LAST week I was fortunate enough to attend the Association of British Orchestras’ annual conference, this time being hosted in Glasgow thanks to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

My own involvement was part hob-nobbing and shmoozing with other artists, in the hope I’d be able to find willing artists and groups to compose or work with, while also presenting a short talk on my work with Hebrides Ensemble and Drake Music Scotland.

For me, the conference was fascinating on two levels. First, I was curious to hear the concerns and thoughts of those who commission, prepare and organise concerts, much like the difference between a worker’s and a manager’s concerns are different — but in classical music, both sides of the coin want the artform to thrive.