[1] It was founded in 1948 as the Orchestral Employers' Association, primarily to negotiate with the Musicians' Union and other bodies on behalf of its membership, which consisted almost entirely at the time of orchestras receiving annual funding from the newly established Arts Council of Great Britain.
[2] The past decade has seen a size increase for the organisation (from 35 members in 1989 to over 180 today[3]) and its role has expanded to include a range of activities designed to support the development of the UK's orchestral sector.
The association's objectives cover three areas of activity: connecting members, championing orchestras, and developing skills.
[7] The ABO's primary event each year is its annual conference, the major gathering within the classical music industry in the United Kingdom, with around 300 delegates from orchestras from within the UK and abroad, funding agencies, venues, agents, publishers, and suppliers.
Full membership in the ABO is open to professional orchestras and ensembles which have existed for two or more years in the UK and have undertaken no fewer than 24 public performances.