Harmonie Concert Band, Solihull
Charity 1186354
Overview
Summary
Harmonie Concert Band appears to combine an inclusive community music ensemble with a targeted educational-support role in Solihull. Its core model is regular collective participation and public performance, while its charitable structure extends this beyond members through the Tony Veal Award for disadvantaged secondary students. The organisation also seems to use seasonal events to build relationships with local charities, retailers and faith settings, positioning wind-band music as both a cultural activity and a means of civic connection.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sheldon
Confidence: medium
The charity's current Charity Commission activity description identifies 'Carols at Morrison's in Sheldon' as one of three regular pre-Christmas events. Morrisons' official store finder confirms a Sheldon store. This is direct evidence of recurring public performance activity in Sheldon, although it does not identify ward boundaries and appears to be a periodic event rather than a permanent base.
- Charity Commission for England and Wales, charity 1186354 record
The charity states that it performs public concerts and has three regular events before Christmas, including 'Carols at Morisson's in Sheldon'. - Morrisons official Sheldon store finder
Morrisons identifies a supermarket in Sheldon.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available evidence indicates that the band's principal rehearsal base and scheduled main concerts are in Solihull, outside Birmingham; it does not identify a permanent Birmingham delivery site.
- The Birmingham registered address in Moseley has not been treated as an operational site, because the evidence does not show that rehearsals, concerts or services are delivered there.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham and Solihull as places where the charity operates, but do not specify further Birmingham wards or the frequency, dates or scale of activity beyond the recurring Sheldon event.
- The band's regular event with Marie Curie West Midlands may extend its reach, but the available evidence does not identify a Birmingham venue, so it cannot support inclusion of another Birmingham operational area.
Additional evidence needed
- A current programme or events calendar confirming the locations and frequency of all public performances during 2026.
- Confirmation from the band of whether it uses any Birmingham rehearsal, storage, administration or performance venues beyond the Sheldon Morrisons event.
- Details from Marie Curie West Midlands or the band identifying the venue for the Lights to Remember event and whether it is held in Birmingham.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
An open-access ensemble with a focused equity mechanism
The band appears to serve broad participation while directing financial support specifically towards economically disadvantaged secondary-age wind-instrument learners. This suggests an attempt to pair universal welcome with a practical response to unequal access to music tuition.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the organisation from a performance group that is only member-facing: it has an explicit charitable pathway intended to widen access to musical development.
Show evidence
“The charity offers people of all ages and musical ability opportunities to develop musical education and perform publicly as part of an ensemble.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity provides scholarships for economically disadvantaged students in secondary education to fund wind instrument music tuition.”
Source:Charity Commission“We welcome all wind, brass and percussion instrumentalists who like to play and make music, and welcome all abilities.”
Source:Organisation
Public performance is the organisation's connective infrastructure
Concerts and recurring seasonal appearances appear to be more than an artistic output: they are the main mechanism through which the band becomes visible, sustains participation and connects with local institutions.
Why it matters
Understanding this helps identify where relationships, audiences, volunteers, donations and potential collaboration are most likely to form.
Show evidence
“We rehearse weekly, preparing concerts which take place at the end of each school term.”
Source:Organisation“Regular Christmas events include Lights to Remember with Marie Curie West Midlands, Carols at Morrisons in Sheldon and a Christmas Carol Service at St. Margaret's Olton.”
Source:Organisation“The main public concerts are a Winter/Festive concert and a Spring Big Blow Out Concert.”
Source:Organisation
The band may be a bridge between amateur participation and local music education
Its long-standing mixed-ability ensemble, extensive repertoire library and leadership by a local teacher suggest it may offer a continuing route for musicians beyond formal lessons, while its scholarship links it back to school-age tuition.
Why it matters
This potential bridging role could make the band relevant to schools, instrumental tutors and youth-music organisations seeking progression routes for learners.
Show evidence
“The band has a long history of making ensemble playing accessible to players of all ages and abilities.”
Source:Organisation“The band has a library of over 400 pieces.”
Source:Organisation“The band is conducted by Chris Davies, a local teacher and musician involved in the Solihull music scene for decades.”
Source:Organisation
- It is unclear how many Tony Veal Awards are made, their value, and whether eligible students are being reached.
- There is no evidence about the band’s membership profile, audience reach, funding mix or formal relationships with schools and music services.
Remaining uncertainties
- Award data showing applications, recipients, referral routes and outcomes for supported students.
- Membership, audience and partnership information, including links with schools, tutors, venues and local music organisations.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
We perform various concerts for the public. The two main concerts are the Winter/Festive concert in late November and the Spring Big Blow Out Concert late March. We also now have three regular events in the run up to Christmas: Lights to Remember with Marie Curie West Midlands, Carols at Morisson's in Sheldon and a Christmas Carol Service at St. Margaret's Olton.
Charity objects
THE OBJECT OF THE CIO IS: TO ADVANCE, IMPROVE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN, AND APPRECIATION OF, THE ART AND SCIENCE OF WIND BAND MUSIC IN ALL ITS ASPECTS BY ANY MEANS THE TRUSTEES SEE FIT IN SOLIHULL AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, IN PARTICULAR BY: A) OFFERING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND MUSICAL ABILITY OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THEIR MUSICAL EDUCATION AND PERFORM IN PUBLIC AS PART OF AN ENSEMBLE; (B) PROVIDING ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION WITH GRANTS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AS SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE NAME OF THE CHARITY'S FOUNDER TONY VEAL, TO FUND WIND INSTRUMENT MUSIC TUITION.