The Association of British Orchestras, Black Lives in Music and The Musicians’ Union invite musicians to join us for the second event in a series of three sessions aiming to secure positive action and tangible change in the hiring and recruitment practice of UK orchestras.

Following the recent session for orchestral managers held in March 2023, we invite you to support this next online session through inviting your musicians to join us for the next event:

Date: Tuesday 23^rd May 2023
Time: 10:00 – 11:30
Location: Via Zoom

Following this year’s ABO conference, the ABO, BLiM and MU invite musicians in orchestras and chamber ensembles in the UK to take the conversation further on fair and equitable recruitment practice of musicians. The session will help to formulate actionable steps to tackle traditional barriers to inclusive recruitment practice and help achieve fair representation of musicians from all underrepresented groups in the sector. We’ll cover areas including:

• Screened auditions

• The role of audition panels in inclusive recruitment practice

• Preselection for trials

• The trial process

• Recruiting extra players

• Present recruitment process in relation to established employment law

• The player/management power dynamic

Speakers to include:

• Judith Webster - Chief Executive, Association of British Orchestras
• Charisse Beaumont – Chief Executive, Black Lives in Music
• Naomi Pohl – General Secretary, Musicians’ Union

The session, moderated by Roger Wilson (Black Lives in Music) will provide an opportunity to hear from key collaborators: The Association of British Orchestras, Black Lives in Music and the Musicians’ Union. We’ll take an informed view of current progress with player recruitment in UK orchestras. We’ll also cover the legal considerations of the current recruitment model. There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion for those attending and the session will help to identify impactful actions to establish a fair and inclusive model for player recruitment in orchestras.

BLiM have written to orchestra managements to ask them to support the agenda of inclusive practice in orchestras by covering the cost of either their union steward or another orchestra member to attend this session. The MU will also make bursaries available to members who rely on freelance income. They should please contact orchestral@theMU.org to discuss this.

Please RSVP to Cecilia Aronsson, Black Lives in Music.