Celebrating 10 years of the Bramall
Over the past decade, the Bramall has attracted some of the finest musicians, comedians, and speakers in the world.
And, with state-of-the-art performance space and finely-tuned acoustics, it’s not hard to see why.
Opened in 2012, the Bramall Music Building is a jewel in the University’s crown. Built to complete architect Aston Webb’s vision for the University, this £16 million facility is home to the University’s Department of Music and has become a mecca for music, entertainment, and learning in Brum.
10 years after its official opening, we’re taking a look back at some of the Bramall’s memorable moments and revealing some little-known facts about this much-loved campus venue.
Tuned to perfection
From sports stars to university chancellors, the Bramall has welcomed thousands of people through its doors since 2012. Notable guests include world-famous yogi Sadhguru, the Military Wives Choir, critically acclaimed comedian Zoe Lyons, and much-loved Brummie comedian Joe Lycett, who performed one of his very first acts on the Bramall stage.
- The National Youth Orchestra has used the space for many years to practice and refine their performances before taking to the stage at the BBC Proms.
- Radio 3 has made the most of the venue’s acoustics to record dozens of broadcasts.
- Politicians, media, and prominent figures in entertainment flocked to the Bramall for BBC Question Time in 2013. The concert hall’s layout had to be reversed so it was right for filming. Watch how the venue was transformed below.
Did you know…
- The venue was built to the same specifications as Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, one of the finest concert halls in the world.
- A time capsule was buried outside The Bramall to commemorate the new development. In 2061, everything from University and twenty-first-century memorabilia to children’s drawings will be unearthed.
- The venue’s impressive Elgar Concert Hall was named after English composer, Sir Edward Elgar. Famous for composing Nimrod and Land of Hope and Glory, Elgar was the University’s first-ever Professor of Music.
- The concert hall’s beautiful £1m organ was hand-built and each pipe was tuned by hand to ensure the acoustics were just right.
- The Bramall is named after Liz and Terry Bramall, UoB alumni whose generous donation to the University helped fund the project.
- The Bramall was built to fill in the Aston Webb semi-circle, left by Joseph Chamberlain in 1900 when he decided to use his remaining budget to build Old Joe.
- With 450 seats and a moveable stage, the Bramall’s auditorium is the most flexible performance space at any UK university.
- An ideal choice for car launch events, the Bramall’s stage can hold up to 10 tonnes in weight. That’s the equivalent of one-and-a-half male adult African bush elephants!
If you’d like to host your next event in this unique and versatile venue, get in touch with us today.
The Bramall is open to the public and has an exciting programme of events throughout the year. Check out what’s on and book your tickets online.
