Our Chief Executive, Sarah Derbyshire MBE, reflects on Orchestras Live’s 60-year journey, setting out a vision for the future of orchestral music built on creative communities, inclusive leadership, and long-term sustainability.

Orchestras Live at 60

As we celebrate six decades of connecting orchestras and communities across the UK, we are looking ahead with renewed energy and purpose. The next 60 years will demand boldness, creativity, and a commitment to ensuring orchestral music remains an essential and valued part of our national life.

A note to the future

We see a future where orchestral music is woven into the fabric of everyday life, flowing through every corner of our communities - healing, inspiring, and connecting us all through shared experiences. Orchestras will be recognised as a vital national resource, reflecting the diversity of the communities they serve and inspiring the next generation of musicians, audiences, and advocates.

Our vision for the next 60 years

At the heart of this vision lie three guiding pillars that will shape everything we do.

1. Creative communities

We will deepen our impact by listening carefully and working hand-in-hand with people living in the communities where we work. By championing the artistic depth that emerges when community voices shape productions, we will build lasting legacies of inclusion, pride, and shared ownership. We are especially committed to working in areas of the country where cultural provision is limited, creating opportunities for communities who are often least served by orchestral music to participate, shape, and celebrate their own creativity. We will support partners in demonstrating the social value of inclusive, place-based orchestral experiences, ensuring the benefits are understood and celebrated.

2. Leadership inspiring change

Music brings both joy and solace, and we will champion its role in public health and wellbeing. Through partnerships rooted in research and innovation, we’ll help weave creative health into the heart of care and prevention plans. We’ll lead the way in opening doors, nurturing an orchestral workforce as diverse and dynamic as the society it reflects. And we will collaborate with promoter partners to develop a robust infrastructure for orchestral performances, connecting directly to their communities and building local audiences.

3. Strength from within

To sustain this vision, we will continue to evolve—embedding inclusive practices, taking action on environmental responsibility, and planning boldly for the long term. Through meaningful engagement with stakeholders, we will develop new partnerships to extend our national reach and impact.

What success will look like

Our vision is backed by data and evidence that resonate with the public and policymakers alike.

In the years ahead, creative health will be a recognised priority, with established links between orchestras and health and social care providers. Music education will be enriched by regional provision and skills development, ensuring orchestral music remains vibrant for generations to come, with a workforce that mirrors society. The sector will be healthier and more secure, with a national footprint of performance and participatory activity that responds and relates to local circumstances.

The next 60 years are already being written. Together—with communities, musicians, and partners—we can create a future where orchestral music continues to transform lives across the country.