On Wednesday 25 March 2026, something rather special took place at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. Those of us who were there, and who had the profound privilege of being part of making it happen will never forget.

With a capacity of over 2,000, the venue was almost entirely full – the only empty seats were way up in the grand tier. And as Jo Boyce walked towards the centre of the stage to say a few words of welcome before the presentation began, a spontaneous, warm, expectant applause filled the room.

They were there to witness the 30th anniversary presentation of Born for This – our musical retelling of the Stations of the Cross that has been touching hearts in schools and parishes across the UK since our first public presentation in Coventry in 1996.

This anniversary production was the fruit of a collaboration between CJM MUSIC and eight Catholic Secondary schools across Birmingham and Solihull – spearheaded by the visionary staff of St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School in Kings Norton.

A Cast of more than 300

Alongside Jo Boyce, we had a cast of more than 300 performers…

The sight and sound of the incredible massed choir of more than 200 young voices from the schools was impressive in itself. The choir and soloists were accompanied by 15 gifted musicians – our Legacy BFT instrumentalists, alongside the core band of our CJM MUSIC Collective.

It was breathtaking as their incredible sound filled the hall that has the reputation for being one of the most acoustically perfect concert venues anywhere in the world.

Every presentation of Born For This is profoundly powerful and moving in its own way. But this milestone presentation at Symphony Hall was truly EPIC in every sense of the word. Not just in scale but in impact.

The many pics and video clips that were shared on social media afterward scarcely captured the scale or spirit of what unfolded last night. (Click on an image below to expand.)

For our team, it was a fitting culmination of thirty years of Born for This presentations, and for everyone in the room, it was something that’s proved difficult to put into words.

What people said

“Words can’t explain the magnificent and amazing production that left Symphony Hall spellbound. An event I will remember for a long time. Such a spiritual uplift — with all the audience as one in prayer.” — Nicholas Bartleet

“Out of this world experience. Sitting alongside loved ones in a beautiful venue, listening to such a deeply prayerful moving musical presentation touched and stirred ever part of my being. This was unbelievably SPECIAL.” — Julie Tozer

“I have hope for the future when I see the commitment of 300 teenagers so engaged, talented, disciplined, engrossed and passionate…” — Ann Smith

“Absolutely blown away emotionally last night in several ways. What a production!” — Aaron Thacker, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch

“Absolutely fantastic. I’ve seen Born for This many times over the years, but this production just blew me away…” — Gill Walsh

Thirty years. And still going.

Born for This began in 1996 – written and composed by Jo Boyce and the late Mike Stanley – as a way of bringing the story of the Passion to life in a form that was accessible, musical, deeply prayerful – and rooted in the tradition of the Church.

In the thirty years since, it has been presented by groups of all ages and backgrounds, in school halls, parish centres, theatres, shopping centres (!) and now one of Birmingham’s most iconic stages. And we are daring to believe that it’s only just getting started.

The story of Born for This has never really been about the stage or setting. It’s about what happens to the people who present it and the people who witness it. It’s about communities — schools and parishes — discovering what they’re capable of when they give themselves to something worth doing.

And it’s about sharing the greatest part of the greatest story ever told with a whole new generation.

That’s why we believe in it. And that’s why we want to see it happen in more places.

Could you bring Born for This to your school or parish?

The 30th anniversary presentation at Symphony Hall night was a landmark moment — but it wasn’t the end of the story. It was an invitation.

If it has sparked something in you — a thought about what your school or parish community could do — we’d love you to explore the Born for This Resource Collection. Everything you need to plan, prepare, and present your own production is available now: the Virtual Songbook with full sheet music and script, the Digital Audio Album, the Backing Tracks, and the Online Workshop with step-by-step guidance on staging your own presentation.

➡️ Explore the Born for This Resource Collection here

Watch this space — more news about Born for This is coming very soon. 🔜