The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) is renowned for its work in the advancement of music education.

Founded in 1889, the London-based ABRSM offers graded music examinations and advanced diploma qualifications for both theory and practical courses. The Board also publishes music syllabuses, sheet music and examination papers, and runs professional development courses and seminars for teachers. Each year, more than 630,000 candidates from more than 90 countries take ABRSM examinations.

In Singapore, the Singapore Symphony Group manages the ABRSM’s local office, registering candidates, coordinating venues and dates, and managing the logistics of the examination process. This includes coordination with the many British examiners coming to Singapore each year. Some 40,000 candidates, most of them schoolchildren, take the practical and theory examinations each year.

This partnership with the ABRSM has been in existence since 1985, and the SSO is proud to be associated with the good work of the ABRSM in broadening music literacy.