PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILIA STAUGAARD 

Within just three years, Classical Pride has expanded from a single concert into a trailblazing annual celebration. Founded by conductor Oliver Zeffman, the event has become the only large-scale Pride event in classical music – an art-form whose history is interwoven with the lives and legacies of countless LGBTQIA+ composers, from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake and The Nutcracker) to Benjamin Britten (Peter Grimes and Death in Venice).

This year, Classical Pride expands once again with five concerts across London, as well as its first international date at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. “Audiences like it, venues like it, sponsors like it,” Zeffman tells Gay Times. “I guess it seemed successful enough that people want to be a part of it. The point is, there really isn’t anything else like this happening in classical music.”

For Zeffman, Classical Pride is about opening up the concert hall to a broader audience, whether seasoned listeners or newcomers who may assume queer music begins and ends with pop icons. “You might think gay music is Charli XCX or Elton John or Madonna or Cher,” he reflects. “Which it is — but it’s also always been composed way before any of those people were alive. It’s just as important a part of queer culture.”

Here, Oliver Zeffman reflects on the rapid growth of Classical Pride, the enduring relevance of composers like Tchaikovsky, and why the classical world must do more to reach audiences beyond its traditional base. He also offers a preview of what’s in store this year, from iconic ballet suites to world premieres and a dash of drag at the Hollywood Bowl.

Oliver, Classical Pride has come such a long way since its inaugural show in 2023. And that was just one performance, right?

Yeah. In the first year, we had one concert at the Barbican with the CBSO City Symphony Orchestra, which seemed to be a big success. Last year, it expanded to a five-day series in London. We had another big show at the Barbican with the London Symphony Orchestra, who are one of the best orchestra’s in the world. We also had a big classical drag show at Outernet, a choral concert, a young artist program and something else — I can’t quite remember. This year, we’re expanding further across London with five shows at different venues, including Wigmore Hall, Wilton’s Music Hall, King’s Place and two shows at the Barbican. Before the concert on July 4th, there’s a Young Artist Showcase concert, and then our first international date at the Hollywood Bowl in LA. Yeah, it’s bigger!