The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) has today launched a new three-year campaign in partnership with Classic FM, LIVE, UK Music, the Musicians’ Union, the Independent Society of Musicians and Classical Music magazine. The campaign aims to inspire the British public to celebrate the power and value of classical music and the UK’s orchestras.

Alongside todays launch, the ABO is also publishing the results of a new survey conducted as part of the campaign. Its results show that people believe that orchestras have an important role to play in cultural life in the UK, with 74% of those surveyed saying that orchestras are a vital part of the nation’s cultural heritage and 65% believing that classical music is under-appreciated today.

ABO chair Sophie Lewis said: ‘It is truly heartening to see how much classical music matters to the British public… We want to start a conversation open to everyone – both enthusiasts and casual listeners of classical music – to introduce one another to the music that moves them. We want to spark engagement and excitement for us all to celebrate the music that we can be proud of in Britain as a part of our cultural heritage, showcased by our members on a world class level.’

This article was originally published by Classical Music Magazine. You can find the original version of this article here.