The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) operates a wide and varied programme of education activities in pre-school, school, higher education and community settings. The programme is built around three principles: enabling young people and new audiences to experience live quality orchestral music; supporting and encouraging young musicians; and providing an all important extra dimension to the resources of formal music education.

CBSO works with a variety of artistic and funding partners to deliver this programme, including Birmingham City Council and other local education authorities, professional artists in other arts media, Creative Partnerships and schools supported by other arts initiatives, community organisations and higher education establishments.

Project strands include the Roadshow programme of CBSO ensembles visiting schools and community settings; medium- to long-term creative projects with mainstream and special schools in all phases; coaching at all levels from school and community ensembles to aspiring young professionals; and schools and family concerts in Symphony Hall. The education programme reaches 25,000 young people and adults annually from diverse cultural backgrounds in Birmingham and the West Midlands. As well as working at CBSO Centre and Symphony Hall, players engaged on projects visit venues across the region. The latest addition has been the establishment of the CBSO Youth Orchestra.