Letters - More orchestras

From Mark Pemberton,
Director-designate of the Association of British Orchestras

I really must leap to the defence of Arts Council England and correct Paul Bogens statement (AP Issue 147, 4 June) that England only has 11 national funded orchestras. In fact, in addition to the 11 funded symphony orchestras, there are nine funded chamber orchestras, as well as the orchestras of the national opera and ballet companies. And a further five orchestras are funded by the BBC.