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
11th to 17th October 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. There is no requirement to prepare any music before attending an open rehearsal.
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.
The following ensembles will be holding open rehearsals in October 2025. Please choose the group you would like to attend from this list
Woodwind instruments: Training Orchestra, Saturday 0930-1200, Bournville School (B30 1SH)
Brass instruments: Training Orchestra (above) or Training Brass Band, Thursday 1700-1830, St George’s School (B15 1RX)
Percussion instruments: Training Orchestra (above), Training Brass Band (above) or Training Percussion Ensemble, Tuesday 1730-1900, Bournville School
String instruments: Training Orchestra (above)
Classical guitar: Training Guitar Ensemble, Thursday 1800-1930, Bournville School
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 6th October 2025.
You will receive a confirmation email on Wednesday 8th October 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
Autumn term, October 11th-17th
Spring term, tbc
Summer term, tbc
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
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.
If you would like to support our Ensembles, please visit our charity project page here: Music Ensembles – Services For Education (sfecharity.co.uk).
Sarah Chatt - Head of Department - Ensembles, Services For Education
Sarah Chatt studied Music at Birmingham Conservatoire and in New York, gaining both undergraduate and Master’s degrees. She has taught percussion and drum kit with SFE and in independent schools for over 25 years. She was instrumental in establishing Birmingham Schools’ Training Percussion Ensemble, which she has conducted since its creation nearly two decades ago.
Sarah is a committed advocate for the power of ensemble playing, valuing its impact on both musical development and young people’s confidence, teamwork, and wellbeing. She has a particular passion for creating ambitious and authentic performance opportunities at every level, from grass-roots school groups through to national and international stages.
Alongside her teaching and leadership, Sarah maintains a vibrant freelance performance career. She appears regularly with The Royal Shakespeare Company, Longborough Festival Opera, leading baroque ensembles and historically informed performances, bringing a wealth of professional experience to her educational work. Each summer Sarah can be found in muddy fields across the country performing in the orchestra and firing over 400 live cannons for the Battle Proms concerts!
Saphran Ali - Assistant Head of Ensembles, Services For Education
Saphran began his musical journey at secondary school, where his curiosity for a “strange instrument” led him to the Euphonium – and ultimately to a lifelong passion for music. He studied at Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating with honours in Euphonium and Trombone performance, and later completed a PGCE in Secondary Music Education.
Saphran joined Services For Education in 2013 as a brass teacher, and now serves as Assistant Head of Ensembles.
He plays a key role in shaping Birmingham’s vibrant youth music scene, leading and organising concerts across the city and working closely with young musicians as a conductor and tutor. He currently directs Birmingham Schools’ Brass Band, as well as assisting several central and area ensembles across the week.
Alongside his work with SFE, Saphran is an active performer and conductor. He is Principal Euphonium of the Championship Section Langley Band and Musical Director of the City of Birmingham Brass Band, Langley Community Brass, The People’s Orchestra and the People's Big Band. His playing and conducting has taken him from local stages to national championships and prestigious venues including Symphony Hall and the Lincoln Center in New York.
Saphran is proud to give back to the music service that first inspired him, helping the next generation of musicians grow in confidence, creativity, and skill.
Sara Wilson - Assistant Head of Ensembles, Services For Education
Sara graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 1994 and was appointed as flute teacher at Edgbaston High School for Girls and Stratford-upon-Avon Music Centre. Shortly after, she began working at RNIB New College in Worcester, teaching blind and partially sighted students.
In all of these posts, Sara established ensembles including flute choirs, recorder groups and full wind-bands.
In 2000, when Birmingham Music Service established their Flute Choir to provide more ensemble opportunities for the city's flautists, Sara was appointed as tutor and worked alongside various conductors. Since then, she has tutored with Birmingham Schools' Training Wind Orchestra and Birmingham Schools' Symphony Orchestra, as well as teaching woodwind in the city.
Sara's passion for ensemble playing has led her to her current post as Assistant Head of Ensembles for Services for Education. She believes that her background in state, grammar and private schools gives her a unique insight into the range of pupils who engage with the SFE ensembles system.
