ABO launches 'An Orchestra in Every School' initiative

The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) has announced the latest phase in its new public engagement initiative. The An Orchestra in Every School project will see UK orchestras and ensembles collaborate with schools and music educators to deliver over 1,000 live music making opportunities reaching over one million children and young people in 2025.

The ABO is now calling on the government to lend its support to the initiative, pledging a statutory minimum of two hours of active music making every week for all children and young people until the age of 16, and for all schools to have access to live music making.

ABO chief executive Judith Webster said: ‘We know that making music as a group improves focus, enhances mood and strengthens social bonds, and there is such a powerful emotion that comes from experiencing a live performance. That is why it's our aspiration for every school in the UK to either have an orchestra of its own - however they define that or access to live music making. Findings show that opportunities for live music making have notable cognitive, emotional and social growth in children and young people and that is why more needs to be done. We know firsthand from our member orchestras how impactful live performances can be for children and young people. We are committed to our ambitious target of supporting one million children and young people access opportunities to make live music; the government has said in the past that live music is a vital part of a child's education and we look forward to seeing their support during these formative school years.’

The association has compiled a toolkit of resources designed to help students, parents and teachers bring music making into their school. Those who find no live music in their school can contact an ABO member orchestra directly, ask the head teacher to connect with Music Hubs and Services, and find out if there are any musicians in the school community who are keen to get involved.

The An Orchestra in Every School initiative is part of the ABO's #MusicThatMovesYou public campaign which was launched in May 2024 to highlight the value of UK orchestras in the everyday lives, cultural heritage, communities and economy of the UK population. The initiative is launched with the support of campaign partners Classic FM, Music Mark, Live, UK Music, Musicians' Union, Independent Society of Musicians, Classical Music Magazine and Making Music as well as the ABO’s 200 member orchestras.

Classical Music Magazine editor Florence Lockheart said: ‘Classical Music magazine is proud to support the ABO's An Orchestra ln Every School initiative, not only for the clear benefits that collaborative music making brings to young people, but also to encourage the next generation of professional musicians and preserve a future talent pipeline for the classical genre. Building an understanding from a young age that playing and listening to orchestral music is for everyone, regardless of background, plays a vital part in building the classical audiences of tomorrow and securing a viable future for the sector.’