As the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) Conference kicks off in London, the industry body has announced Dame Kathryn McDowell DBE, DL, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra as the recipient of its prestigious ABO Award.

The ABO Award is presented annually to the individual or institution considered by the membership to have made the most important contribution to the orchestral life of the UK.  The ABO Award is unique among the many prestigious awards and prizes in the music world because its recipient is nominated by the members orchestra themselves.

Dame Kathryn has been Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra since 2005, where she has strengthened its global reputation through artistic excellence, international partnerships, the development of LSO Live into the world’s leading orchestra-owned label, and the expansion of its LSO Discovery education and community programme. A pioneer of orchestral education work since the 1980s, her career spans all four UK nations and includes senior leadership roles with Arts Council England, Welsh National Opera, the Wales Millennium Centre, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. She was the ABO’s first female Chair from 2014 - 17, chaired major sector-wide initiatives, and played a vital role during the pandemic in advocating for the survival of the UK’s orchestral sector.

Sophie Lewis, Chair of ABO said: “Dame Kathryn has been an inspiration to the entire orchestral sector. Her vision, leadership and tireless advocacy have shaped our profession for decades, and her work on behalf of orchestras across the UK has made a lasting and transformative impact. It is a privilege to recognise her exceptional contribution with the ABO Award.”

Nominated by their peers throughout the industry, the recipients of the ABO Impact Awards were also announced, hosted by ABO Conference Principal Media Partner Classic FM. The awards recognise those whose work has demonstrated the core values of inspiration, innovation and collaboration through their contribution to the sector, across areas including Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), Learning & Development, Environmental Sustainability, Health & Wellbeing, and Innovation.

The awards were presented by Classic FM presenter Ritula Shah, with the ABO Award presented by Sophie Lewis on behalf of the ABO Board and ABO Impact Awards supported by Classical Music Magazine and the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Collected by Chief Executive Alistair Mackie, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra were presented with an ABO Impact Award in the innovation category for creating Scotland’s Studio, a state-of-the-art recording facility that has repositioned Glasgow as a global cultural destination. Located in the city centre, the studio now competes internationally with London and Los Angeles while operating as a sustainable business that funds wide-ranging community programmes and supports the orchestra’s long-term future.

Orchestras for All
Orchestras for All were presented with an ABO Impact Award in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion category, accepted by Composer and Youth Board member Christian Dews, Youth Leadership Coordinator, Becky Thomas and Executive Director Nick Thorne. Orchestras for All has transformed the youth music landscape by placing young people at the heart of governance and artistic practice. In 2025, its flagship National Orchestra for All (NOFA) supported 100 young musicians of all abilities and backgrounds, championing inclusivity and ensuring music education is accessible to all young people.

National Youth Folk Ensemble
A second ABO Impact Award in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion category was presented to the National Youth Folk Ensemble, collected by Rachel Elliott of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The Ensemble has significantly increased Global Majority representation through projects such as its Bhangra Ceilidh collaboration with Kuljit Bhamra MBE, reaching over 6,000 people. By placing creative diversity at the heart of its work, the Ensemble is shaping a more inclusive and innovative future for folk music.

In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic

An ABO Impact Award in the Learning and Development category was presented to Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s In Harmony programme, collected by Chief Executive Vanessa Reed. Established in 2009, the programme supports 1,800 children and young people experiencing socio-economic disadvantage every week through life changing music-making and creative opportunities that build confidence, skills and wellbeing. In 2025, young musicians had the opportunity to perform at the BBC Proms with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the organisation announced significant expansion plans for new In Harmony Youth Hub centres, enabling them to reach more 11-18 year olds across Liverpool.

Deborah Annetts

A final ABO Impact Award in the Learning and Development category was presented to Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the Independent Society of Musicians, for her leadership in the successful campaign to scrap the EBacc. Within months of establishing the campaign, she united 46,000 individuals and 121 organisations, culminating in the policy’s removal in 2025. Her sustained advocacy over 15 years exemplifies the power of collaboration and has secured a positive future for arts education for thousands of young people.

The annual ABO Conference is the primary gathering of the UK classical music sector, involving over 350 delegates from every part of the industry from the UK and abroad this week (4 - 6 February 2026). A reception was held at No 11 Downing Street to mark the eve of the Conference. The Conference will hear from prominent figures from across the worlds of music, culture, media and politics including Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Shadow Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the House of Lords as well as a Conference welcome by Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries, covering a range of key topics including Creative Health; Music Education; Politics and Polarisation; and Devolution.