Harborne’s friendly, community orchestra was formed all the way back in 1940. Over decades the orchestra has grown and changed and now in 2025, the new team continue to practice and perform at venues in Harborne and across Birmingham.
We caught up with Michael Osborne from the Harborne Orchestra to get to know the group!
HVBID: The Harborne Orchestra has a long history here (and in Birmingham), for those just now discovering the orchestra could you let them know a little about the history?
The Harborne Orchestra, established in 1940, began as the Birmingham Municipal Orchestra aimed at providing an amateur and training environment for musicians. Over the decades, it evolved through various locations and leadership, with significant contributions from conductors Trevor Collins in the 1970s and Pat Ryan in the ‘noughties’ and 2010s, who enhanced the orchestra's repertoire and community engagement.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the orchestra changed venues and conductors, merging with the Causeway Green orchestra to maintain membership during low interest periods. 2002 was a significant year for the orchestra as it transitioned to a private organization after the adult education authority withdrew support.
In that format it has continued to thrive and in recent years adapted under conductor John Meadows and based at the QAC in Harborne, expanding its repertoire and presenting themed concerts.
HVBID: Now, in 2025, what can people expect from the orchestra?
In 2025, the orchestra has just over 30 standing members and is keen to add new players!
In the last couple of years we have adjusted our approach to concerts, doing 2 or 3 a year, creating a theme for each and trimming the programme to ‘around an hour’ to make the concerts as accessible as possible.
A variety of classical music, supplemented with the occasional show-tune or film score, is played and rehearsals are fun and engaging. The orchestra rehearses at QAC in Court Oak Road on Fridays from 7:30pm - 9:30pm. One of the nice things about the group is that there is a real mix of people – ages, backgrounds and length of attachment to the orchestra. We usually break for a coffee in the rehearsal which is always a good time for a quick catch up too!
And we also have a Christmas meal and ad hoc socials during the year to enable us to get together outside of rehearsals and concerts.
HVBID: And where can Harborne’s residents and visitors come and see you play?
Unfortunately we don’t do 'hired gigs', but do perform at a range of local venues - generally in the Harborne or the Bearwood area. But we have also played at the Parish Church of St John and St Peter in Ladywood and Camp Hill Girls School in Kings Heath in recent years.
Our next concert is on 20th June at St Peters Church in partnership with the church choir. We would love to have the community come out and support us! (You can find the event details here.)
HVBID: We’re sure many talented musicians are now discovering the orchestra. How can people get in touch about joining the orchestra?
We rehearse during school term time, and are keen to build the orchestra - particularly the strings where we would welcome more players in all sections. There are also several wind and brass spaces, but please get in touch with us to find out about those specific vacancies. You are very welcome to come along and ‘try us out’ before committing to join, you would be very welcome. We look for players that are Grade 6 upwards.
We're a friendly group that enjoy our music, aim to be the best we can be, and importantly continue to progress. We always aim to be as inclusive as possible and not demand players be too high a grade to join us!
(You can get in touch with the orchestra on Facebook, via email: orchestraharborne@gmail.com or phone: 07769842416).
HVBID: And finally, where can people keep up with the orchestra?
We are on Facebook, Instagram and we are @HarborneOrch on X. You can also visit our website: HarborneOrchestra.com
The best way of getting in touch is via Facebook, orchestraharborne@gmail.com or 07769842416
