Orchestras Live Regional Producer - East, Charlotte Hartley, reflects on her first time at the ABO Conference and her biggest takeaways from the day.

This was my first time attending the ABO Conference, and I found it to be a thoughtful and genuinely thought-provoking experience.

The Creative Health panel in particular highlighted the depth and breadth of work taking place across the sector. Fiona Lambert from the City of London Sinfonia spoke about their “Being in the Moment” technique, an approach that responds directly to each individual’s needs and interests while simultaneously nurturing the skills and creative awareness of the musicians involved. Laura Waters, Head of Arts at Derby and Burton Hospitals, reflected on the significant pressures currently facing the NHS and why arts in healthcare are more vital than ever. She emphasised the importance of getting the approach right - one that reduces risk, eases the workload for hospital staff, and equips musicians with insight into the structures, systems, and rhythms of ward life so they can work collaboratively to support patient care. Dr Simon OpherMP shared his perspective as a GP who has collaborated with an arts practitioner in a clinical setting. He described how creative engagement can “demedicalise” life, offering people agency, imagination, and hope during challenging times.

Another standout moment was the Politics and Polarisation session, which examined Ilan Volkov’s decision to speak out in support of Palestine following his Proms performance last summer. The discussion delved into the factors that informed his choice, the role and guidance of his agent, and the consequences that followed, including a breach of contract. Ultimately, the session raised a broader question: should artists act as activists or remain bystanders? Nearly every attendee agreed that, for them, music and art are inherently political.

However, the moment that has come back to me most in the days since was Dame Rachel de Souza’s opening contribution to the Education panel. She emphasised that we cannot wait for government intervention to address the challenges facing our sector, particularly in music education. Instead, she urged us to work collectively and advocate more effectively for meaningful change. Access to a rich and creative life should be universal, and it is our responsibility as sector leaders to help ensure that becomes a reality.