11 March 1948
Inaugural meeting at Arts Council of Great Britain
ABO Timeline
20 May 1948
First formal meeting chaired by Steuart Wilson, BBC Head of Music
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1952
Ministry of Labour sets up VOCA (Visiting Orchestras Consultative Association)
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1959
Luncheon in honour of 80th birthday of Sir Thomas Beecham
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1969
York Conference on orchestra finance with local authorities
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1973
Re-constituted as the Association of British Orchestras
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1985
Charlotte Ashe appointed General Administrator
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1986
First ABO Conference in Bristol
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1989
Libby MacNamara appointed Director
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1989
ABO Festival of British Orchestras at Queen Elizabeth Hall
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1990
First ABO Award presented to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
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1991
ABO Trust established as an endowment fund for the Association of British Orchestras, to support its work
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1991
Founder member of PEARLE
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1993
The Turn of the Tide by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
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1994-98
BT Celebration Series
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1996-99
TSB First Movement
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1997
Coming In From The Cold: National Education Programme
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1998
ABO Conference in Nottingham, with the famous Scratch Orchestra
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1998
Golden Jubilee including anniversary dinner at Royal Festival Hall
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1998-2003
National Orchestra Week
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2001
A Sound Ear
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2002
Russell Jones appointed Director
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2003
Cultural Diversity Symposium
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2004 and 2006
Listen Up! with BBC Radio 3
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2005
European Week for Safety and Health at Work Good Practice Award
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2006
Healthy Orchestra Charter launched
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2007
Mark Pemberton appointed Director
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2009
All Party Parliamentary Classical Music Group launched
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2010
Green Orchestras Guide with Julie’s Bicycle
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2010
Youth ensemble membership introduced for NAYO members
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2011
ABO/RPS Salomon Prize launched
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2012
ABO/Rhinegold Awards launched
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2012
Classical Connections funded by Arts Council of Wales
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2012-16
Family Arts Campaign funded by Arts Council England
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2014
Repeal of Class 1 National Insurance Entertainer Regulations
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2014-16
UK-Brazil Transform Orchestra Leadership Programme funded by British Council
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2015
Find Your Way launched
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2016
Orchestra Tax Relief implemented by HM Treasury
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2016
Resonate with PRS Foundation
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2017
Sirens
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