We were delighted to hear that Old Bedfordian, Mark Pemberton (75-80), was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List. Since 2007, Mark has been Chief Executive of the Association of British Orchestras, which exists to champion, connect and develop professional orchestras across the UK. After graduating from Oxford University, he started his career in arts management as Administrator of the professional touring theatre company Quicksilver Theatre for Children, before moving to leading drama conservatoires, Drama Centre London (General Administrator) and Mountview Theatre School (Head of Development & Marketing). Before joining the ABO, Mark was Chief Executive of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, the UK’s representative body for amateur and community theatre, during which time he served as Chair of Voluntary Arts England. He is Chair of the National Music Council of the United Kingdom, which exists to promote the interests of the music sector as a whole.
“I was delighted to have been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours. It has been an incredibly tough two years for the ABO and its member orchestras, with the Covid-19 crisis followed hot on the heels by Brexit. I am grateful to the UK Government for recognising not only the hard work I have put in to help the orchestral sector weather the storm, but other achievements, not least securing Orchestra Tax Relief as a vital new income stream. But I see this as a tribute too to the rest of the my team, who have worked tirelessly alongside me on behalf of our members, and to the amazing work done by orchestras in our concert halls, schools and community settings across the UK.” Mark Pemberton