The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) exists to support, promote and advance the interests and activities of professional orchestras in the UK [1]. The organisation was founded in 1947 as the Orchestral Employers' Association, primarily to negotiate with the Musicians' Union (UK) and other bodies on behalf of its membership, which consisted almost entirely at that time of those orchestras receiving annual funding from the newly established Arts Council of Great Britain.[2]. The past decade has seen a substantial development in the organisation in terms of its size (an increase from 35 organisations in 1989 to over 150 today[3]) and its role has expanded to include a diverse range of activities designed to support the development of the UK's orchestral life. The ABO holds an annual conference, which will next be at the Derby Assembly Rooms from 16–18 February 2011, hosted by sinfonia ViVA.
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The key objectives of the Association of British Orchestras cover four main areas of activity:
The ABO exists:
The Association of British Orchestras was founded in 1947 as the Orchestral Employers' Association, primarily to negotiate with the Musicians' Union (UK) and other bodies on behalf of its membership, which consisted almost entirely at that time of those orchestras receiving annual funding from the newly established Arts Council of Great Britain.[5] In 1982 the Association took on limited company status, becoming the Association of British Orchestras. It continues to negotiate the ABO/MU Freelance Orchestral Agreement with the MU and represent its membership in discussions and negotiations with a number of other national organisations.
The past decade has seen a substantial development in the organisation in terms of its size (an increase from 35 organisations in 1989 to over 150 today[6]) and its role, which has expanded to include a diverse range of activities designed to support the development of the UK's orchestral life. The ABO now has an extensive programme of events, from Specialist Manager Meetings[7] and training to Seminars and the Annual Conference[8].
The Association of British Orchestras has developed a role as co-ordinator of various national projects, including two major sponsorship programmes involving the participation of a large number of member orchestras. A series of nationally co-ordinated education projects over the past years resulted in the Orchestras in Education programme, which existed to promote the education work of member orchestras and to develop the relationship between schools, teachers and orchestral players.
The ABO has also mounted a number of research initiatives, with a series of industry reports being produced, such as a comprehensive statistical survey of the UK's orchestral profession, 'Knowing the Score', and a report on noise damage to musicians, 'A Sound Ear' [9].
Membership of the Association of British Orchestras is open to all those working within and to support the orchestral sector. There are four categories for membership:
| FULL | Membership is open to professional orchestras and ensembles which have existed for not less than two years in the UK, and have undertaken no fewer than 24 public performances. |
| ASSOCIATE | Members include those who have not yet fulfilled the requirements of full membership, as well as conservatoires, music colleges, youth orchestras and overseas orchestras. |
| CORPORATE | Membership is available to organisations with related interests to the orchestral sector. These include concert halls, agents, promoters and composers' organisations. Membership is also open to businesses and sponsors. |
| INDIVIDUAL | Membership is by invitation only and is offered to former administrative staff of British Orchestras who have left the profession or are working abroad and who wish to remain connected to the UK orchestral scene. |
The ABO provides a range of services for members, including:
A primary focus of the ABO is advocacy and campaigning on behalf of its members.
The ABO meets regularly during the year with representatives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England. It co-ordinates twice-yearly meetings of its Scottish members to ensure a dialogue with the Scottish Arts Council, and is developing meetings of Welsh members with a view to enhancing its advocacy role in Wales.
The ABO negotiates with the Musicians' Union (UK) on an annual basis on issues relating to fees and allowances for freelance musicians.[11]
The ABO brings together parliamentarians who have an interest in and wish to further the appreciation of classical music; acts as an interface between British orchestras' on and off-stage activities, the wider classical music industry, including broadcasters and the recording industry, and key decision makers and opinion formers; and looks at the potential for establishing parliamentary classical music awards and promoting and supporting young musicians. The ABO acts as the group's secretariat[12].
The ABO is working with DHA Communications to raise the profile of British orchestras in the run-up to the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2010. The campaign aims to work with ABO members to get statistics to back the key campaign themes; develop an external network of advocates; ensure the impact and value of the orchestras’ work is communicated through media and targeted publications; map the developing policy agenda regarding music and arts as it relates to the campaign themes; position the ABO, and its members, as a model of excellence; and intervene in emerging policy debates to ensure the strength of the ABO’s voice is maximised[13].
The ABO continues to monitor the impact of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005[14] on British orchestras and participated in the Health & Safety Executive's Music & Entertainment Sector Working Group, which developed guidance for the music and entertainment industry.
The ABO is working with its partners in Sounds, one of the 10 major projects of the Cultural Olympiad, to ensure there are opportunities for orchestras to engage in this national celebration in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games[15].
