News Story
Over 6 jam-packed days in July, we brought live music to thousands of people across the city
We stepped out of Symphony Hall and into the city again this summer, bringing live music to 10 different venues in and around Birmingham.
We popped up at Birmingham New Street station again this year, as well as at the Botanical Gardens, the Library of Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, along the Canals, Ikon Gallery and on the newly wrapped CBSO West Midlands Metro Tram. We also visited the Black Country Living Museum for the first time, as well as the RBSA Gallery and Chapter in Edgbaston.
It was a jam-packed few days and we had so much fun playing orchestral favourites around the city.
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CBSO at New Street Station
Wow - just Wow!! To get off a train into Birmingham New Street and find our wonderful CBSO in full swing with great music being enjoyed by the crowds around the station. They really are a fabulous promoter of what the city has to offer. Thank you.
Audience member
We reached over 3.4 million people on social media during CBSO in the City this year, mostly due to a very special tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne.
We were honoured to perform a Black Sabbath song in tribute to Ozzy at our New Street station performance. A huge thank you to Birmingham Royal Ballet for allowing us to perform this piece from ‘Black Sabbath - The Ballet’, composed by Sun Keting and orchestrated by Christopher Austin.
We feel proud to have touched the hearts of so many people and to have been a part of the city's showcase of appreciation for the Brummie icon that was Ozzy Osbourne.
'It was brilliant and a very fitting tribute to Ozzy'
'There needs to be more orchestral covers of metal'
'Unbelievable, what a fittingly epic tribute'
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CBSO across the city
Did you manage to book one of our £1 tickets? We're delighted that so many West Midlands residents were able to take up the offer and book a concert in our 2025-26 Season for just one pound.
For the rest of the week, smaller chamber ensembles took to the city and we passed out thousands of the ticket offers to the people of Birmingham. If you didn't manage to secure a £1 ticket, keep an eye out as we may be bringing back similar offers in the future.
Utter joy at the string quartet at Ikon last Thursday and really delighted to have got my two £1 tickets for 'Rite of Spring' next June! Thank you for the music - just beautiful!
Audience member
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CBSO captured in pen
Birmingham Artist Roger Hale followed us around the city and sketched as he went! Check out the incredible drawings capturing some of the events from the week.
The idea of taking the orchestra out to the city, rather than expecting the city to come to it, is brilliant! For me, the business of sketching the CBSO in so many unusual locations has enhanced my appreciation of the music itself. Congratulations to all involved!
Roger Hale
The week on Social Media
'This was epic on a very large scale'
Audience member
We’re hugely grateful for the generous support provided by John Osborn CBE and NBB Law which helped to make these events possible.
