Barbican Hall will present “Classical Pride” on July 7, 2023.

The event, which will be presented in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and GAY TIMES, will be curated by conductor Oliver Zeffman, who also conceived of the idea.

The showcase will feature works by Bernstein, Poulenc, Julian Anderson, Caroline Shaw, and Tchaikovsky with such artists as Pavel Kolesnikov, Samson Tsoy, Davóne Tines, Nicky Spence and Ella Taylor. They will be joined by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and an LGBTQ+ community choir.

“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,” Zeffman said in an official press statement.

“The arts have long played an important role in shining a light on the LGBTQ+ community 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,” added Deborah Waterhouse, CEO, ViiV Healthcare and Chair of GSK’s LGBT+ Council.

Moreover, all proceeds from “Classical Pride” will go to LGBTQ+ charities – Terrence Higgins Trust, Amplifund and Rainbow Railroad.