BBC Singers axed

The BBC has announced (7th March) deep cuts to its classical music budget, including the closure of the BBC Singers with the loss of 20 jobs, alongside cuts of 20% in the Corporation’s English Orchestras. The news, greeted with shock and disbelief in the classical music community, is described by the Musicians’ Union as ‘utterly devastating’.

BBC Chief of Content, Charlotte Moore, said that the decision came as a result of the first major review of BBC classical music for a generation, and signalled a shift of emphasis to include more support for music education and investment in choral development across the country.

“This new strategy is bold, ambitious and good for the sector and for audiences who love classical music,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean that we haven’t had to make some difficult decisions, but equally they are the right ones for the future.”

A national petition has already attracted 20,000 signatures. You can sign it at

https://slippedisc.com/2023/03/17000-protest-abolition-of-bbc-singers

To read more on this story, visit the Classical Music blog at

https://www.classical-music.com/news/bbc-singers-to-be-disbanded-following-bbc-classical-review