City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Short nameCBSO
Former nameCity of Birmingham Orchestra
Founded1920
Concert hallSymphony Hall, Birmingham
Music directorKazuki Yamada
Websitecbso.co.uk

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. It is the resident orchestra at Symphony Hall, Birmingham in Birmingham, which has been its principal performance venue since 1991.[1] Its administrative and rehearsal base is at the nearby CBSO Centre, where it also presents chamber concerts by members of the orchestra and guest performers.[2]

Each year, the CBSO performs more than 150 concerts[3] in Birmingham, the UK and around the world. With a far-reaching community programme and a family of choruses and youth ensembles, it is involved in every aspect of music-making in the Midlands. At its centre is a team of 90 professional musicians, and over a 100-year tradition of making music, in the heart of Birmingham. The CBSO has four choirs – the CBSO Chorus, Youth Chorus, Children's Chorus and SO Vocal (our un-auditioned community choir). The CBSO Choruses are directed by Simon Halsey, Chorus Director, who celebrated his 40 year anniversary with the CBSO in the 2023 season. The Children's and Youth Chorus are led by Julian Wilkins, Associate Chorus Director. SO Vocal is conducted by Lucy Hollins.[4]

The current chief conductor and artistic adviser of the CBSO is Kazuki Yamada, effective April 2023.

  1. ^ "Symphony Hall". City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  2. ^ "City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra". Association of British Orchestras. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Who We Are".
  4. ^ "Sing with the CBSO".