Stars ‘making an entrance’ for city’s Symphony Hall revamp
BIRMINGHAM soul legend Jaki Graham has launched the £13 million transformation of the city’s showpiece Symphony Hall.
The project will mean the venue will have its own front entrance from Centenary Square instead of sharing one with the International Convention Centre ICC.
A large extension will create room for more free music performances in the foyers, providing a platform for talented local artists.
Breaking ground on the £13.2 million project, due to open in September next year, were Jaki Graham, rapper Lady Sanity and singer-songwriter Reuben James.
“I have had the privilege of performing on stage at Symphony Hall and it filled me with pride,” said Jaki, the first British black female solo artist to enjoy six consecutive top 20 hits.
“I’m honoured to be invited to launch this major transformation, which will provide many more talented local musicians the opportunity to perform in this incredible venue.”
The plans include a new café on the ground floor and a dramatic double-height space with a staircase wrapping the audience around the performers.
There will also be refurbished toilets and new spaces for learning.
“The project began as a response to the question of how we can survive with less public funding,” said Nick Reed, chief executive of Town Hall Symphony Hall.
“But there’s a greater ambition about how we can better share this hall with the city, and how we dissolve some of the formality of coming into the building.
“Our ambition is more music for more people. We want to ensure that access is open to all and not just those who can afford it. We’re encouraging and nurturing music discovery and development.
“We currently reach more than 18,000 people with our learning and community programme and over the coming years we will be able to reach thousands more in the transformed spaces that this project will create.
“There’s something unique about a live performance. It’s unrepeatable, it just happens now in this space, and it lives in the memory.
“Listening to music together is unifying and something we should cherish, especially in these fractious times.”