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Orchestras reach growing number of young people

A survey by the Association of British Orchestras finds the number of orchestral performances for, by or featuring children and young people is up on pre-pandemic levels.

Patrick Jowett
2 min read

The number of events aimed at children and young people delivered by UK orchestras has nearly tripled since 2019, according to the findings of a new report.

The Association of British Orchestra’s (ABO) State of the UK’s Orchestras April 2025 report documents findings of a survey from 53 of its 85 member orchestras covering the 2022/23 financial period.

It found these orchestras staged nearly 3,000 concerts and performances across the surveyed period, reaching a combined audience of more than 3.1m people.

More than 1,000 of these performances were for, by, or with children and young people or youth orchestras featuring those aged up to 25 – an almost 20% increase on the amount registered during an equivalent survey in 2019.

Meanwhile, the number of children and young people attending education and outreach performances, workshops and school concerts was up 4% on 2019 levels, totalling more than 717,000 attendees.

ABO also found UK orchestras delivered more than 33,000 education, training and participation sessions in the 2022/23 financial year, with more than 23,000 of these carried out by three orchestras.

‘Crucial role’

The report says orchestras have utilised public investment to explore new markets and maintain, or increase, the frequency and variety of their education and outreach performances. 

ABO adds that its members “continue to play a crucial role in providing high quality classical music experiences for hundreds of thousands of children, young people, and adults, both in concert halls and in communities across the UK”.

Judith Webster, CEO of ABO, says the findings show the resilience and agility of UK orchestras during a period of unprecedented economic challenges.

“We expected to see the impacts of major events, including Covid, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis in the latest data, consistent with wider arts sector trends, but there are clear signs of hope.”

However, Webster added that challenges “clearly remain”.

“Maintaining core funding, measures to support international touring and investment in music education are all critical factors for the future growth of our sector,” she said.