City Of Birmingham Brass Band
Charity 700361
Overview
Summary
City of Birmingham Brass Band appears to be a performance-led voluntary music organisation that combines public cultural provision with musician development. Its charitable purpose is narrowly rooted in brass-band education, while its public identity presents a broader role: sustaining high-quality live music, engaging communities and creating opportunities for musicians across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. Its programme suggests that contests, civic-style performances and smaller-ensemble activity are mutually reinforcing parts of one operating model rather than separate strands.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bournbrook and Selly Park
Confidence: high
The band gives a regular, ongoing rehearsal location at the Selly Park Tavern in Selly Park. This is its clearest evidenced Birmingham operating base, although the venue is used for rehearsals rather than owned or leased by the charity.
- City of Birmingham Brass Band official website, Rehearsals section
The band states that rehearsals take place at the Skittle Alley, Selly Park Tavern, in Selly Park; the main band rehearses every Tuesday and alternate Sundays, with the small ensemble rehearsing on intervening Sundays. - Birmingham City Council, Bournbrook and Selly Park ward map
The council's current ward mapping identifies Bournbrook and Selly Park as the Birmingham ward covering the Selly Park area.
Bournville and Cotteridge
Confidence: medium
The band's official programme lists a public Autumn Concert at Bournville Parish Church on 10 October 2026. This is direct evidence of planned delivery in the ward, but it is a future one-off event rather than evidence of a permanent site or regular programme there.
- City of Birmingham Brass Band official website, Events page
The band lists an Autumn Concert in Bournville at Bournville Parish Church, St Francis of Assisi, for 10 October 2026. - Birmingham City Council, Bournville Parish Church directory entry and Bournville and Cotteridge ward map
The council records Bournville Parish Church in Bournville, and publishes Bournville and Cotteridge as the ward covering Bournville.
Remaining uncertainties
- The registered address is a Charity Commission contact address. It should not be treated as an operational site: the Commission records that the charity does not own or lease land or property.
- The available current programme provides only one scheduled Birmingham performance outside the rehearsal base. It does not evidence regular delivery across all Birmingham wards or in the City Centre.
- The organisation describes itself as performing across Birmingham and the West Midlands, and the Charity Commission records operations in Birmingham City, Solihull, Staffordshire, Walsall, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. This supports a regional overall footprint, but the available evidence does not show the frequency or intensity of activity in each area.
- The official website identifies a network of venues, associations, bands and technology providers, but does not establish which relationships currently involve material co-delivery, commissioned work or sustained activity in particular Birmingham areas.
Additional evidence needed
- A dated record of completed concerts, workshops, community engagements and contests for the most recent 12 to 24 months, including venues.
- Confirmation from the band of whether Selly Park Tavern is its sole regular operational base and whether it uses any other regular rehearsal, storage or administration sites.
- Information on active venue and organisational partnerships, including whether they involve recurring delivery in Birmingham rather than informal sector connections or supplier relationships.
- A current programme or annual activity report showing the geographic distribution and frequency of Birmingham performances.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Other Charitable Activities
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A cultural organisation with a developmental mission
The band appears to use public performance as both its main cultural output and its means of advancing musical education. Its stated commitment to inspiring future musicians suggests that audiences and participants may be connected within the same mission.
Why it matters
This frames the organisation as more than an events provider: it may be part of the local pathway through which brass-band skills, participation and audiences are renewed.
Show evidence
“The association's objects are to educate the public in music, particularly brass-band music, through concerts, activities and brass-band contests.”
Source:Charity Commission“The band is committed to high-quality music making, community engagement and inspiring the next generation of musicians.”
Source:Organisation
Competition and community performance appear complementary
The band appears to balance formal competitive activity with accessible local performance. This may help it maintain musical standards while remaining visible in community settings.
Why it matters
This combination can make the organisation a bridge between the specialist brass-band world and wider public cultural life, rather than being oriented solely to either contests or concerts.
Show evidence
“The band describes its activity as ranging from concert stages and contests to local events and collaborative projects.”
Source:Organisation“Upcoming events include Droitwich Spa Lido Bandstand, an autumn concert in Bournville and the Wychavon Festival of Brass contest.”
Source:Organisation
The band has a regional footprint despite its Birmingham identity
Although rooted in Birmingham through its name and rehearsal base, the band appears to operate across the West Midlands and nearby Worcestershire. Its local identity may therefore be a platform for regional cultural participation.
Why it matters
This suggests potential relationships with venues, festivals and audiences beyond Birmingham, which may be important when mapping its civic reach and possible collaborators.
Show evidence
“The band describes itself as performing across Birmingham and the West Midlands.”
Source:Organisation“Rehearsals take place at Selly Park Tavern in Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether the band delivers direct education, mentoring or youth participation beyond performances.
- How membership is structured and whether financial, access or experience barriers affect participation.
- Which community organisations, schools, venues or funders it collaborates with.
Remaining uncertainties
- A recent annual report or activity review showing participant numbers, audiences, outreach and partnerships.
- Information on membership pathways, fees, recruitment and any education or community-engagement projects.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The association was established to educate the public in the art and science of music and in particular the music of brass bands by the presentation of concerts and other activities including involvement in brass band contests.
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION SHALL BE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MUSIC AND IN PARTICULAR THE MUSIC OF BRASS BANDS BY THE PRESENTATION OF CONCERTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INVOLVEMENT IN BRASS BAND CONTESTS.