Spring highlights for University Music
University Music are delighted to report the continued success of music-making on campus, with a varied programme of concerts and events this Spring.
This semester features the launch of the CrossCurrents Festival 2026, which is celebrating its tenth year as a festival of new music at the University of Birmingham. The festival will officially launch at The Bond, Digbeth on Wednesday 18 February, where guests will be treated to DJ sets, performance art, and visual art installations from current students, alumni, and visiting performers.
Featuring in the event will be the New Music Ensemble, who will also perform a standalone concert of contemporary music later in February. Joining them for Martijn Padding’s ‘Three Reflections on Previous Thoughts’ will be players from the Philharmonic Orchestra, plus additional saxophonists and rhythm players from Jazz Orchestra.
The Philharmonic Orchestra are also delighted to be returning to Ryan Latimer’s piece ‘Dromsong’ following its exciting world premiere as part of the 125th Anniversary concert in June 2025. Led by Director of Orchestral Studies Daniele Rosina, the orchestra will also perform Stravinsky’s enchanting ‘Suite from The Firebird’ alongside works by Ravel and Rodney Bennett in their March concert.
Over at the CBSO Centre, the University Jazz Orchestra will be joining forces with the internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Percy Pursglove. Another highlight of the CrossCurrents programme, the orchestra will be performing Percy’s suite ’27: The Ferryman and his unwanted shades of the dead’, a thought-provoking work which draws inspiration from current events and Greek mythology.
As regular commissioners of new music, Director of Choirs Mariana Rosas, and Bob Chilcott are thrilled to present the world premiere of ‘Roots at Work’ by Indian-American composer Shruthi Rajesekar. Directed by Bob Chilcott, the piece will be performed by the Birmingham University Singers as part of the CrossCurrents festival and draws on themes of urbanism, meditation, and space.
University Chorus are pleased to be working this semester with guest conductor Elliot Mercer, a Music alumnus and Assistant Conductor at the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain. The programme for this concert is centred around Vivaldi’s famous ‘Gloria’ with additional pieces from Vaughan Williams, Elgar, and Elaine Hagenberg. We are also pleased to welcome back organist Nick Wearne to accompany the choir on the Elgar Concert Hall’s Garnier Organ.
In a few weeks’ time, the University Brass Band will be heading to Newport to defend their title at the 2026 UniBrass contest. Directed by Steve Kane, the band will perform a twenty-minute entertainment set crafted to tell the story of a dramatic storm rescue, hoping to impress the adjudicators with their musicality and technical precision! The University Gospel Choir will also be travelling further afield to compete in the University Gospel Choir of the Year competition in Croydon.
University Music provides the University of Birmingham with one of the liveliest music-making scenes of any campus. With around 1500 positions available in our 35-plus ensembles, members participate in a variety of instrumental and vocal groups, across a range of abilities and styles. University Music is open to students, staff, and the local community, and provides participants with opportunities for professional coaching, exceptional concerts, and also offers scholarships for incoming students to the University.
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