About the Anniversary

Andrew Jowett, Director of Town Hall and Symphony Hall introduces our anniversary and shares some of his memories of the last 21 years.

“2012 is a very special year for us as we celebrate 21 years of connecting the people of Birmingham to great music.

It seems incredible but it really is 21 years since Symphony Hall opened and I well remember the buzz from our first night audience and then the overwhelming praise in the newspapers the next day.

It’s also a very special year for me as I reflect on the many years I have been Director of this great hall and, more recently, the wonderfully refurbished Town Hall.

I was appointed Director of Symphony Hall 3 years before it opened and I still feel great pride knowing that it is cherished by the people of Birmingham and still revered as one of the world’s greatest concert halls.

Since 1991, 10 million people have come here to enjoy, participate in and learn more about music.
We’ve welcomed hundreds of the greatest artistes on the musical stage – from Placido Domingo to Alison Krauss, Cecilia Bartoli to Tony Bennett and Bruce Springsteen to Ravi Shankar.

The Birmingham International Concert Season has become one of the UK’s most important seasons of visiting musicians, and of course we’re also the home of the celebrated City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, currently enjoying massive international acclaim under their brilliant young conductor Andris Nelsons.

To celebrate our ‘coming of age’, we’ve put together what, I hope you’ll agree, is an exciting and vibrant festival of music, comedy, dance, film, family events and more. Elvis Costello, John Malkovich, The Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Dance, Billy Connolly and Sir Simon Rattle all feature in the festival over the next six months. We’re throwing open the doors for a free family day in April exploring Curious Sounds in Curious Spaces in and around Symphony Hall, and 1000 local schoolchildren will come together to Sing a Song for 21 in June.

So whatever your tastes, I hope you’ll find something to tempt you to join the party.

Do join us and help us celebrate 21 years of bringing great music to Birmingham.”