34 Orchestras and Choirs have already signed up to work with us!
As we move into the second year of the Hiring and Recruitment 10 Point Action Plan we stand with the MU and ABO in solidarity with orchestras, choirs and musicians across the UK as we announce the launch of Year Two of the Hiring and Recruitment 10 Point Action Plan. The plan aims to drive change for more inclusive recruitment across the UK’s professional orchestral and choral sectors and was developed through a series of online and in-person working group meetings with representatives across the breadth of the ABO’s membership, including musicians and managers.
BLiM will support a unified approach towards the recruitment of musicians in orchestras in the UK classical music sector and the plan is designed to enable orchestras with different employment models to address traditional challenges of fair recruitment and to share an understanding of best practice, with the specific objective of workforce development and nurturing an inclusive culture in orchestras.
Year 1: Embedding fairness, transparency and inclusion into the future of recruitment
Launched in April 2024, the 10 Point Action Plan united 33 organisations to tackle barriers to fair recruitment in classical music. Year 1 trials included screened auditions, anonymised applications, inclusivity training, impartial panel members, and clear scoring frameworks. These changes gave musicians greater confidence, consistency, and transparency in auditions, while organisations began reshaping policies with equity at their core. Beyond recruitment, the plan sparked new conversations, collaborations, and trustee support for change. Year 1 has set strong foundations for a sector-wide culture shift—placing fairness, transparency, and inclusion at the heart of music recruitment.
Roger Wilson, Director of Operations and co-founder at Black Lives in Music said:
“It’s fantastic to see the inclusive recruitment plan develop as it goes into the second year. Key to this has been the many open and transparent conversations taking place with musicians and management. These conversations are crucial to understanding the ‘why’. This, I believe, is the key driver for transformational change.”
“I’ve been lucky enough to speak with many musicians and managers involved in the programme. The increased insight that comes with every conversation is extremely heartening, a real sense of community is developing within the context of this work.”
“Whilst orchestras and choirs are having to deal with the ever-increasing challenges of funding support, those involved in this programme are demonstrating the importance of this narrative through their ongoing commitment to the 10 Point Action Plan. Ultimately, this commitment to change can only benefit the sustainability of those orchestras and choirs involved and, in turn, the longevity of the sector itself.”
From consultation to collaboration: Year 2 is driving lasting change
Building on the momentum of Year 1, Year 2 brings tailored training for orchestral managers and musicians, equipping them to embed inclusive practices across the sector. Fully funded by ABO, BLiM and the MU, with additional MU support for freelancers, the programme removes financial barriers to participation. Alongside training, reflection and support sessions give organisations space to share challenges, successes and feedback, while surveys of auditioning musicians provide vital insight to shape further improvements.
As Jo Laverty (MU) notes, “There is still a long way to go, but when management teams and musicians work collaboratively, the most promising change happens.” With online and in-person sessions running from October 2025 to March 2026, Year 2 is turning dialogue into action and embedding inclusion at the heart of the music industry.
We now invite more organisations to join us
Judith Webster, Chief Executive, Association of British Orchestras said:
“Working in partnership with the Musicians’ Union and Black Lives in Music on this programme has been an important demonstration of the need for musicians and managements to work together to achieve long term change in our sector.”
Find out more about the online drop in sessions and book your place today.
Are you an organisation wanting to get involved? Please get in touch with most relevant contact:
Contact Black Lives in Music at 10pointplan@blim.org.uk
Contact the Association of British Orchestras at fiona@abo.org.uk
Contact the Musicians’ Union at orchestral@themu.org
Together we will continue to drive equity, inclusion and meaningful systematic change across the UK’s professional orchestral and choral sectors.