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Orchestra pit, chairs and music stands in black and white.

MU Responds to News of ENO’s Move From London to Manchester

The MU is continuing talks with English National Opera regarding their proposals, which do not currently mention the future of our members’ jobs.

Published: 06 December 2023

Some of the musicians and supporters from the demo at Newcastle Theatre Royal on 10 November, holding MU banners and signs saying “Keep Northern Ballet Live”.

Keep Northern Ballet Live Petition Surges Past 10,000 Signatures

Over 10,000 people have signed the petition urging Arts Council England to keep Northern Ballet music live.

Published: 27 November 2023

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl with ENO Music Staff and Orchestra Members after delivering letters outside the building.

Musicians at ENO Deliver Over 150 Letters Urging ENO Management to Reconsider Proposals to Axe Jobs and Go Part-Time

Musicians delivered 153 letters to English National Opera management, urging them to save ENO as a full-time company with a full-time orchestra and music staff on full-time pay.

Published: 24 November 2023

The Royal Opera House orchestra wearing yellow FairPay t-shirts outside of the entrance to the building from their leafleting campaign in September..

Royal Opera House Orchestra Have Voted to Accept a New Pay Offer From Management

Following an MU-supported campaign to have their pay restored to pre-pandemic levels, musicians in the Royal Opera House Orchestra (OROH) have accepted a significantly improved pay and conditions offer from the company’s management to settle this year’s dispute.

Published: 21 November 2023

Musicians and supporters holding MU flags and ‘Keep Northern Ballet Live’ signs, outside the Newcastle Theatre Royal on 10 November.

Trade Union Movement Calls on Arts Council England to Keep Northern Ballet Music Live

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak joined musicians from Northern Ballet Sinfonia and supporters from across the union movement in Newcastle, who were campaigning to keep Northern Ballet live.

Published: 14 November 2023

Instruments and music sheets in an empty orchestra pit with no players.

BBC Radio 4 Spotlights Keep Northern Ballet Live Campaign

BBC Radio 4’s Front Row heard from MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl on the campaign to keep Northern Ballet music live and why it comes down to Arts Council England.

Published: 08 November 2023

Singer on stage in front of a microphone on a stand and large audience, in blue light.

This Is Music Report Confirms Significance of Music Industry’s Contribution to UK Economy in 2022

UK Music’s annual economic report, This Is Music 2023, states that the music industry’s contribution to the UK economy was £6.7 billion (GVA) in 2022.

Published: 07 November 2023

People at the ENO joint Unions demo from November 2022 holding signs reading #Behindeverymusician and #LoveENO

Take Action to Save ENO as a Full-Time Company With a Full-Time Orchestra

Write to English National Opera’s management urging them to reconsider proposals to axe 19 jobs and go part-time.

Published: 06 November 2023

A quartet plays in an entrance foyer, displaying

Email Your MP to Keep Northern Ballet Music Live

Northern Ballet Sinfonia musicians are campaigning to protect their jobs and keep Northern Ballet Live. Email your MP for support.

Published: 31 October 2023

Naomi Pohl talks animatedly to two visitors to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden

MU Calls on Government to Support Orchestras Affected by Arts Council England Funding Cuts

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl has written to the Chancellor and Culture Secretary calling for support for Northern Ballet, English National Opera, Royal Opera House and the wider sector.

Published: 30 October 2023

Darkly lit orchestra pit with musicians and music sheets.

Les Mis and Miss Saigon Composer Claude-Michel Schönberg Backs Northern Ballet Sinfonia Campaign to Keep Northern Ballet Music Live

Legendary composer Claude-Michel Schönberg calls for an Arts Council England solution to protect Northern Ballet musicians.

Published: 25 October 2023

Members of the ROH Orchestra handing out flyers and holding a banner saying 'Please support the Orchestra #fairpay' before a performance earlier this month.

Royal Opera House Orchestra Set to Take Further Action Short of Strike in Pay Dispute

Musicians in the Royal Opera House orchestra are campaigning to have their pay restored to pre pandemic levels.

Published: 23 October 2023

Exterior of the Theater Royal, Nottingham.

