The GLOBAL MUSIC YOUTH ENSEMBLE has been created by the multi award-winning Sonia Sabri Company who bring together participants aged 12-25 at Midlands Arts Centre each week. Rehearsals provide participants with a chance to share their cultures, experiences and skills with others who have travelled across the globe to settle in the city.

Led by Tabla Maestro and Composer Sarvar Sabri, the ensemble aims to tour wider across the country providing a unique opportunity to play a multitude of music styles and genres for a range of diverse audiences in a variety of venues, festivals, and spaces.

The Global Music Ensemble is in partnership with Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham, a diverse music and arts organisation with a mission to support, promote and develop artists from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

Rachael Cox, Programme Manager, Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham added: “In our 20th year we are excited to be working in partnership with Sonia Sabri Company on the Global Music Youth Ensemble. This was an idea we first started discussing back in 2019, so it’s been great to see it develop. It’s a fantastic opportunity for artists from different backgrounds to collaborate and work in new ways, and for young people to have a diverse and open platform to share musical ideas while developing skills.”

Global Music Youth Ensemble, a brand-new music ensemble for young people from migrant communities living in Birmingham has been chosen to perform in the 20th edition of Celebrating Sanctuary’s Birmingham Refugee Week Festival at Midlands Arts Centre on 25th June.