Page 225 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

The Concert Hall Manager of the Year award was awarded to Britten Pears Arts chief
executive, Roger Wright. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Aldeburgh Festival,
Britten Pears Arts moved its work online. As soon as permitted it became one of the first
organisations in the UK to stage Covid-safe live performances. Britten Pears Arts used
public funding to employ freelance musicians and creatives at a time when employment in
the sector was scarce. The following year Britten Pears Arts presented socially distanced
concerts at Snape and opened the venue’s free outdoor Dome Stage.

This category also saw a special commendation for Matthew Sims, head of arts and
venues for Leeds City Council who helped Leeds Town Hall re-open quickly after the first
lockdown to provide a much-needed venue for recordings, concerts, opera and recitals.

The winner in this year’s Artist Manager of the Year category was chief executive of
the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA), Atholl Swainston-Harrison.
Swainston-Harrison was recognised for his work providing artist managers with practical
support in relation to the Covid pandemic, as well as the ongoing problems associated with
Brexit. Together with his team, Swainston-Harrison collaborated with the music industry in
the UK and across Europe, working to de-mystify the rules and regulations standing in the
way of touring and lobbying government to mitigate current uncertainties.

The ABO also announced the Kanneh-Mason Family as winners of the annual ABO Award
in recognition of the role they play in inspiring aspiring musicians and fellow parents.
Awards host Simon Webb commended the family for ‘bringing joy and inspiration to us all,
and will continue to do so for years to come.’ The award was received on behalf of the
family by parents Kaduata Kanneh and Stuart Mason who, Webb said ‘made this possible
with their tireless commitment and their conviction for the value of music in their children’s
lives.’

A surprise Special ABO Award was also presented to ABO chief executive Mark
Pemberton OBE in recognition of his immense efforts in guiding organisations and
members through both Brexit and the pandemic. Webb who presented the award, said:
‘Those of us who know and love the orchestral sector, audiences, musicians, ABO
members, can be in no doubt of the importance of the work Mark has done, and continues
to do in ensuring the orchestral sector thrives whatever the challenges we face.’

We finished off the evening with a lively ceilidh to music from Live Music Now
Scotland’s The Dockyard Trio: Lea Søndergaard Larsen (bodhrán), Seán Gray
(guitar/vocals), Euan McLaughlin (fiddle).