University Music highlights in 2024-25
Following the completion of another successful Summer Festival of Music, University Music looks back on an exciting and varied year of music-making on campus.
This academic year played host to a huge variety of opportunities for student musicians – from high profile events within the University to representing University Music across the city, performers and audience members alike enjoyed a wide range of performances and workshops throughout the year.
Musicians have played a key part in events hosted by the University this year, providing both background entertainment and featured performances. Birmingham University Singers and Symphonic Brass were honoured to be asked to perform at the installation of the new University Chancellor in November, while University Upper Voices provided musical accompaniment to the annual Carol Service in the Great Hall. Philharmonic Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, and Folk Band gave fantastic performances to a sold out 5000-strong crowd for the 125th Anniversary Concert in June, and student jazz musicians have been entertaining the masses at a number of UoB Awards Ceremonies and conference events both on campus and in the city.
University Music have been thrilled to welcome a selection of visiting artists onto campus this year, with notable contributions from local band Diddy Sweg whose new album ‘The Octopi will Occupy’ features string players from University Music, Birmingham Opera Company who facilitated a workshop during UoB Xtra week for vocalists and performers, and multi-disciplinary artist Odd Priest who featured as a guest soloist in Jazz Orchestra’s autumn concert. We are also grateful to longstanding guest conductor of Birmingham University Singers Bob Chilcott for inviting the BBC Singers, of whom he is the Principal Guest Conductor, for a joint concert in the Elgar Concert Hall.
The University Brass Band had a particularly successful year with their historic UniBrass win in February 2025. Despite spending the previous year in the section below, this is the band’s highest ranking in the Trophy section and an especially impressive first overall win for the band. We are grateful to the ensemble’s conductor Stephen Kane who has undoubtedly had an exceptional first year in the position!
University Chorus’ concert in December 2024 was the much-anticipated performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Messa de Requiem’ which was was originally programmed to take place in March 2020. The choir performed an updated arrangement of the piece to a sold-out audience and were pleased to share the stage with local pre-professional chamber choir ‘The Elgar Scholars’ and four alumni guest soloists.
The University Liturgical Choir were pleased to visit St Paul’s Cathedral, London in June to deliver evensong as part of UoB Xtra Week. The choir similarly made their performing debut at Coventry Cathedral in November and are looking forward to returning in February 2026.
Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestra performed to a high quality in their termly concerts, delighting audiences with the ‘Viva l’Italia’ double bill weekend as well as spring performances of well-loved works such as Holst’s famous ‘The Planets’. Music Scholar and Philharmonic’s principal flautist Anthony Howe performed Malcolm Arnold’s Flute Concerto, their winning entry to the 2024/25 Soloist Prize with Symphony Orchestra, and Will Ashley’s highly commended entry to the 2024 Composition Competition ‘Maelstrom’ had its world premiere in Wind Band’s autumn concert.
University Music ensembles performed a wealth of new music this year, from new arrangements for Jazz Orchestra by Jonathan Silk, to impressive world premieres of pieces from composition staff. Professor Michael Zev Gordon’s commission ‘He used to say’ uses the text of Hillel, Sayings of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot) and was premiered by Birmingham University Singers and the BBC Singers in March, and Dr Ryan Latimer’s commission ‘Dromsong’ for Philharmonic Orchestra kicked off the 125th Anniversary Concert celebrations in style. Birmingham University Singers were also pleased to perform new works by emerging composer Lucy Walker, and the Philharmonic Orchestra debuted the UK premiere of a symphonic work by Italian composer Ildebrando Pizzetti, arranged by Senior Lecturer in Music Ben Earle.
The year rounded off with the annual Summer Festival of Music which takes place in the final two weeks of the term and features a variety of workshops, performance opportunities, and social activities. The Scholars Concert and University Music Members Platform provided some light entertainment from talented soloists for those on their lunch breaks, and Symphonic Brass performed a rousing set of pieces on Chancellor’s Court ahead of their upcoming appearances at the Graduation ceremonies. The festival came to a close with a reflective programme from the Summer Festival Voices choir, who come together each year to provide a relaxed choral opportunity for those wishing to continue singing in the summer term.
University Music provides the University of Birmingham with one of the liveliest music-making scenes of any campus. With around 1500 positions available in our 35-plus ensembles, members participate in a variety of instrumental and vocal groups, across a range of abilities and styles. University Music is open to students, staff, and the local community, and provides participants with opportunities for professional coaching, exceptional concerts, as well as the chance to apply for yearly scholarships.
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