14th – 15th March 2026
Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

CONCERT PROGRAMMES

These concerts will feature music from a variety of genres and are a culmination of the work undertaken in SFE Central Ensemble rehearsals throughout the year so far.

At Services For Education, we are deeply committed to providing young people with the chance to experience the magic of making music. We believe that talent shouldn’t be limited by a price tag; that’s why our Ensembles programme remains fully funded, ensuring every young person in our city has an equal seat at the table and a voice in the orchestra.

A Heartfelt Thank You

While our dedicated teachers and conductors provide the guidance, this evening wouldn’t be happening without a very specific group of heroes: you. To the parents, carers, and families: thank you for being the ultimate logistics team. We know that behind every polished performance are countless car rides, rescheduled dinners, and the unwavering commitment to getting your children to rehearsals on time. Your support is the foundation of everything we see on stage tonight.

Why We Do What We Do

Music is about more than just hitting the right notes. It builds resilience, fosters teamwork, and empowers students to be the best versions of themselves. Having joined the Birmingham community just over a year ago, I am constantly inspired by the grit and passion of our staff and students alike.

Our Partners

We would also like to extend our gratitude to:

Arts Council England: For their vital and ongoing support of our mission.
The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire: For providing such a world-class setting for our young musicians to shine.

Now, it’s time to let the music speak for itself.

Please, sit back and enjoy the concert!

Richard Mabbott

Head of Music Service

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Programme details

14th March 2026
Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Compere – Sarah Chatt

Birmingham Schools’ Percussion Ensemble Conductor: Bethan Jones

Raspberry Tango	Dustin Schulze
Aquarium	Camille Saint-Saëns arr. Matt Moore
Locked Out of Heaven	Bruno Mars arr. Bethan Jones

Birmingham Schools’ Piano and Keyboard Ensemble Conductor: Andrew Ross and Wayne Duffell

Divenire	Ludovico Einaudi arr. Wayne Duffell
Thinking Out Loud	Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge arr. Andy Ross
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)	George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam arr. Wayne Duffell

Birmingham Schools’ Concert Band Conductor: Saphran Ali

Propulsion	Robert Buckley
For Good	Stephen Schwartz arr. Michael Brown
Thor: The Dark World	Brian Tyler arr. Frank Bernaerts
From Now On	Benj Pasek & Justin Paul arr. Paul Murtha

INTERVAL

Birmingham Schools’ Junior String Orchestra Conductor: Kirsteen Scott Leader: Madeleine Sykes

Air and Les Bouffons	Peter Martin
Joyride	Doug Spata
Morning Star	Katie O’Hara LaBrie
Wheels of Fury	Chris Thomas

Birmingham Schools’ Wind Orchestra Conductor: Tom Stoneman

Amazonia	Peter Graham
Variations on a Korean Folk Song	John Barnes Chance
How to Train Your Dragon	John Powell arr. Sean O’Loughlin

List of ensembles and schools playing tonight

Birmingham Schools’ Percussion Ensemble

Birmingham Schools’ Piano and Keyboard Ensemble

Birmingham Schools’ Concert Band

Birmingham Schools’ Junior String Orchestra

Birmingham Schools’ Wind Orchestra

*Photography/Filming Guidance For Parents/Carers and Concert Attendees - Please Read*

This information is for concert attendees who do not work for Services For Education.

Services For Education will not take and use identifiable images of children and young people (under 18 years old) without permission from a parent/carer to do so.
Parents/carers are asked annually to accept our SFE filming and photography policy. Changes can be made to the permissions at any time in the year using the ensembles portal.
At events we ask parents/carers to be mindful of other children and ensure photos are only for personal use. Should you wish to share a photograph on social media, it must be a long-range photograph that doesn't clearly identify any other children/ young people.
Please check your privacy settings on your social media account to understand who else will be able to view any images they share.
Where photographs are taken at an event attended by large crowds (a concert or awards event for example), this is regarded as a public area, so it is not necessary to get permission of everyone in a crowd shot. However, we will always gain permission from parents/carers for any children who appear and are identifiable in these images.
If you have any concerns about images being shared, please contact us at marketing@servicesforeducation.co.uk or if you have any questions relating to data protection please contact the company's Data Protection Officer, tel: (0)121 366 9950, email dpo@servicesforeducation.co.uk

Print/Download tonight’s programme

Book your tickets here

Programme details

15th March 2026
Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Compere – Adam Hickman

Birmingham Schools’ Training Percussion Ensemble

Conductor: Sarah Chatt

Sabre Dance	Aram Khachaturian arr. James L Moore
Musou Tsuribashi	Robert Francis

Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble

Conductor: Tom Reed

Alta Vista	Peter Nuttall
Time (from the soundtrack to ‘Inception’)	Hans Zimmer arr. Tom Reed
Las Trillizas de Toledo	Tom Reed

Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble & Training Percussion Ensemble (Collaboration)

Conductor: Tom Reed

How Many Stars!

