Looking back on the tumultuous events of the past few months, our Chair, Tony Stoller, reflects on the impact the global pandemic has had on the orchestral sector and how we are approaching our role to enable the sector to survive.

Understanding and preparing for the future has been changed almost beyond recognition by the pandemic and the events surrounding it. At Orchestras Live, we are keenly aware of the repercussions for the orchestras with which we work, both large and small, and for our investing partners, including local authorities and music education hubs, all of which face daunting challenges but equally are developing strategies with which to enter the new paradigm.

Orchestras Live has moved quickly to adapt, finding innovative digital solutions that also allow us to reach wider groups of people online, to ensure that communities are not isolated in these difficult times.

Over the coming year and beyond, music will have an even greater role to play in helping and healing each affected locality. We have adapted and will adapt to the challenges ahead, but without losing sight of our key task of bringing high quality orchestral music to under-invested communities and working with our beneficiaries to create work that empowers and includes them.

As the crisis plays out, we see our role as both a supporter and challenger, to ensure the orchestral sector survives and emerges stronger for everyone. We will work with the sector in key areas of digital innovation, diversity and inclusion, as well as place-based creative activities with communities – to ensure that opportunities exist for everyone to access and experience music, regardless of the global situation.

This blog appears in our latest Impact Report; read the full report here.