The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) returns this summer with its acclaimed week-long musical takeover, CBSO in the City. Running from Wednesday 23 to Monday 28 July 2025, this much-anticipated second edition reaffirms the CBSO’s commitment to reach new audiences across the West Midlands and develop deeper connections with the city it calls home.
Building on the success of 2024’s inaugural CBSO in the City, which saw over 25 free performances in iconic and everyday locations across Birmingham, the 2025 programme blends rich musical experiences with moments of joyful spontaneity – taking the orchestra out of the concert hall and into the heart of the community.
This year’s festival offers an exciting series of free, un-ticketed performances right across the city, bringing CBSO musicians to some of Birmingham’s most recognisable venues. Highlights include:
· New Street Station: pop-up performances for commuters
· Library of Birmingham: including a space-themed family concert & string quintet with sitar in their wellbeing space
· Ikon Gallery and RBSA Gallery: showcasing chamber groups in gallery settings
· Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery: featuring flute and harp duets
· Birmingham Botanical Gardens: string quartets & wind quintets in serene garden surroundings
· Black Country Living Museum: brass quintets adding musical flair to the historic setting
· West Midlands Metro: a clarinet trio bringing music on the move
Each performance is designed to meet audiences where they are – whether in transit, at leisure, or exploring with family – while showcasing the full diversity of the orchestra. From Star Wars and Brahms in New Street Station, to strings & winds among the blooms at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, a string quartet at the Ikon Gallery, and even a clarinet trio riding the West Midlands Metro.
As part of the celebrations, the orchestra is calling on Birmingham residents to nominate their street for the chance to host an unforgettable pop-up performance later this year.
CBSO Music Director Kazuki Yamada leads the spirit of this initiative. He says: “For me, music is about connection. Taking the orchestra outside the concert hall helps us meet people where they are – and share something powerful, beautiful and unexpected.”
CBSO Chief Executive Emma Stenning adds: “CBSO in the City promises to once again fill Birmingham with incredible music, reimagining the city’s spaces as stages for celebration and musical discovery. From familiar faces to new friends, we’re excited to delight audiences, share special moments, and celebrate the vibrant spirit of our city. We believe music is for everyone – and this is one of the most joyful ways we bring it to life.”
CBSO in the City is generously supported by John Osborn CBE and NBB Law.
While all events are free and unticketed, standard admission applies at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, RBSA Gallery, and Black Country Living Museum.
Full event listings and times can be found at:
About the CBSO
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is an internationally celebrated symphonyorchestra, at home in Birmingham. A family of 90 incredible musicians, led by Music DirectorKazuki Yamada, proud to make exciting musical experiences that matter to the people ofBirmingham, the West Midlands and beyond. Resident at Symphony Hall, the orchestra’s musicians perform over 150 concerts each year inBirmingham, the UK and around the world, with music that ranges from classics to contemporary,soundtracks to symphonies, and everything in between.
With a far-reaching community andeducation programme, a ground-breaking partnership with Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust,and a family of choruses and youth ensembles, it is involved in every aspect of music-making inthe Midlands – and has been for more than 100 years. This longstanding tradition started with the orchestra’s very first symphonic concert in 1920 –conducted by Sir Edward Elgar. Ever since then, through war, recessions, social change and civicrenewal, the CBSO has been proudly ‘Birmingham’s orchestra’. Under principal conductorsincluding Adrian Boult, George Weldon, Andrzej Panufnik and Louis Frémaux, the CBSO won anartistic reputation that spread far beyond the Midlands. But it was when it discovered the youngBritish conductor Simon Rattle in 1980 that the CBSO became internationally famous – andshowed how the arts can help give a new sense of direction to a whole city.
Rattle’s successors, Sakari Oramo, Andris Nelsons and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, helped cement thatglobal reputation and continued to build on the CBSO’s tradition of flying the flag for Birmingham.In April 2023, Emma Stenning was appointed Chief Executive and Kazuki Yamada took up thepost of Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor, and in May 2024 became Music Director. Undertheir dynamic leadership, the orchestra continues to celebrate the joy of music and ofBirmingham through creating unmissable and unforgettable musical experiences for all. The CBSO is supported by its principal funders Arts Council England and SCC.