Sara Colman arr. Tom Reed & Bethan Jones

Birmingham Schools’ Jazz Band

Conductor: Paul Douglas

Doxy	Sonny Rollins arr. Mark Taylor
Bob-Omb Battlefield from ‘Super Mario 64’	Koji Kondo arr. Charlie Roen
Happy from ‘Despicable Me 2’	Pharrell Williams arr. Mike Tomaro
Hay Burner	Sammy Nestico

INTERVAL

Birmingham Schools’ Steel Band

Conductor: Stephon Phillip

This Melody Sweet	Winsford Devines arr. Stephon Phillip
Place Your Hands	Gary Stringer, Kenwyn House, Jack Beasant, Dominic Greensmith

Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Daniele Rosina

Leader: Tara Sidhu

Vltava (The Moldau)	Bedrich Smetana
Finlandia	Jean Sibelius

List of ensembles and schools playing tonight

Birmingham Schools’ Training Percussion Ensemble

Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble

Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble & Training Percussion Ensemble (Collaboration)

Birmingham Schools’ Jazz Band

Birmingham Schools’ Steel Band

Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra

*Photography/Filming Guidance For Parents/Carers and Concert Attendees - Please Read*

This information is for concert attendees who do not work for Services For Education.

Services For Education will not take and use identifiable images of children and young people (under 18 years old) without permission from a parent/carer to do so.
Parents/carers are asked annually to accept our SFE filming and photography policy. Changes can be made to the permissions at any time in the year using the ensembles portal.
At events we ask parents/carers to be mindful of other children and ensure photos are only for personal use. Should you wish to share a photograph on social media, it must be a long-range photograph that doesn't clearly identify any other children/ young people.
Please check your privacy settings on your social media account to understand who else will be able to view any images they share.
Where photographs are taken at an event attended by large crowds (a concert or awards event for example), this is regarded as a public area, so it is not necessary to get permission of everyone in a crowd shot. However, we will always gain permission from parents/carers for any children who appear and are identifiable in these images.
If you have any concerns about images being shared, please contact us at marketing@servicesforeducation.co.uk or if you have any questions relating to data protection please contact the company's Data Protection Officer, tel: (0)121 366 9950, email dpo@servicesforeducation.co.uk

Print/Download tonight’s programme

SFE Ensembles Hoodies & T-shirts FOR SALE

As it’s Spring concert season, we are pleased to say that our SFE Ensembles hoodies and t-shirts are available to order. But this can only be done via the link below.

In collaboration with Wave-Ed, a Birmingham-based design and print company, we are excited to offer Ensembles hoodies and t-shirts, with at least £7 from every sale being donated to SFE.

As with most good things, there is a limited time window. The online shop will close for orders on Friday 3rd April, 9.00 am. The orders will then be printed and delivered to Ensembles late in April for distribution.

They are available in a range of sizes, with t-shirts available in black and grey, and hoodies available in grape (purple), pacific (green), turquoise (blue), black and grey. You also have the option of personalisation if you wish (up to four letters).

Hoodies – Unpersonalised £25 / Personalised £28
T-Shirts – Unpersonalised £20 / Personalised £23

Photo Credit: Paul Painter | Commercial Photographer

ORDER HERE

To all our individual donors for all your support

We want to express an enormous amount of gratitude to all of you who donate individually to our charitable causes, it really makes a difference.

Services For Education creates opportunities for disadvantaged children, young people and adults in Birmingham and for every donation you make, you make a difference to someone else’s life by giving them opportunity to be a part of a free ensemble, receive a free instrument as well as becoming socially connected.

Want to support Services For Education Ensembles? Come along to our Spring Concerts or donate online today. Every donation will make a real difference.

donate today

WHY SUPPORT US

At Services For Education, we know that music changes lives.

By providing our music ensembles and many of our music lessons for free, we ensure that children in Birmingham have the opportunity to learn a new instrument, to feel socially connected and to find and share a passion and skill with others, no matter what their background is.

Music-Service_We-Provide-Free-Instruments-services-for-education

Remove Financial Barriers to Music

We provide free instrument loans to those who need them and all of our ensembles are free, making them accessible to everyone.

Provide a Better Music Education for All

Playing as part of an ensemble and performing live to audiences are really important skills for a full and enriched music education.

Provide a Community for Children in Birmingham

Our ensembles players have a chance to become part of our community, socialise with friends and share their passion for music.

“Our son started to play as part of Birmingham orchestra’s when he was just 8 years old. He’s now 16 and has continued to enjoy being part of these amazing ensembles.

He has inspired his younger sisters and it has been a joy and a source of such pride to hear young people making such a positive contribution! After 2 years of being separate, coming together to hear them play live again has been so special. Very much looking forward to the youth proms this year.”

Aiesha Wright – Parent

‘My son has gained so much from his membership of an SFE ensemble over the last two years. Having initially auditioned and gained a place during the pandemic when everything had moved online, music was a vital part of our lives during lockdown.

It has been heartwarming seeing how much he has enjoyed his participation and consequently just how much practice he puts into his violin playing – his teachers have been truly inspirational. Thank you so much to the whole team for what you do!’

Hamayoon Sultan – Parent

Want to support Services For Education Ensembles? Come along to our Spring Concerts or donate online today. Every donation will make a real difference.

donate