FESTIVAL 2025
The 2025 Birmingham Music Festival will take place on
11 and 12 October 2025
at
The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre at King Edward’s Schools
Edgbaston Park Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2UD
We think the Birmingham Music Festival is one of the best piano competitions around - here’s why:
-
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.
-
We use specialist piano adjudicators.
-
Our music theatres are comfortable and conducive to performance. Ruddock Hall is a music theatre of professional quality.
-
Both open classes and junior classes will be held over the Saturday and Sunday of the Festival. We plan to schedule most of open classes in Ruddock Hall, which is furnished with a Steinway Model D and most of the junior classes in the Osborn Room which also has a quality grand piano.
-
We offer 19 different classes covering all pianists' skills and age ranges, all of which are “own choice” classes.
-
All class winners receive an invitation to play in our free Summer Concert held in the following year.
-
We have plenty of free parking and for those using public transport we are on several bus routes and are only a few minutes’ walk from University Station, please see below for more information.
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
The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre
Facilities at Ruddock Performing Arts Centre:
Security:
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.
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 (ten minutes to University station, final destination Longbridge or Redditch). 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 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 coach:
There are frequent express coach services to Birmingham from London, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, and many UK cities.
The long-distance coach station is in Digbeth in the city centre.
Digbeth coach station is a short walk from New Street train station. Ask at the coach station for directions to New Street and then either catch the local train service to University station or a bus as described above.
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 car:
If using satellite navigation, use the postcode B15 2UD for the Edgbaston Park Road entrance to King Edward's Schools.
Approaching from the north west or south east along the M6:
-
Leave at Junction 6 (signposted Birmingham Central) to join the A38(M). At the end of the motorway, keep to the right, go over a flyover, then through some underpasses to join the A38 Bristol Road
-
The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre is just before the University of Birmingham campus two and a half miles from the city centre - follow signs for the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
-
The entrance is opposite the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
Approaching from the M42 north:
-
Leave at Junction 8 to join the M6 northbound and follow the instructions above.
Approaching from the south west:
-
Leave the M5 at Junction 4 signposted Birmingham SW to join the A38
-
Follow the signs for the the University of Birmingham which is approximately eight miles from the motorway.
-
Continue past the University until you see signs for the Barber Institute of Fine Arts - follow the signs turning left.
-
The entrance is opposite the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
Approaching from the M40:
-
It is easier to turn south on the M42 and leave at Junction 1, heading north on the A38 Bristol Road.
-
Follow the signs for the the University of Birmingham which is approximately eight miles from the motorway.
-
Continue past the University until you see signs for the Barber Institute of Fine Arts - follow the signs turning left.
-
The entrance is opposite the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
Please note some parts of Birmingham are covered by a Clean Air Zone - please plan your journey accordingly