The Healthy Orchestra Charter is a joint initiative by the ABO and the Musicians' Benevolent Fund. Launched at the 2006 ABO Conference in Newcastle/Gateshead, the Charter aims to set an industry-wise standard of care and award charter marks to orchestras that are displaying good practice towards the physical, mental and emotional health of employees - both orchestral musicians and their management.
Awards for the Bronze Charter Mark have been presented to BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English National Opera, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Opera North, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Opera House. The first Silver Charter Mark has been awarded to the Royal Opera House[16].
The ABO and its members are members of PEARLE*, the European League of Performing Arts Associations, which helps the ABO keep track of legislative developments within the EU.
The ABO is working with Julie's Bicycle, a not-for-profit organization helping the music industry cut its greenhouse gas emissions and create a low carbon creative future. Julie’s Bicycle is engaging with eight orchestras across the UK to address the key issue of orchestral touring, alongside broader sustainability issues[17]. The working group is chaired by the London Symphony Orchestra's Kathryn McDowell and supported by Arts Council England, the British Council, and Orchestras Live.
The ABO is participating in the UK Border Agency's Arts & Entertainment Taskforce, in collaboration with the International Artists Managers Association, National Campaign for the Arts and other arts organisations, to ensure that the proposed Points Based System for migrants wishing to work in the UK on both a permanent and temporary basis will not pose a threat to the engagement of players, conductors and soloists.
The ABO's primary event each year is its annual conference, the major gathering of the classical music industry in the UK, with over 350 delegates drawn from orchestras both from within the UK and abroad, plus funding agencies, venues, agents, publishers and suppliers. The main sponsor is Classic FM and The Guardian is the media partner.
This 2011 Conference will be held at the Derby Assembly Rooms 16–18 February 2011, hosted by Sinfonia ViVA.
Specialist Manager Meetings are one of the ABO's key services[19]. Each group of managers meets up to twice a year to discuss issues and hear from speakers. The ABO acts as a facilitator.
In addition to the Annual Conference and the range of meetings and events presented by the ABO, the Association often presents symposia and seminars taking an in-depth look at particular areas of current interest to orchestra and the classical music industry.
The ABO monthly Update is the principal mechanism for communicating news stories, training and networking opportunities and other items of interest to its members.[20].
Recent ABO publications include:
The Healthy Orchestra Charter is a joint initiative by the ABO and the Musicians Benevolent Fund (MBF). Launched at the 2006 ABO Conference in Newcastle Gateshead, the Charter has been designed to set an industry wide standard of care and awards Charter Marks to orchestras that are displaying good practice towards the physical, mental and emotional health of employees - both orchestral musicians and their management. Over 60% of delegate orchestras at the 2006 ABO Conference signed up to the Charter, demonstrating the level of commitment to employees' health that already exists within the sector.
The first Bronze Charter Marks were awarded to the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Opera House at the 2007 ABO Conference in Manchester. Bronze Charter Marks have since been awarded to English National Opera, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North, the Royal College of Music and Manchester Camerata.
The first Silver Charter Mark was awarded to the Royal Opera House at the 2008 ABO Conference in Brighton.
Details of the Silver and Gold Charter Marks were launched in autumn 2007, following a further period of consultation with members of the Healthy Orchestra Charter Steering Group, which comprises a range highly experienced health and safety professionals from both within and outside of the orchestral sector.
Brass Tacks are the Association of British Orchestra's annual series of one day management courses for those working in the arts sector. These are led by experienced professionals who focus their course on the arts and orchestral sector[25].
Previous courses have included:
The ABO Trust is the charitable wing of the Association of British Orchestras, and exists to support its work. Its remit includes the promotion of public musical education, research projects, research archive and fundraising.
In previous years, it established the ABO Information Bank and commissioned and published research into good practice in the production of concert programmes, Notes on Notes [27].
Full membership of ABO is open to professional orchestras and ensembles which have existed for not less than two years in the UK, and have undertaken no fewer than 24 public performances. Subscription levels are based on the turnover of each orchestra[28].
Associate members include those who have not yet fulfilled the requirements of full membership, as well as conservatoires, music colleges, youth orchestras and overseas orchestras[29].
Affiliate membership is for those organisations involved with the presentation, support and commissioning of the work of the Association's members[30]
Corporate membership is available to organisations with related interests to the orchestral sector and who share the ABO's aims and objectives, who wish to be kept up-to-date on current affairs and topics of mutual interest. These include concert halls, agents, promoters and composers and organisations. Membership is also open to businesses and sponsors[31].