THE PEOPLE’S ORCHESTRA

The People’s Orchestra generally recommends that players are around Grade 7 standard in their playing and reasonably confident reading music.

However, musical ability is only part of what makes someone a valuable member of the orchestra. Commitment, enthusiasm, preparation and a genuine love of making music with others matter enormously too.

Many players arrive with different backgrounds and experiences. Some have followed traditional musical training, while others have developed their skills through performance, bands, ensembles or years of independent playing.

If you’re unsure whether TPO is the right fit for your current level, we’d always encourage you to get in touch with our instrumental team. We’re happy to have an honest and supportive conversation about your experience and help you decide whether the orchestra would feel comfortable, enjoyable and rewarding for you.

There are no formal auditions for The People’s Orchestra.

Instead, we invite you to come along, meet the team and experience a rehearsal for yourself. We’ll work with you to understand your playing experience, confidence and musical background, while helping you decide whether TPO feels like the right fit for you too.

TPO performs challenging and exciting music to a high standard, so we’ll always be honest and supportive about where you currently are musically and how comfortable you feel within the orchestra.

Many players feel nervous before their first rehearsal, especially if they haven’t played in a while, but our team is experienced in helping musicians settle in and feel supported from the start.

Yes — we offer two free rehearsal sessions so you can experience The People’s Orchestra for yourself before making any commitment.

Your free sessions give you the opportunity to meet the orchestra, experience the atmosphere, see how rehearsals work and decide whether the group feels right for you musically and socially.

We know joining something new can feel like a big step, particularly if you haven’t played for a while or are unsure what to expect, so the free sessions are designed to help you feel relaxed, informed and comfortable before deciding whether to join as a member.

There’s no pressure to make an immediate decision — we simply want you to have the chance to experience TPO properly first.

Not at all. In fact, many of our members originally joined The People’s Orchestra by themselves.

Starting something new can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t know anybody yet, but new members are regularly welcomed into the orchestra by our friendly musicians, staff and volunteers. Most people quickly discover they are far from the only person attending alone.

Rehearsals are designed to be social as well as musical. Alongside playing together, we also include a short break during rehearsals where members can chat, relax and get to know one another over a cup of tea and a few biscuits.

For many members, TPO becomes much more than just an orchestra. It becomes a community of people connected through a shared love of music.

From the moment you arrive, our aim is to help you feel welcomed, supported and part of the orchestra.

When you get to the venue, a member of our instrumental team will greet you, help you get checked in, provide any sheet music you need and show you where to sit. You’ll then have time to settle into your section, tune up and start getting to know the people around you.

Rehearsals are led by our conductor, Saph, who guides the orchestra through the music in an engaging, supportive and energetic way. Sessions usually begin with larger run-throughs of pieces before focusing in more detail on particular sections, helping players build confidence while bringing the music to life together.

Partway through the rehearsal, we take a break for tea, biscuits and conversation. For many members, this becomes just as important as the music itself — a chance to relax, catch up with friends, meet new people and enjoy being part of the community.

After the break, rehearsals continue before the evening quickly comes to an end. Before you leave, our team will usually check in to make sure you’ve settled in well and answer any questions you may have.

Many new members arrive feeling nervous about their first rehearsal. Most leave surprised by how quickly they felt comfortable, included and involved.

The People’s Orchestra performs a wide variety of exciting and memorable music, with a particular focus on film scores, television themes and video game soundtracks.

Our repertoire regularly includes music from some of the world’s most recognisable films, fantasy franchises and cinematic universes, alongside popular music, show tunes and contemporary arrangements.

We also occasionally explore classical repertoire, giving players the opportunity to experience a broad and varied musical programme across the year.

This mix of music is one of the things many members enjoy most. Rehearsals and concerts are designed to feel energetic, engaging and genuinely fun to play, whether you love epic movie scores, musical theatre, gaming music or iconic popular classics.

Yes — whatever you play, we’d love to have you with us. We’re proudly inclusive of a wide mix of instruments (yes, even saxophones). If a section is particularly full, we’ll always advise you on the best way to join.

We welcome a wide range of instruments and prides itself on having a more inclusive and flexible approach than many traditional orchestras.

Alongside standard orchestral instruments such as violins, cellos, flutes, oboes, clarinets, trumpets and French horns, we also regularly include instruments that are less commonly found in orchestras, including saxophones, bass guitars, recorders and more.

Because our repertoire ranges from film music and gaming soundtracks to popular classics and contemporary arrangements, different instruments can often bring something unique and exciting to the overall sound.

If you’re unsure whether your instrument would fit within the orchestra, simply speak to our instrumental team. We’ll always be happy to discuss how we may be able to accommodate you.

Most rehearsals take place at Trefoil House, 2 Ellis Street, Birmingham, B1 1HL, right in the centre of Birmingham. Reharsals are on Sundays (late afternoon), 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

The venue is easily accessible by public transport and has step-free access throughout, helping make rehearsals welcoming and accessible for a wide range of players.

Parking at Trefoil House itself is limited and is usually prioritised for members bringing larger or heavier instruments. If you have any concerns about parking, accessibility or transporting your instrument, our instrumental team will always do their best to help you plan ahead and feel comfortable before your first rehearsal.

Yes — rehearsals at Trefoil House are very easy to reach by public transport from across Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond.

Trefoil House is just a 5-minute walk from Birmingham New Street station and around 10 minutes from Birmingham Moor Street station, with regular rail connections across the region.

Several local bus routes also stop nearby, including the 3, 16, 24, 82, 87 and X20/X21/X22 services.

Many members travel in from surrounding towns and cities each week, so you won’t be the only person commuting. Most people find the venue straightforward and convenient to reach, whether travelling by train, bus or car.

Getting started is simple.

First, register for your two free rehearsal sessions using the “Register for Your First Rehearsal” link above. Once you’ve signed up, a member of our instrumental team will get in touch with everything you need to know before your first rehearsal.

When you arrive, our team will be there to welcome you, help you settle in and make sure you feel comfortable throughout the session. We understand that attending something new for the first time can feel daunting, especially if you haven’t played in a while, so we aim to make the experience as relaxed and supportive as possible.

After your rehearsal, we’ll check in with you to see how you found the experience, answer any questions and help you decide whether The People’s Orchestra feels right for you.