The Britten Sinfonia has launched a public appeal to secure its future following the withdrawal in November of its funding as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

The decision – widely condemned by an uncomprehending classical music world - has left the orchestra with a financial shortfall of £1m over the next three years.

An impressive gathering of world-leading figures with links to the ensemble – an eloquent thing in itself – have lent their support to the appeal, including composers Steve Reich, the Master of the King’s Music Judith Weir, Sir James MacMillan, Thomas Adès and Nico Muhly, singers Dame Sarah Connolly and Roderick Williams, trumpeter Alison Balsom, harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. They feature in a film available to watch below, which also draws on the reflections of others connected to the orchestra, including children's author and illustrator James Mayhew, a nurse and a teacher.

Britten Sinfonia – which in its 30 years of existence has commissioned almost 250 works - is the only professional orchestra in the East of England, its work typically reaching around 14,000 people annually in the region.

‘No arts organisation is ever not fundraising! But in light of our loss of Arts Council England National Portfolio funding, the need to cast our net wider and to ask lovers of classical music to consider supporting us for the first time is particularly urgent,’ said Meurig Bowen, Britten Sinfonia Artistic Director and Chief Executive.

‘We never took for granted this longstanding public funding, and cherished the ability it gave us to make bolder programming choices, to bring into being so much newly composed music, and to have a wide-reaching presence throughout the East of England in concert halls, schools, health and community settings. Now, everything that is celebrated internationally, nationally and regionally is at risk. This level of skill, expertise and extraordinary musical synergy is rare; it has taken three decades to build, and simply can't be replicated overnight,’ he added.

For more information, and to support the campaign, visit: playon.brittensinfonia.com

You can also explore the Britten Sinfonia's acclaimed recordings, via our listening guide to their top albums.