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Musicians’ Union says leaked documents containing further changes to BBC’s orchestras likely outline earlier rejected plans

By | Published on Wednesday 5 April 2023

BBC

The UK’s Musicians’ Union says that it believes leaked documents outlining even more radical changes to the BBC’s in-house orchestras represent earlier and since rejected proposals, adding that it has received written reassurances that those more dramatic changes are not now on the agenda. However, the union adds, these additional rumours are only adding to the stresses currently being endured by musicians employed by the broadcaster.

The BBC recently announced a revamp of its classical music output which included the closing down of its in-house choir the BBC Singers and a 20% cut in the number of salaried roles within its orchestras in England. After those proposals faced widespread criticism, including from the MU, the BBC then announced it was looking into alternative funding options that could allow the BBC Singers to continue to operate.

Classical music news site Slipped Disc yesterday reported on official BBC documents that it said were circulated internally last month. Some of the proposals in those documents were what the BBC announced as part of its classical music revamp, but there were some other additional proposed cutbacks too.

In particular a plan to create “a single pool of musicians from the Concert and Symphony Orchestras” and to “reduce the core-salary base of the BBC Philharmonic [by] creating … a world-leading talent development programme in partnership with the Royal Northern College Of Music”.

Responding to the Slipped Disc article, the MU says that it has seen the documents said article refers to and believes they are probably “an earlier version of the proposals announced by the BBC on 7 Mar”. It also adds that it suspects it wasn’t actually meant to see those documents and the proposals contained within them.

The MU adds that neither the proposal for a single pool of musicians nor the RNCM partnership have “been discussed with the union in any meetings we have attended with the BBC about the future of its performing groups”.

Plus it has since received written assurances from BBC Head Of Orchestras And Choirs Simon Webb that “[the BBC does] not propose to create a single pool of musicians from the BBC Concert and BBC Symphony Orchestras”, although “as discussed during our consultative meetings we do envisage those ensembles working together to develop the freelance pool of players available to the BBC in London”.

Webb’s update to the MU goes on: “Whilst I can confirm that we do plan to launch a new partnership with the RNCM this is not related to our proposed changes to the roles with the BBC Philharmonic”.

“I would like to reiterate”, he then insists, “the BBC’s continued commitment to strengthening its public purpose for classical music whilst reaching a sustainable financial model for its six performing groups. We remain committed to meaningful consultation with the MU and other staff unions”.

Meanwhile the RNCM has also contacted the MU to state: “Any discussions with the BBC regarding talent development and professional experience for students pre-date, and are wholly unrelated to, the recent announcement of a reduction in salaried musician posts at the corporation”.

Commenting on the latest developments, and the union’s ongoing talks with the BBC, MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl says: “The musicians employed by the BBC’s performing groups have had a terrible month since the BBC made its ill-advised announcement proposing to close the BBC Singers and make 20% job cuts in its English orchestras”.

“Since then, nothing material has significantly changed”, she adds. “There are still no concrete plans for the future of the BBC Singers and our members’ jobs at the BBC Concert, Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras are still under threat”.

“These additional proposals”, she goes on, “which seem to have been shared in error, have further undermined our members’ faith in the BBC and have made engaging in meaningful talks more difficult still”.

“The MU will continue to consult its members and keep them fully informed of developments”, she concludes. “In the meantime, I encourage all our members and everyone who loves music at the BBC to email [BBC boss] Tim Davie and the BBC board using our template letter”.



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