Why Study Music at Birmingham?

Studies in Music offer a diverse range of career paths in areas such as performance, composition, sound production, arts and venue management, conducting, and education, as well as the opportunity to deepen and enrich your relationship with this fundamental form of human expression.

Five reasons to study Music at the University of Birmingham

1) Study with World Class Visiting Tutors and Scholars

In addition to working with our internationally renowned Academic Staff, music students receive their instrumental, vocal and conducting tuition from leading professional visiting tutors including staff from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and also by specialists from across the UK employed directly by the Department of Music (as listed below). See the RBC website for their complete tutor list.

University Women’s Choir in rehearsal with Patrick Barrett in the Elgar Concert Hall

  • Baroque Flute - Katy Bircher 
  • Bassoon - Jo Mayne
  • Choral Conducting - Mariana Rosas
  • Harpsichord -Yeo Yat-Soon
  • Jazz Bass Guitar - Nick Jurd
  • Jazz Drum Kit - Jonathan Silk 
  • Jazz Piano - Toby Boalch
  • Jazz Saxophone - John Fleming
  • Jazz Trombone - Richard Foote
  • Natural Horn - Anneke Scott
  • Natural Trumpet (& Cornett) - Richard Thomas
  • Piano - Alexander Boyd, David Quigley, Cinzia Scafetta
  • Theorbo & Lute - Lynda Sayce
  • Trombone (& Sackbut) - Martyn Sanderson 
  • Trumpet - Steve Lee
  • Tuba - Stuart Birnie
  • Violin - CJ Hughes
  • Viols - David Hatcher
  • Voice - Alison Chamberlain, Mark Chambers, Elizabeth Cragg, Piran Legg, Suzzie Vango

2) Experience our Masterclass, Resident Ensemble and Workshop Programme

Simon Carrington conducting Birmingham Students
Simon Carrington conducting

Our resident ensemble, workshop, and masterclass programme combines longstanding partnerships with an annual programme of invited international guests. Professional ensembles and musicians work with student performers and composers across the year to encourage their development and to provide students with a broad range of experiences.
Workshop and masterclass series in recent years include:

Conducting – Sir Simon Rattle, Simon Carrington (Professor Emeritus, Yale University and The King’s Singers), Rachel Staunton (London Youth Choirs)

Composers also have numerous opportunities for performances and workshops with University Music ensembles such as the New Music Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, Creative Exchange, Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras, Birmingham University Singers, etc.

3) Enjoy state-of-the-art facilities 

Elgar Concert Hall with BEAST equipment and blue lightOur Music department is over 100 years old, but boasts state-of-the-art 21st century facilities, within the multimillion pound Bramall Music Building and University Music Hub projects. These include fantastic features such as the highly versatile Elgar Concert Hall, the Electroacoustic Music Studios, dedicated Early Music Performance spaces, recording facitilities, and extensive practice and rehearsal spaces. Concerts also take place in the magnificent Art Deco concert hall in our on-campus gallery, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

4) Make the most of the widest range of music-making of any U.K. campus

University Music offers two full-sized orchestras, 11 choirs, Wind Band, Brass Band, Saxophone Choir, New Music Ensemble, Folk Band, and the award-winning Jazz Orchestra and multiple small jazz and chamber music groups. There are vast opportunities to perform on campus, including the annual student-run ‘Summer Festival of Music’, and off-campus and work on numerous projects with partners such as Birmingham’s CBSO (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), Gospel Revisted Project, and even at the BBC Proms.

 University of Birmingham Singers at BBC Proms with BBC Proms Youth Choir

5) Connect with a vibrant, musical city

Students take part in a variety of projects across the city, such as Birmingham Opera productions, B:Music Jazz and Emerging Artists programmes and CBSO Youth Orchestra. The city of Birmingham itself is home to an eclectic offering of annual music festivals, including:

The city also engages with the University through our on-campus festivals, including:

Festivals aside, there is always something going on in Birmingham's diverse local music scene. From sell-out arenas and classical concert halls to intimate jazz and rock clubs, there really is something to suit all musical tastes.pushing piano