International Federation of Musicians Backs Keep Northern Ballet Music Live Campaign

Musicians' Unions worldwide share their solidarity with Northern Ballet Sinfonia and call on Arts Council England to act urgently.

Published: 23 October 2023

Members to Receive Ballot Papers Imminently

Executive Committee (EC) and Regional Committee (RC) Ballots are currently underway, asking MU members to elect representatives from the membership to represent then at Regional and Executive level. Ballots have been posted out and should be arriving shortly.

Published: 20 October 2023

Photo of the centre of Aberdeen, the City where this years 2023 SNP conference was held

Scottish First Minister Commits to Doubling Funding For Arts and Culture Over Next Five Years

The MU welcomes the news, which offers hope of a more secure future at a time when UK cultural institutions are struggling with rising costs and jobs. We look forward to further details on the proposals.

Published: 18 October 2023

Outside of The London Coliseum, home of The English National Opera.

ENO Music Director Resigns Over Plans to Axe Musicians

Martyn Brabbins has resigned in protest at English National Opera’s plans to axe 19 posts in the orchestra and go part time.

Published: 17 October 2023

A crowd of people holding MU branded signs saying 'Fund the Arts', 'Save the ENO' and '#BehindEveryMusician' from a rally in 2022.

MU Hits Back at English National Opera Plans to Axe Jobs and Go Part-Time

The English National Opera plans to axe 19 posts and employ the remaining musicians on part-time contracts.

Published: 13 October 2023

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl, and MU Head of International Dave Webster hold up a sign outside the Royal Opera House reading

Royal Opera House Orchestra Pay Petition Passes 2000 Signatures

Over 2000 people have backed the Royal Opera House orchestra’s campaign after a second day of action short of strike.

Published: 05 October 2023

Timpani player sits at a drum, hands visible only

Sign the Petition to Keep Northern Ballet Music Live

Musicians in Northern Ballet Sinfonia are campaigning to protect their touring work and keep Northern Ballet music live.

Published: 04 October 2023

Clarinet with close up of detached reed mouthpiece.

Embouchure Exhibition: Celebrating the Story of One Dentist and His Pioneering Work With Wind and Brass Players

A new London exhibition shows how the dedication and passion of dentist Maurice Porter helped generations of brass and woodwind players perfect and resolve problems with their embouchure.

Published: 02 October 2023

Gold ballet shoes in half shadow on a wooden floor

Musicians’ Union Extremely Concerned as Funding Crisis Deepens at Northern Ballet

The MU has today expressed its concern at the situation that has arisen for their members in the Northern Ballet Sinfonia and for the Company of Northern Ballet (NB).

Published: 29 September 2023

A view of Edinburgh Old Town on a bright blue day

MU Concerned by Cuts to Creative Scotland Budget

The MU is concerned to learn that the Scottish Government has reinstated a £6.6m cut to the budget of Creative Scotland.

Published: 28 September 2023

Members of the Royal Opera House Orchestra dressed in their yellow #fairpay t-shirts handing leaflets to audience members as they arrive for the performance.

Support the Royal Opera House Orchestra: Sign the Petition

Sign the petition to support musicians in the Royal Opera House Orchestra, who are taking a second day of action short of strike.

Published: 28 September 2023

The Royal Opera House orchestra wearing yellow FairPay t-shirts outside of the entrance to the building.

Support Royal Opera House Musicians' Campaign for Fair Pay

Musicians are campaigning to have their pay restored to pre-pandemic levels at the Royal Opera House.

Published: 21 September 2023

Jocelyn Lightfoot: A Fresh Approach to Engaging Audiences in Classical Music

From onstage dress code to front of house hospitality – the London Chamber Orchestra’s managing director makes the case for a complete rethink of the classical live sector.

Published: 21 September 2023

Woman playing acoustic guitar at a table with male musician, paper and pen are on the table next to them.

First Ever UK Musicians’ Census Provides Unparalleled Insight into the Careers of the UK’s Musicians and Music Creators

The Musicians’ Census reveals UK musicians’ average annual income from music work is £20,700 – but nearly half earn under £14,000.

