City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Deutsche Bank is the major supporter of the CBSO Schools Programme 2012-13 ensuring thousands of Birmingham children experience live music in schools and on the stage at Symphony Hall Birmingham. The Stay Tuned programme involves creative music workshops for pupils with CBSO musicians, CBSO ensemble performances in schools and attendance at CBSO Schools and season concerts.

"Singing offers some kind of connection with the soul ...you can't help but feel uplifted." Matt Beckingham A recent partnership formed between the CBSO and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) is leading to remarkable things. This video celebrates the start of that partnership with a day of singing. For full details go to: www.cbso.co.uk/blog

The CBSO's Leo Quartet performed Steve Reich's Different Trains at Moor Street Station, Birmingham in November 2012 as part of a pop up performance to take classical music to new audiences and to perform music that may be dismissed by some as inaccessible to those who may not normally be exposed to it. The music was perfectly framed in the 1930s-style concourse, and one of the inspirations behind the piece, a rail-trip from city to city, was suitably reflected in the rush-hour commuters heading for home on a busy Friday night. To access the full story go to: www.cbso.co.uk/blog

Finalist in the Silent Movies Animation Challenge 2012 Animators across the UK took part in a competition to create a silent movie using originally composed Silent Movie scores, recently rediscovered in archives during preparations for moving to the new Library of Birmingham (opening 2013) and recorded by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. After poring through an impressive inbox of animations, an award-winning panel of judges decided on four animations that were to be premiered in front of a capacity audience and accompanied by the CBSO at Symphony Hall on 20 April 2012 as part of a Chaplin movie night. The amazing animations, which drew applause and laughs aplenty from the audience, included a raging bull, a Moseley bog monster, lots of custard and a mime artist.

During 2012 the CBSO worked with 7 schools on a project called Musical Leadership -- a three-year project in Selly Oak, Birmingham. Students and staff from Bournville Junior, Harborne Primary, Jervoise Primary, St Peter's CE Primary, Our Lady & St Rose of Lima Catholic Primary, Tiverton Primary, Weoley Castle Primary, Selly Oak Trust School and Shenley Academy worked with writer Mandy Ross, composer Matt Beckingham, conductor David Lawrence and players of the CBSO on theme of world peace.

During 2012 the CBSO worked with 7 schools on a project called Musical Leadership -- a three-year project in Selly Oak, Birmingham. Students and staff from Bournville Junior, Harborne Primary, Jervoise Primary, St Peter's CE Primary, Our Lady & St Rose of Lima Catholic Primary, Tiverton Primary, Weoley Castle Primary, Selly Oak Trust School and Shenley Academy worked with writer Mandy Ross, composer Matt Beckingham, conductor David Lawrence and players of the CBSO on theme of world peace.

Join us for the next concert in the series - Bostridge Sings Britten on 6 March 2013 http://www.cbso.co.uk/?page=concerts/viewConcert.html&cid=2567&m=03&y=2013 Get a taste of the music being performed in 2013 with the CBSO, as part of A Boy Was Born, the Birmingham-wide celebration of Benjamin Britten's centenary. Featuring behind-the-scenes interviews from members of the CBSO family including our conductors and performers, plus snippets from rehearsals and concerts. Whether coolly atmospheric, exuberantly playful or stark and powerful, Britten's music is always, unmistakably, Britten: clear but questioning, timeless but modern. "If wind and water could write music, it would sound like Ben's." Yehudi Menuhin Join us for Birmingham's celebrations: www.birminghambritten.co.uk and give us your reactions at #bhambritten. Directed by Mathew Beckett for River Rea Films. Copyright: the CBSO - not to be reproduced. Britten War Requiem footage from CBSO Coventry Cathedral 50th Anniversary performance used here with kind permission by Unitel Classica. Available on DVD & Blu-Ray on the Arthaus Musik Label. information@cbso.co.uk About the CBSO Founded in 1920 by the civic leaders of the city of Birmingham, the CBSO has a world-wide reputation as a pioneer for music, whilst also being deeply rooted at the heart of the UK's second city. The quality, range and scale of the programme delivered by the CBSO's family of orchestral musicians, conductors and choruses is unrivalled anywhere in the world and, as it nears its centenary in 2020, it will continue to push the boundaries to secure a great future for music in Birmingham. In residence at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, the Orchestra performs around 130 concerts each year, at home in Birmingham, across the UK and internationally. Critically acclaimed, they're famed for presenting audiences with star-studded operas, fresh sounding symphonies, and ground-breaking premieres, alongside silent movies, Broadway classics, Bollywood hits and family shows. Whilst inviting some of the world's greatest musicians to the city to perform, the CBSO is also focused on developing future talent. Whether it is investing in up-and-coming artists, supporting four exceptional Choruses and Youth Orchestra, or involving over 36,000 people each year in an extensive learning and participation programme, the CBSO is a proud ambassador and cultural icon for Birmingham. www.cbso.co.uk (FB) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Twitter) @TheCBSO

Hear what people are saying about The Birmingham Beethoven Cycle, with insights and reactions from CBSO audience members, players and Andris himself. Join us for more Beethoven in 2013 www.birminghambeethoven.co.uk and give us your reactions at #bhambeethoven. Romantic and revolutionary, dreamer and poet, genius and visionary: the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Birmingham International Concert Season 2012/13 celebrate Beethoven's music with performances of all his symphonies and piano concertos. Directed by Mathew Beckett for River Rea Films. Copyright: the CBSO - not to be reproduced. information@cbso.co.uk About the CBSO Founded in 1920 by the civic leaders of the city of Birmingham, the CBSO has a world-wide reputation as a pioneer for music, whilst also being deeply rooted at the heart of the UK's second city. The quality, range and scale of the programme delivered by the CBSO's family of orchestral musicians, conductors and choruses is unrivalled anywhere in the world and, as it nears its centenary in 2020, it will continue to push the boundaries to secure a great future for music in Birmingham. In residence at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, the Orchestra performs around 130 concerts each year, at home in Birmingham, across the UK and internationally. Critically acclaimed, they're famed for presenting audiences with star-studded operas, fresh sounding symphonies, and ground-breaking premieres, alongside silent movies, Broadway classics, Bollywood hits and family shows. Whilst inviting some of the world's greatest musicians to the city to perform, the CBSO is also focused on developing future talent. Whether it is investing in up-and-coming artists, supporting four exceptional Choruses and Youth Orchestra, or involving over 36,000 people each year in an extensive learning and participation programme, the CBSO is a proud ambassador and cultural icon for Birmingham. www.cbso.co.uk (FB) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Twitter) @TheCBSO

Merry Chistmas

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The CBSO community youth choir get together to wish you Merry Christmas! For information how to join CBSO Young Voices please visit www.cbso.co.uk/choruses

The CBSO's very own community choir based in Selly Oak wishing you a very merry Christmas! Interested in joining find out more at www.cbso.co.uk/sovocal

Merry Christmas message

Ula tells us all about the CBSO's community choir based in Selly Oak. For more information about the choir and how to join please visit cbso.co.uk/sovocal or contact Dan Porterfield on sovocal123@gmail.com or 07967-558-701

Jonny, on his experience of CBSO Youth Orchestra

Matt speaks about singing and wellbeing.