University Music & Concerts at University of Birmingham

16/10/2026

Huge thanks to Gareth Brynmor John and Christopher Glynn for their phenomenal Barber Lunchtime Concert today!

The duo performed a gorgeous programme of English Art Song by Vaughan Williams, Finzi and Holst.

Next week we’re thrilled to be welcoming clarinettist Oleg Shebeta-Dragan and pianist Gunnar Mextorf for a fabulous recital featuring Bernstein’s Sonata for clarinet and piano, and we can’t wait to see you there!

09/10/2026

Less than two weeks now until we welcome the phenomenal In Echo for their Barber Evening Concert!

📆 Wednesday 21 October, 7.30-9.30pm
📍 Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building
🎟️ Tickets start at £6 and are available here: https://www.quaytickets.com/uobboxoffice/en-GB/shows/in%20echo%20with%20horatio%20clare-%20salt%20road/events

We look forward to seeing you there!

09/10/2026

The Elgar Concert Hall was packed to the rafters for today's Barber Lunchtime Concert from Fibonacci Quartet, and what a spectacular concert it was!

Following a sublime rendition of Mozart's String Quartet No.21, the quartet performed Janacek's explosive String Quartet No.2, as well as an arrangement of Moravian folk songs by the quartet themselves (featuring vocals from the quartet's very own violinist Kryštof!) which brought the house down.

Be sure to join us next Friday for your weekly chamber music fix, when we'll be joined by star baritone Gareth Brynmor John and our Head of Performance Ceri Owen for a lecture-recital exploring rarely-heard songs about the sea.

02/10/2026

What a fantastic lunchtime concert from Tom Borrow - Pianist!

Tom played a thrilling programme of pieces by Liszt, including his tremendous Sonata in B minor.

Join us next week for a concert from Fibonacci Quartet featuring pieces by Mozart and Janácek, and Moravian folk song arrangements!

25/09/2026

Still time to join us this evening for Radiant Dawn with The Gesualdo Six and Matilda Lloyd!

25/09/2026

An utterly sublime way to start our 2026/27 season!

We were thrilled to welcome Willard Carter Cello and Gorka Plada for a phenomenal first Barber Lunchtime Concert of the season, with a programme featuring pieces by Schumann, Fauré and Debussy 🎶

We’ll be joined next week by the fabulous pianist Tom Borrow - Pianist, and we look forward to seeing you there!

17/09/2026

17/09/2026

Tonight! Tickets available online.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱?

In 1588, amid the upheaval of the Reformation and the threat of the Spanish Armada, William Byrd fought an artistic battle, writing his ‘Reasons to Sing’, arguing for music’s spiritual and physical benefits.

400 years later this subject is as urgent as ever, inspiring a conference at the University of Birmingham (link in first comment for more information) – which features this hour-long concert of Jeffrey’s Top Ten most beautiful, spiritual pieces.

Programme includes:
Byrd Ave verum
Britten A Hymn to the Virgin
Joubert There is no rose
Lobo Versa est in luctum
Sheppard Our Father
Whitacre Sleep
Williams O Adonai

12/09/2026

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/university-of-birmingham-mourns-the-passing-of-john-whenham?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUSTv9wZG9mAWZkaWQWUOStmCOOnaCYBdfnopIBTopTXP2bC2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR41OKSDdyp390cl7pukY6T-2nlLZEP4xroAmKsK8d5W7fWT9QGY2eh07RxzDA_aem_7jHsOOYzChU0KhyxyxxdKA

We are sorry to report the death of John Whenham, Emeritus Professor and former Head of the Department of Music, on 16 August.

19/06/2026

Our 2026/27 Barber Evening Concerts are now live, plus our full Autumn lunchtime and University Music programme!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZnoIwsl4BU/?igsh=YnczbnRmMzhqN2Rl