The music department recently took students of music at GCSE and A level, and students who have instrumental lessons at school, on a trip to experience live classical music at Birmingham Symphony Hall. A Level music student, Cassidy Jeffery, has written the following account of the trip:

I was excited to experience my first formal classical concert and the Birmingham City Symphony Orchestra did not disappoint. On arriving in the venue, it was interesting to listen to a few of the brass members warming up and the sound getting louder as more players entered and practised their parts.

The orchestra began with Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which I recognised thanks to the Disney movie Fantasia, and they played it incredibly. I could not take my eyes away from the string section, how they used their bows, how much of the bow they used and how every single player was in sync. When there were rests, it was the loudest silence, with not a single audience member daring to breathe.
Next was Clara-Jumi Kang playing Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No 2. I did not know this piece beforehand but she played so well that after the 3rd movement the audience clapped so hard that she came out to do an encore that was also played beautifully. She played so delicately but the room carried every sound.

After the interval, the orchestra played Dvorak’s Symphony No 8 which I had not heard before either but, again, the orchestra was amazing. This time I tried to pay attention to other instruments like the timpani, the flutes and the conductor. It was clear to see the important role she played in bringing the orchestra together and I hope that I will get to see another professional orchestra live in the future.