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Orchestras Under the ABO/MU Agreement

The MU agrees minimum rates of pay and terms and conditions with the Association of British Orchestras (ABO). Most orchestras fall under two categories.

Last updated: 14 April 2026

The highlighted orchestras within the lists below are members of the ABO, but also have their own Collective Agreements. Their links will take you to the appropriate Collective Agreement page.

Other Useful Pages:

Orchestral Collective Agreements MU Orchestral Rates

ABO Category 1 Orchestras

  • Academy of Ancient Music
  • Academy of St Martin in the Fields
  • Arcangelo
  • Aurora Orchestra
  • Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
  • Britten Sinfonia
  • Chineke! Orchestra
  • City of London Sinfonia
  • Dunedin Consort
  • English Chamber Orchestra 
  • The English Concert
  • Gabrieli Consort & Players
  • Glyndebourne Sinfonia 
  • La Serenissima 
  • London Contemporary Orchestra
  • London Mozart Players
  • London Philharmonic Orchestra
  • London Sinfonietta
  • London Symphony Orchestra
  • Manchester Camerata
  • Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra
  • The Mozartists
  • Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra
  • Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
  • Orchestra of The Sixteen
  • Orchestra of the Swan
  • Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Philharmonia Orchestra
  • Red Note Ensemble
  • Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Scottish Chamber Orchestra
  • Sinfonia Verdi
  • Solomon's Knot 

See the full ABO agreement and rates for Category 1 orchestras, including details of the MU stewards.

ABO Category 2 Orchestras

See the full ABO agreement and rates for Category 2 orchestras, including details of the MU stewards.

Contract Orchestras

The following orchestras are also full members of the ABO (Association of British Orchestras), but engage their deputies and extras under their own independent agreements:

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