Central Ensembles

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.

Updated Rehearsal and Concert Dates 2022-23

UPDATED REHEARSAL AND CONCERT DATES Central Ensemble 2022-23

Click here to view and download the PDF

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
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 only

Our SFE Central Ensembles rehearse weekly during term time, are free to attend, and entry is via audition.

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. 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. 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. Young musicians that are offered and accept a place in one of our SFE Ensemble are expected to maintain regular instrumental or vocal tuition to enable continued personal improvement.

How to register and apply (New Central Ensemble members only)

Please watch this video for a step-by-step guide:

Visit https://ensembles.servicesforeducation.co.uk
Login to or register for an account (you may already have an account if you have attended a departmental event)
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 ‘Apply for a Central Ensemble’
Complete the information and select the ‘New Member Audition for Sept 2023’ option
Check the timeline below for key dates
Visit https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/central-ensembles/ to check audition requirements

Audition timeline

The ensembles portal is now open now for registration for 2023-24 membership and will close on 25^th May.
Workshop auditions for all new members will take place as follows in the week of 5^th June 2023.

Monday 5^th June for Dhol, Tabla, Sitar and Steel Pan players
Tuesday 6^th June for Percussion Ensembles
Thursday 7^th June for Brass Bands
Saturday 9^th June for Wind Bands and String Orchestras

You will be contacted on 26^th June with full details of the workshop auditions available to your young musician. Please note that the workshop audition sessions your young musician is offered will be based on the information you provide us with so please complete instrument grade question as accurately as possible (if no grades have been taken please indicate and approximate grade).
Following the workshop sessions we will contact parents/carers on Friday 21^st July to confirm ensemble offers for 2023-24.

If you have any questions, please email ensembles@servicesforeducation.co.uk

Monday 10th July 2023	Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra Birmingham Schools’ Azaad Dhol Group Birmingham Schools’ Training Brass Band Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble Birmingham Schools’ Percussion Ensemble Birmingham Schools’ Primary Choir featuring: Colmore Junior school Guardian Angels Primary School Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Slade Primary School Brookfields Primary West Heath Primary School Abbey Catholic Primary School Kings Norton Primary School Mere Green Primary School Birmingham Schools’ Massed Ensemble featuring: St Mary’s C of E Selly Oak St Edward’s Catholic Primary School Whithouse Common Primary School KEVI Handsworth Grammar School St Francis C of E Primary School New Oscott Primary School Guitars St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School Mere Green Primary School Pans Birches Green Junior School Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Kings Norton Primary School Cockshut Hill School Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Year 7 Ensemble Swanshurst School
Tuesday 11th July 2023	Birmingham Schools’ Brass Band Birmingham Schools’ Training Wind Orchestra Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Sinfonia Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Sinfonia Birmingham Schools’ Singers Birmingham Schools’ Primary Choir featuring: Benson Community School Christ Church CE Primary School Hill West Primary Kings Heath Primary Ladypool Primary Oaklands Primary School Priestley Smith Special School St John Fisher Primary School Tiverton Academy Woodthorpe J&I School Bournville Village Primary School Mansfield Green E-ACT Primary Academy Birmingham Schools’ Massed Ensemble featuring: Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Bournville Village Primary School St Laurence Church Junior School Queensbridge School Mansfield Green E-ACT Academy Cofton Primary School St Mary’s C of E Primary Academy Handsworth St Cuthbert’s Primary School Archbishop Ilesley Catholic School UoB School KEVI Northfield School for Girls Dame Ellen Pinsent School
Wednesday 12th July 2023	Birmingham Schools’ Concert Band Birmingham Schools’ String Sinfonia Birmingham Schools’ Training Percussion Ensemble Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Ensemble Birmingham Schools’ Symphonic Brass Birmingham Schools’ Primary Choir featuring: Barford Primary King Solomon Intenational Business School Lakey Lane Primary School Maryvale Catholic Primary School Minworth J+I school Penns Primary Severen Primary School St Matthew’s C of E Primary School The Oaks Primary School Wilson Stuart School St Laurence Church Junior School St Georges C of E Academy Newtown Birmingham Schools’ Massed Ensemble featuring : Grendon Primary School Washwood Heath Academy King Edwards Sheldon Heath Academy St Francis C of E Primary School St Wilfred’s Catholic Primary School Featherstone Primary School Deanery C of E Primary School Swanshurst School Cherry Orchard Primary School Boldmere Junior School Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Abbey Catholic Primary School William Murdoch Primary School St Mary’s C of E Primary School (strings) Worlds End Junior School Waverley School
Thursday 13th July 2023	Birmingham Schools’ Wind Orchestra Birmingham Schools’ Junior String Orchestra Birmingham Schools’ Raga and Tala Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Ensemble Birmingham Schools’ Steel Band Birmingham Schools’ Jazz Ensemble Birmingham Schools’ Primary Choir featuring: Elms Farm Harborne Primary School Little Sutton primary Our Lady and St Rose of Lima Catholic Primary School Pegasus Primary School Rednal Hill Junior School St Joseph’s Catholic Primary school Turves Green Primary William Murdoch Primary Birmingham Schools’ Massed Ensemble featuring: Bournville perc and guitar Aston Manor Academy Abbey Catholic Lea Forest Primary Academy Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School SFE UoB Area Ensemble Maney Hill Primary School Oasis Academy Short Heath Westminster Primary School Acocks Green Primary St George’s School Edgbaston Raddlebarn Primary School Plantsbrook School Kings Norton Girls’ School

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 2,000 young people from across Birmingham and form over 70 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.

Become a Friend of Services For Education for as little as £3 per month to support our ensembles. Or, if you’d prefer make a one-off donation.

Find out more on our Charity Website.