The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) has issued a national call for the UK government to invest in music education.
The #AnOrchestraInEverySchool initiative seeks to ensure access to high-quality music education and creative subjects for all children and young people, investing in music education and skills development.
In the lead up to the UK government’s Spring Spending Review, the campaign’s stated aim is to ‘urge UK government to invest in music education. Investment and reforms such as increasing the minimum arts entitlement within the school week, improvements to teacher training and recruitment, addressing shortages in different instruments being learnt and taught as well as enabling access to flexible apprenticeships for the creative industries, will create more equitable access to the arts for all young people.’
The ABO’s CEO, Judith Webster, said: ‘Our aspiration is for every school in the UK to either have an orchestra of its own – however they define that – or access to an orchestra.
‘#AnOrchestraInEverySchool celebrates the work of the whole music education ecosystem – schools, teachers, music hubs, the plethora of music education providers who offer quality music education to young people, and the substantial existing contribution of UK orchestras working in partnership with them. We need to work together to achieve this ambition – in the belief that active music-making changes lives.’
In March 2025, the ABO will release sector statistics showing ‘a steady increase in the number of children and young people attending and taking part in education and outreach performances, workshops and school concerts. The data also shows a significant increase in the number of events dedicated to giving children and young people unique opportunities to listen to or perform music, being delivered by UK orchestras across the country.
The campaign was launched on 5 February at the annual ABO conference; it is part of the ABO’s #MusicThatMovesYou public campaign, which celebrates the impact of UK orchestras in our everyday lives, cultural heritage, communities and economy.
