ABO Conference Recap: The ABO/Classical Music Awards

The ABO conference dinner on day two of the conference, saw the presentation of the ABO/Classical Music Awards at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket, City Halls. Recognising 2022’s Artist Manager of the Year, Concert Manager of the Year and Orchestra Manager of the Year, the awards were hosted by ABO chair and BBC Philharmonic director Simon Webb by Classic FM’s Myleene Klass.

The first award of the evening was given to former executive director of the London Mozart Players (LMP), Julia Desbruslais in recognition of her work establishing a digital business model with the company’s online Classical Club as well as launching the LMP’s partnership with Black Lives in Music and starting the Spotlight On series, showcasing the brightest and best of the UK’s young musicians. During the pandemic, Desbruslais also worked on LMP’s free educational resources offered to young people in Croydon.

The Concert Hall Manager of the Year award was awarded to Britten Pears Arts chief executive, Roger Wright. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Aldeburgh Festival, Britten Pears Arts moved its work online. As soon as permitted it became one of the first organisations in the UK to stage Covid-safe live performances. Britten Pears Arts used public funding to employ freelance musicians and creatives at a time when employment in the sector was scarce. The following year Britten Pears Arts presented socially distanced concerts at Snape and opened the venue’s free outdoor Dome Stage.

This category also saw a special commendation for Matthew Sims, head of arts and venues for Leeds City Council who helped Leeds Town Hall re-open quickly after the first lockdown to provide a much-needed venue for recordings, concerts, opera and recitals.

The winner in this year’s Artist Manager of the Year category was chief executive of the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA), Atholl Swainston-Harrison. Swainston-Harrison was recognised for his work providing artist managers with practical support in relation to the Covid pandemic, as well as the ongoing problems associated with Brexit. Together with his team, Swainston-Harrison collaborated with the music industry in the UK and across Europe, working to de-mystify the rules and regulations standing in the way of touring and lobbying government to mitigate current uncertainties.  

The ABO also announced the Kanneh-Mason Family as winners of the annual ABO Award in recognition of the role they play in inspiring aspiring musicians and fellow parents. Awards host Simon Webb commended the family for ‘bringing joy and inspiration to us all, and will continue to do so for years to come.’ The award was received on behalf of the family by parents Kaduata Kanneh and Stuart Mason who, Webb said ‘made this possible with their tireless commitment and their conviction for the value of music in their children’s lives.’

A surprise Special ABO Award was also presented to ABO chief executive Mark Pemberton OBE in recognition of his immense efforts in guiding organisations and members through both Brexit and the pandemic. Webb who presented the award, said: ‘Those of us who know and love the orchestral sector, audiences, musicians, ABO members, can be in no doubt of the importance of the work Mark has done, and continues to do in ensuring the orchestral sector thrives whatever the challenges we face.’

We finished off the evening with a lively ceilidh to music from Live Music Now Scotland’s The Dockyard Trio: Lea Søndergaard Larsen (bodhrán), Seán Gray (guitar/vocals), Euan McLaughlin (fiddle).