School 12 Weoley Park Rd, Birmingham B29 6QU |
Friday 24th January 2025 |
6.00 – 8.30pm |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Training Wind Orchestra   |
Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet Saxophone Cornet Trumpet Tenor Horn French Horn Trombone Euphonium Tuba Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH Â |
Saturday 18th January 2025 |
09.30 – 12.00 |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Concert Band  |
Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet Saxophone Cornet Trumpet Tenor Horn French Horn Trombone Euphonium Tuba Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH Â Â |
Saturday 18th January 2025 |
09:30 – 12:00 |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Wind Orchestra   |
Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet Saxophone Cornet Trumpet Tenor Horn French Horn Trombone Euphonium Tuba Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion |
Bournville School Hay Green Ln, Birmingham B30 1SH Â Â |
Saturday 18th January 2025 |
 |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Sinfonia     |
Recorder |
University of Birmingham School 12 Weoley Park Rd, Birmingham B29 6QU |
Saturday 18th January 2025 |
09:30 – 11:30am |
|
Birmingham Schools’ Junior String Orchestra  |
Violin Viola ‘Cello Double Bass |
University of Birmingham School 12 Weoley Park Rd, Birmingham B29 6QU Â |
Saturday 18th January 2025 |
09:30 – 12:00 Â |
|
Birmingham Schools’ String Sinfonia   |
Violin Viola ‘Cello Double Bass |
University of Birmingham School 12 Weoley Park Rd, Birmingham B29 6QU Â |
Saturday 18th January 2025 |
09:30 – 12:00 Â |
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Auditions for Services For Education (Birmingham Schools’) Central Ensembles are open to young musicians in full time education who attend a Birmingham School or live within the city of Birmingham.
Central ensembles are designed for intermediate (approximately Grade 3 standard upwards) through to advanced performers. Ensembles rehearse weekly during term time with members benefiting from over 100 hours of specialist ensemble tuition.
As a general rule, we expect ensemble members to be with each group for two academic years to be in a position to access the next level ensemble both in terms of instrumental capability and ensemble craft, although there are sometimes exceptional cases where membership of a group may be more or less than this. In all cases we expect our ensemble members to audition every two years.
If you are offered and accept a place in one of our SFE Ensembles musicians are expected to maintain regular instrumental or vocal tuition to enable continued personal improvement.
| Woodwind, Brass and Percussion  | Approximate Grades* |
| Birmingham Schools’ Training Wind Orchestra |  3 – 5 |
| Birmingham Schools’ Concert Band |  5 – 7 |
| Birmingham Schools’ Wind Orchestra |  7 – 8+ |
| Strings |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Junior String Orchestra |  2 – 4 |
| Birmingham Schools’ String Sinfonia |  5 – 7 |
| Full Orchestra -Strings, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra |  7 – 8+ |
| Guitars |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble |  2 – 4 |
| Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Sinfonia |  4 – 6 |
| Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Ensemble |  6 – 8+ |
| Orchestral Percussion |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Training Percussion Ensemble |  2 – 5 |
| Birmingham Schools’ Percussion Ensemble |  6 – 8+ |
| Percussion and World Music |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Raga and Tala |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Azaad Dhol Group |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Steel Band |  |
| Recorders | Â |
| Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Ensemble |  initial – 5 |
| Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Sinfonia |  5 – 8+ |
| Brass Bands |  |
| Birmingham Schools’ Training Brass Band |  1 – 5 |
| Birmingham Schools’ Brass Band |  6 – 8+ |
*Please note, these grade boundaries are for guidance onlyÂ
Please prepare two own choice pieces preferably from the ABRSM, Trinity, MTB PRSSV or Rock School Syllabus. Choices should be made in conjunction with your
instrumental teacher and should showcase your current level of attainment
If you have any questions please ask your instrumental teacher or email ensembles@servicesforeducation.co.uk
Did you know that Services For Education is a charity?
Every year, we bring together nearly 4,000 young people from across Birmingham and form over 90 ensembles, specialising in a variety of instruments.
We do not charge for our ensembles because imposing a charge would create an immediate barrier for many families who would struggle to afford these costs but this is only sustainable with support from our donors.
We need your help to keep our ensembles going.Â
If you would like to support our Ensembles, please visit our charity project page here: Music Ensembles – Services For Education (sfecharity.co.uk).
Lucie Welch – Adviser, Services For Education
Jo Perrin - Adviser, Services For Education
Marsha 