Published: 11 September 2023

Sarah Tomlinson: “I Wish I’d Used the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme Years Ago”

MU Education Rep Sarah Tomlinson tells us why she decided to use the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme and why hearing health is important for everyone.

Published: 14 August 2023

Four wooden cubes with head symbols and a hand that is flipping one to reveal a lightbulb representing an idea.

Member’s Voice: Alice Angliss on Why She Attends MU Regional Committee Meetings

Musician and MU London member Alice Angliss shares her first-hand experience of what Regional Committee meetings are, how they work and why they’re vital in giving support to members and the industry.

Published: 10 August 2023

“The MU Couldn’t Function Without You” - Chair of the Executive Committee Alex Gascoine Addresses MU Delegate Conference

Chair of the Executive Committee Alex Gascoine opened MU Delegate Conference with a look at how work has changed in the last two years, and how the union is tackling the big challenges facing musicians.

Published: 02 August 2023

ENO leafleting action outside the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 22 July by the MU and Equity with the ENO orchestra and chorus.

MU Responds to Update on Future of the English National Opera

Arts Council England have announced a grant of £24 million for the English National Opera for April 2024 to March 2026, and an additional three years for it to establish a new base outside the capital. 

Published: 27 July 2023

MU Executive Committe Vice Chair Andi Hopgood, stands and speaks from the mic while holding a small child.

Wrapping Up MU Delegate Conference 2023: Motions, Updates and Celebrations

MU Delegate Conference wraps up with motions on the Welsh language, future pandemic planning for musicians and the closure of rail ticket offices, with union members using the second day of MU Delegate Conference to vote on a very clear set of policy priorities.

Published: 26 July 2023

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Vote Yes to Potential Industrial Action

The members of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House have voted overwhelmingly in favour of potential strike action in a ballot that closed 17 July.

Published: 18 July 2023

The outside roof detail of the London Coliseum theatre in Covent Garden, the previous home of ENO.

Sign The Petition to Protect Jobs at English National Opera

Call on Ministers to provide more funding to support English National Opera and protect jobs in the orchestra, chorus and stage crews.

Published: 14 July 2023

Large cup of coffee on a table in a brightly lit coffee shop

New Series of MU 1-2-1 Advice Sessions Released Across Scotland

We’ll be running free 30-minute advice sessions in Edinburgh, Dundee, Dumfries, Glasgow and Galashiels over the summer, with more dates to be announced for Skye, Inverness and Aberdeen in the Autumn.

Published: 04 July 2023

Close up of The Epstein Theatre sign in large gold lettering outside the venue in daytime.

Sign the Petition to Help Save Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre

The Epstein Theatre closed Friday 30 June after Liverpool City Council announced it would be ending financial support. Members are encouraged to sign a petition to help save the historic venue.

Published: 30 June 2023

Liverpool Hood Street bus terminal at night, with long exposure of traffic trails/light of public transport.

MU Supports Liverpool’s ‘Bring Back Night Buses’ Campaign and Survey

The MU is asking members local to Liverpool to complete a short survey which will help organisers better understand the needs of public transport users, with an aim of providing convenient, safe and affordable links to local music venues.

Published: 21 June 2023

Black background with golden glitter and confetti to represent a celebration.

The MU’s 130th Anniversary

We look back on the Union’s rich history and the battles won and lost over the decades.

Published: 20 June 2023

The outside roof detail of the London Coliseum, home of The English National Opera.

Motion To Save The English National Opera Passed at London Assembly

The motion was passed on Thursday 8 June and called for Arts Council England to end its requirement for the English National Opera to establish a primary base out of London.

Published: 05 June 2023

A view panning over rooftops indicating dense housing in an area of Lewisham.

Musician Calls for the Protection For the Right to Play Musical Instruments

A classical musician who had to move out of her London flat following noise complaints has started a petition calling for clarification around music practice in relation to statutory nuisance laws, which the MU has followed up with a letter to Lewisham Council.

Published: 23 May 2023

Impact of Arts Council England Cuts on Young Workers Raised at TUC Young Workers’ Conference

MU delegate Tom Plater explores the impact of Government arts funding cuts on young people in this speech to TUC Young Workers’ Conference 2023.

Published: 18 April 2023

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