Association of British Orchestras

News & Press

ABO Responds to Arts Council England’s National Portfolio 2023-26 Announcement

Today, the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) acknowledges the difficult decisions that were made in Arts Council England’s (ACE) National Portfolio 2023-26 and the continued investment in the UK’s classical music sector and our member orchestras.

ABO Responds to Arts Council England’s delivery plan for Creative Health and Wellbeing

The ABO, as part of the Orchestras in Healthcare and NHS National Performance Advisory Group (NPAG) for Art, Design and Heritage, has responded to Arts Council England’s (ACE) recently published delivery plan for Creative Health and Wellbeing.

ABO Announces 2021/22 Round of ‘Sirens’ Grants to Promote Music of Historical Women

The ABO has announced the sixth round of grants from the Sirens Fund awarded to orchestras performing music by historic women composers from around the world.

Judith Webster Confirmed as New ABO Chief Executive

Judith Webster has been appointed Chief Executive of the Association of British Orchestras (ABO). Judith will join the ABO on 14 November 2022, following the departure of Mark Pemberton, who left the ABO on 30 September after 15 years in post.

Nominations open for 2023 ABO/Classical Music Awards

Nominations for the annual ABO/Classical Music industry awards are now open until 5pm on Friday 2 December 2022, inviting managers in the orchestral sector to celebrate the achievements of colleagues across orchestras, concert halls and artist management.

ABO & British Council's 2022/23 International Mentoring Programme participants announced

Following the success of the 2021-22 International Mentoring Programme, the ABO and British Council are pleased to announced the mentors and mentees for the 2022-23 Programme.

The ABO expresses its condolences on the death of Her Majesty The Queen

The ABO has issued guidance following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

ABO calls on Liz Truss’s new Government to invest in and support UK orchestras

The ABO welcomes Liz Truss to her new role as the UK’s Prime Minister and sets out the hopes and expectations of the UK’s orchestral sector from the new administration.

Related information

For press enquiries please contact Hanna, ABO's Head of Policy and Communications.

View the ABO Bulletins

Annual Conference

The next ABO conference will take place in London,
hosted by The Southbank Centre, from 4-6 February 2026
.