Association of British Orchestras

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 member orchestras themselves.

Recipients have been as follows:

2023

Alan Davey CBE

2022

The Kanneh-Mason Family

Special Award to Mark Pemberton OBE

2021

The Musicians – the unsung heroes of the sector

Special Award to John Summers OBE

2020

Carol Colburn Grigor

2019

Cathy Graham OBE

2018

Marin Alsop

2017

Special Awards to Roy McEwan OBE and David Whelton OBE

2017

Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE

2016

Sally Groves MBE

2015

Sir Mark Elder

2014

Sir Vernon Ellis

2013

Royal Philharmonic Society

2012

James MacMillan CBE

2011

David Takeno

2010

Sir Colin Davis

2009

Special posthumous Award to Vernon Handley CBE

2009

Sir Neville Marriner

2008

Sir Nicholas Kenyon

2007

David Richardson

2006

Roger Wright, BBC Radio 3

2005

Oliver Knussen

2004

Bernard Haitink KBE

2003

Special Award to Libby MacNamara

2003

John Wallace CBE

2002

Sir Charles Mackerras

2001

Edward Smith

2000

Gillian Moore MBE

1999

Richard Hickox

1998

BBC Radio 3

1997

Sir Michael Tippett

1996

Bill Relton

1995

Classic FM

1994

Sir John Drummond

1993

Sir Simon Rattle

1992

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies

Annual Conference

The next ABO conference will take place in Gateshead,
hosted by The Glasshouse ICM, from 5-7 February 2025.