FESTIVAL 2025
This page contains practical information about the Birmingham Music Festival. Please visit other sections of the website using the Quick Links menu.
We think the Birmingham Music Festival is one of the best piano competitions around - here’s why:
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As a specialist piano festival we have top quality grand pianos which properly react to the pianist’s touch and allow a full expressive range.
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We use specialist piano adjudicators.
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Our music theatres are comfortable and conducive to performance. Ruddock Hall is a music theatre of professional quality furnished with a Steinway Model D, and the Osborn Room also has a quality grand piano.
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We offer 19 different classes covering all pianists' skills and age ranges, all of which are “own choice” classes.
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All class winners receive an invitation to play in our free Summer Concert held in the following year.
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We have plenty of free parking and have great access by public transport, see below for more information.
The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre
Ruddock Performing Arts Centre - the location of the BMF
Ruddock Hall premier performance space
Ruddock Hall premier performance theatre
Ruddock Performing Arts Centre - the location of the BMF
Facilities at Ruddock Performing Arts Centre:
We use TWO theatres at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre: the magnificent Ruddock Hall with a Steinway Model D and the Osborn Room with a quality grand piano.
Only tea, coffee and water are available in the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre. Attendees wishing to eat lunch are welcome to bring their own food, and there are pleasant places to eat in the foyer and also in the grounds outside.
There are some eating places in the University of Birmingham across the road from the entrance to King Edward's Schools. Alternatively, there are a selection of local eating places nearby in Selly Oak for people with a car within 5 minutes. See the Festival programme for more details.
Security:
The BMF and King Edward’s Schools are very security conscious. Pedestrians can access through the gate on the right-hand side of the driveway, while those requiring access by car should enter by the left-hand gates. All will need to input a security code.
This code, which is only valid for the duration of the Festival, will be provided to entrants with their Personal Schedules advising them of their playing dates and times a few weeks before the Festival.
Directions:
The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre can be found using the entrance to King Edward’s Boys School from Edgbaston Park Road, opposite the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
By rail:
Most cross-country services to Birmingham arrive at New Street Station. Up to six trains an hour depart for the University on the cross-city line (seven minutes to University station, final destination Longbridge, Redditch or Bromsgrove). Walk through the University campus following signs for the Student Guild and/or the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
Some services arrive at University station directly - please check the train timetable.
The entrance to King Edward’s Boys School and the Ruddock Centre of Performing Arts is opposite the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
By taxi:
There are taxi ranks at New Street Station and throughout the city centre. The journey to the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre takes about ten minutes.
By bus:
Buses go to the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston campus. The services run frequently from the city centre.
Online bus timetables are available, or alternatively use the ‘Plan Your Journey' feature on the National Express West Midlands website.
There is a travel information office outside New Street Station, where you can obtain bus timetables and departure point information. Maps can be found throughout the city centre indicating bus stop locations.
You can also access Network West Midlands' Live Travel Map for current rail and bus information.
By car:
Navigate to the postcode B15 2UD for the Edgbaston Park Road entrance to King Edward's Schools.