‘It takes a community to develop a musician’: the Royal Philharmonic Society’s John Gilhooly

‘The arts are central to the international standing, character and wellbeing of the nation and bring in over £110bn annually to the economy.’ Wigmore Hall Learning works with children at Chestnuts Primary School in Haringey in 2019. Photograph: James Berry

It’s been a traumatic few years for live music, and the past six months have made many musicians and devoted administrators question just how much we are valued.

But let us not lose hope. A long view is necessary. Think of the period since 1900. Our four nations’ musical life has survived world wars, terrorism, pandemics and economic meltdowns, because audiences wanted it to survive. There is still a palpable hunger for live classical music among an increasing cross-section of society. A century ago, many of our treasured ensembles and musical organisations didn’t yet exist. Against the odds, exciting new ones are emerging yet.