Global specialist HIV company ViiV Healthcare has announced a partnership with GAY TIMES to bring a classical concert to celebrate Pride to Barbican Centre, London on Friday, July 7.
Conceived and curated by conductor Oliver Zeffman, and presented by broadcaster and DJ Nick Grimshaw, all funds raised at Classical Pride will go to LGBTQ+ and sexual health charities Terrence Higgins Trust, GiveOut (via Amplified) and Rainbow Railroad.
Queer composers have contributed enormously to the vast body of classical music we hear in our concert halls and opera houses. This concert will celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ musical community, featuring performances from trailblazing classical stars including Pavel Kolesnikov, Samson Tsoy, Davóne Tines, Nicky Spence and Ella Taylor.
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will be joined by an LGBTQ+ community choir, specially assembled for the occasion. Oliver Zeffman will lead them in works by Tchaikovsky, Poulenc, Bernstein, Caroline Shaw and a new commission from British composer Julian Anderson.
Deborah Waterhouse, CEO of ViiV Healthcare and Chair of GSK’s LGBT+ Council, said: “The arts have long played an important role in shining a light on the LGBTQ+ community and we’re proud to partner with Oliver Zeffman and GAY TIMES on this truly ground-breaking event.
“It’s so important that companies like ViiV and GSK continue to play their part in championing diversity, equity and inclusion and events like Classical Pride provide a fantastic platform to do so.”
Oliver Zeffman said: “I’m hugely excited to be conducting the very first orchestral classical Pride concert. There is still so much progress to be made with LGBTQ+ rights – at home and across the world – and a concert celebrating the community’s enormous contribution to classical music feels long overdue.”
Josh Fletcher, Executive Creative Director of GAY TIMES, said: “At GAY TIMES, championing and elevating LGBTQ+ artists from all disciplines has been at the forefront of both our online and experiential strategies. Classical Pride allows us to expand the genre’s presence across the community, ensuring we’re creating space for the community to celebrate Pride in a variety of ways.
“Music will always have a unique ability to bring people together, and we look forward to seeing even more queer talent take to the stage for the UK’s first classical concert for Pride.”
Classical Pride, where ViiV Healthcare is the headline sponsor, is also supported by MasterCard and Little Greene with all proceeds from the concert going to LGBTQ+ and sexual health charities Terrence Higgins Trust, GiveOut (via Amplified) and Rainbow Railroad.
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