Tony Stoller writes on the past six years as Chair at Orchestras Live, the challenges and opportunities facing the orchestral sector, and our role in shaping the future.

Joseph “Papa” Haydn knew a thing or two about saying goodbye. His Symphony No 45, nicknamed “the Farewell”, is a heartfelt but also tongue-in-cheek request to the musicians’ employer, Prince Esterházy, to let them go back home to their families in Eisenstadt.

Overcoming adversity

As I step down after a little over 6 years as the Chair of Orchestras Live, I can reflect on an organisation that has flourished through the most challenging of times.

The resilience of orchestras and orchestral musicians during the years of COVID-19 and the accompanying pressures on funding and employment has been remarkable and a tribute to the importance of culture in society.

Orchestras Live has worked with partners to develop digital offerings for the times when in-person concerts were not possible, and this has led to a new stream of work for us and the orchestras. The support of Arts Council England for our digital touring network, as for all of our work, has been especially welcome.

Looking to the future

Orchestras Live has pioneered work towards increasing the diversity demonstrated in the classical music world. I am proud of the steps we have taken as an organisation in this regard.

We have also identified within the healthcare sector and our own, a growing awareness of the importance of music to health and well-being. This will be a continuing major theme over the coming years.

I have, however, watched with alarm the decline in music education in our schools and colleges. The reprehensible failure of the UK Government at the time of Brexit to negotiate appropriate reciprocal visa arrangements with our European neighbours has further added to the pressures on individuals and ensembles. Orchestral music is among the cultural highlights for our society and for tourism. Governments and politicians need to do all they can to assist that, rather than placing it in jeopardy.

A heartfelt farewell

I know I am going to miss the principled and selfless engagement of Orchestras Live trustees. I will miss our debates over how best to provide orchestral music in localities which have previously been under-served, and in particular to communities who have not been encouraged to feel that this type of music is for them. I will miss the skill, commitment, and professionalism of the OL staff and the lights they have shone for me on examples and aspects of how orchestral music functions socially at its best.

Orchestral music should be for everyone, and Orchestras Live leads the way in helping make this aspiration come true. It has been a privilege to be part of that.