Page 171 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

He told Classic FM: “The government has very nobly waived visa fees for the
homeless for Ukraine scheme, which I want to give them huge credit for. We
don’t want to bash the government. We just want them to extend that hand of
friendship on to these musicians who are trying to come to the UK to perform
three concerts, and ideally, waive their requirement for a visa.”

Pemberton pushed to include the question of visa waivers for musicians into the
Commons chamber earlier this week.

His organisation, the ABO, is the representative body for professional orchestras
across the UK, and Pemberton admits: “It may seem slightly odd that we’re now
working very hard to help non-British orchestras. But we’re well aware of the
situation obviously in Ukraine.”

Pemberton himself has taken in a 31-year-old Ukrainian refugee as part of the
Homes for Ukraine scheme. The scheme which launched in march earlier this
year has allowed over 70,000 Ukraine Scheme visa-holders to enter the UK.

The special visa allows people living in the UK to sponsor a named Ukrainian
national or family to come to live in the UK with them, providing they have
suitable accommodation to offer.

In response to MP Keeley’s question in commons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson
cited the Homes for Ukraine scheme, saying that the government should be very
proud of what they were doing, and recommending Keeley direct her question
to the Home Secretary instead.

Keri Lynn-Wilson, conductor of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. Picture: Getty