News Story
It's been two years since the opening of Shireland CBSO Academy. We went behind the scenes during the start of the autumn term to find out more about how our musicians get involved at the school.
Students attending Shireland receive a broad education covering the full national curriculum with an expectation that they strive for both academic and musical excellence. Now entering its third year, the school recently welcomed a new cohort of year sevens and since starting, they've been presented with a range of exciting opportunities including choosing an instrument and meeting CBSO musicians and guest artists.
An instrument for all
During the first week of the academic year, the new year sevens attended an instrument fair, where they were able to listen and discover which instrument they'd like to start learning.
CBSO musicians and members of Sandwell Music Service were there to showcase a variety of instruments, from bassoon to violin, offering demonstrations to show the different versatility and opportunities of sound, colour and scope of each instrument.
The instrument fair was great! We got to try out so many different instruments and make the choice of which one we wanted to play.
Niya, Year Seven Shireland Pupil
A CBSO Introduction
The school year opened with a concert featuring CBSO musicians performing music from Strauss to John Williams, giving the students a chance to hear their newly chosen instruments played live, conducted by Jack Lovell-Huckle and presented by Joanna Patton.
The ensemble also featured Music Aptitude students from the school, who are pupils that show music excellence in their work. The students were invited to sit alongside CBSO musicians and play in the ensemble.
I really enjoyed the opening concert! I loved that the players got involved, dancing along with the music. It was a fun start to the year.
Nevaya, Year Seven Shireland Pupil
It was a huge honour to present the concert this year. For the new intake, this is likely their first experience of the CBSO and for them to see their fellow year 8 and 9 aptitude students playing with the CBSO is both inspiring and motivating. For us, it is a real privilege to see and support their ongoing development in terms of capability, self awareness and confidence. You cannot buy talent; it has to be discovered, nurtured and developed. That is why the CBSO & Shireland partnership is so special and unique.
Jo Patton, CBSO Principal Second Clarinet
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Guest artist inspiration visits
Every year, CBSO musicians and guest artists visiting the CBSO are invited to attend inspiration visits at the school. These sessions provide the opportunity for students to learn more about the music industry and participate in workshops specific to their own instruments.
We kicked off the year's visits with violinist Fenella Humphreys. Fenella led the students through a Q&A session where they could learn more about her career journey, followed by a violin masterclass.
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CBSO musicians also deliver masterclass-style workshops to Shireland pupils. Earlier this term, Second Violinists Charlotte and Bryony delivered a violin inspiration visit to students in year seven, eight and nine.
The violin inspiration workshop with Charlotte and Bryony was brilliant. They were both so welcoming, and I loved that we were able to play some pieces together. We could get involved in as much as we felt comfortable to, so everybody felt comfortable.
Dia, Year Seven Shireland Pupil
The violin inspiration workshop was amazing! I loved that Charlotte and Bryony got to play to us and that we also got to play together as a group.
Grace, Year Seven Shireland Pupil
What's to come
The rest of 2025 is set to be filled with activity for the pupils at Shireland.
- The CBSO bassoons will be performing their Centre Stage concert programme at the school for pupils in year eight and nine in November.
- Elspeth and Neil, CBSO Horn players, will lead a french horn inspiration workshop.
- Charlotte Skinner will give a careers talk to sixth formers, giving insight into becoming a professional musician.
- Toby Kearney, Principal Percussion and Timpani, will be partnering with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to give two days of percussion workshops for years seven to nine.
- The term rounds off with a Christmas concert on Thursday 11 December.
