The Association of British Orchestras Awards The Kanneh-Mason Family

The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) is an organization representing the collective interests of professional orchestras, youth ensembles, and the wider classical music industry throughout the UK.

Presented at the conclusion of ABO's 2022 Conference which took place both in-person in Glasgow, Scotland, and online earlier this month, the annual ABO award was received by parents Kadiatu Kanneh and Stuart Mason, on behalf of their whole family for their indelible impact on young musicians and fellow parents.

The 2022 ABO Conference brought together delegates from all areas of the classical music industry to examine the challenges the orchestral sector has faced with the onset of COVID-19.

“With this year’s Award the membership of the ABO took the opportunity to thank the remarkable Kanneh-Mason family and marked their unique and extraordinary role in inspiring us all with the presentation of the ABO Award,” said Simon Webb, Chair of ABO, in the press release. 

“I am particularly pleased to have presented this award to Kadiatu and Stuart, members of their family have performed with many of the members of the ABO bringing joy and inspiration to us all, and will continue to do so for years to come,” Webb continued. “It is the parents who have made this possible with their tireless commitment and their conviction for the value of music in their children’s lives.”

In their teens and 20s, the Kanneh-Mason children: Isata, Braimah, Sheku, Konya, Jeneba, Aminata, and Mariatu, had broadcasted daily house concerts live on Facebook during the lockdowns, quickly helping fans endure home isolation. 

“When they started the concerts, we didn’t realize how long all this would go on for,” Kadiatu said. “We thought it would be just a few weeks. It was very good in that it gave them something to do.”

Additional awards at the conference included the Special ABO Award which was given to ABO Chief Executive Mark Pemberton and the ABO/Classical Music Award for 2022 Orchestra Manager of the Year, which went to the former director of the London Mozart Players, Julia Desbruslais.

The winner of the Concert Hall Manager of the Year award was Britten Pears Arts’s CEO, Roger Wright, which recognized the organization’s work in maintaining an active program running throughout the pandemic.