Services For Education was recently announced as Music Hub Lead Organisation for Birmingham as part of an ambitious programme to enable more Birmingham children to enjoy playing music.

Dr Steve Ball has been appointed to chair the new Hub Board that will work with Services For Education’s executive team and the charity’s trustees to deliver the Government’s National Plan for Music Education - The Power of Music to Change Lives.

For Birmingham, the plan includes a multi-million-pound programme to further increase music education in the city’s schools investing up to nearly £650,000 in new music instruments, equipment and technology for children and young people including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

Dr Ball is a well-known figure in Birmingham’s creative community. During his 18 years at Birmingham Rep, Dr Ball directed and produced work for children and young people and led the theatre's learning and participation and community engagement programmes.

He was previously Head of Arts for Birmingham City Council and is the founding artistic director of Language Alive Theatre in Education. He also co-chairs the Drama and Theatre Education Alliance.

Sharon Bell, chief executive of Services For Education, said the role of independent chair was crucial to ensuring that the organisation exceeded the expectations of Arts Council England – which recently appointed Services For Education as one of 43 new music hubs in England.

She said: “Steve is hugely respected, has great energy and foresight and will both inspire and challenge us as we deliver on our vision of bringing music and learning to life for the children and young people of Birmingham.

“We are extremely fortunate to have him as our independent chair.”

Dr Ball said Birmingham’s national and international reputation as a centre for music and drama, would only be maintained by providing young people with greater opportunities to enjoy music and the arts.

He said: “Services For Education already teaches music each year to 32,000 children and their pioneering work in extending music opportunities is widely acknowledged.

“Their recent appointment as one of the new music hub lead organisations is an endorsement of their past work in extending music opportunities to children in the city.

“The opportunity now is to work with partners locally and nationally to enable more Birmingham children and young people to participate in music-making whilst also maximising this significant investment in music education for our city,” said Dr Ball.

Services For Education was appointed in May 2024 as one of 43 new Music Hub Lead Organisations in England by Arts Council England following a bidding process.  The 43 new hubs replace the existing 116 Music Hubs with the new structure being implemented from September 2024.

As the new Hub Lead Organisation for Birmingham, Services For Education will receive nearly £2 million from the Department for Education and up to an additional £643,663 as a capital grant over two years to invest in new music instruments, equipment and technology tailored to the needs of children and young people in Birmingham, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.