News from the ABO

The ABO have acknowledged the difficult decisions that have been made ACE’s National Portfolio 2023-26. We welcome in particular the investment in youth ensembles and the inclusion of a more diverse range of organisations including Orchestras for All, Manchester Collective, Chineke! Foundation, and National Children’s Orchestra, all of whom are doing inspiring work in widening access to culture across the country. However, whilst welcoming the continued investment in the UK’s classical music sector we are also deeply concerned by the impact of removal from the funded portfolio for some organisations, and significantly reduced funding for others. We are particularly concerned with our members working in opera and contemporary music, where the biggest funding reductions have fallen. Continued support for our sector is particularly needed at a time when orchestras are still in the early stages of recovery, rebuilding the confidence of live audiences and dealing with the headwinds from the cost of living crisis and Brexit. The ABO has called on HM Treasury to extend the temporary 50% uplifted Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) rate as a critical measure which will allow UK orchestras to rebuild income streams and plan confidently for the future.

Further highlights

• We have signed up to the LIVE Green Beyond Zero Declaration, to deliver measurable and targeted action on climate change. The Declaration, as well as webinars and resources, can be seen here. See how the ABO is working to support members in tackling climate change here.

• As part of the Orchestras in Healthcare and NHS National Performance Advisory Group (NPAG) for Art, Design and Heritage, we responded to Arts Council England’s (ACE) recently published delivery plan for Creative Health and Wellbeing. • We announced the sixth round of Sirens grants, awarded to orchestras performing music by historic women composers from around the world. • We announced the participants in the 2022/23 ABO and British Council International

Mentoring Programme. Designed to support the development of the next generation of emerging leaders of orchestras, this year’s successful applicants are professionals from

Ukraine, Poland, Columbia and Qatar.

CEO Announcement

In November, we were delighted to welcome Judith Webster as our new CEO. Judith has led Music for Youth, the national music education charity which presents the annual MFY Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, for ten years. She brings a wealth of experience having previously developed engagement programmes for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, and designed and directed a post-graduate diploma in Creative Leadership for the Royal College of Music. Read more here.

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