This is my opening provocation from the digital session at the Association of British Orchestras conference in February 2022:
2020 saw orchestras adapt faster than at any time during our history. Within the space of weeks, we saw orchestras learn new skills, adopt new ideas, and create digital content on a scale never seen before. Even though orchestras across the world were at totally different starting points in their digital journey, those journeys were equally difficult for all.
We should take huge pride in the effort that orchestras went to in order to keep music playing and making a difference to the lives of others, and it’s important for us to both celebrate and understand our successes. This is something we will be looking at during today’s session.
However, that was 2020. 2021 was very different and we now find ourselves beginning of 2022.
