Association of British Orchestra Conference

Activity: Participating in or organising an event typesParticipating in a conference, workshop, ...

Description

The Association of British Orchestras hosted its annual conference, Reimagining the Score, at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead. With over 300 delegates attending, the event showcased innovation in orchestral practice, including explorations of AI, interdisciplinarity, and community-led programming The programme featured high‑profile plenaries and debates, with contributions from music leaders, policymakers, and creative directors focused on reshaping orchestral culture in times of rapid change .

As part of the conference’s emphasis on reimagining orchestral repertoire, Maria Sappho lead Julius Eastman’s 'Femenine' with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Sappho’s textural keyboard work brought improvisational sensitivity and depth to the ensemble’s interpretation, amplifying the piece’s resonance and slow evolution of motifs. Her performance concretely embodied the conference’s themes of hybrid repertoire, embodied practice, and expanded orchestral language, reshaping traditional concert norms through embodied listening and collaborative interpretation.
Period5 Jan 20257 Jan 2025
Event typeConference
LocationNewcastleShow on map
Degree of RecognitionNational