Exceptional fingering…
Vigorous blowing…
Classical Pride is back and w̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ better than ever!
🗓️ 10-14 June 2026
Tickets now available - link in bio ⬆️
Thirty-three-year-old Oliver Zeffman is everything you wouldn’t expect an orchestral conductor to be. Young, handsome, well-dressed and devoid of excess ear hair (not to mention a good few decades of age), he’s the modern face of classical music. In 2023, Zeffman founded Classical Pride to highlight the vast contribution of queer composers to the canon, but also to bring classical music to a new audience. “I think it’s good to be a bit impatient,” he tells Esquire. “But I’m lucky. I’m happy with how things have gone and are going.”
#OliverZeffman stars on one of our January digital covers celebrating a new generation of Better Men. See the full list, and read all about them, at the link in our bio.
Oliver wears @boss
Photographer @jamesanastasiphoto
Stylist @crystallecox
Grooming @hayden_cassidy
Stylist assistant: Emma Seery
Set Design: Lee Flude at @agency__41
Tailor: Nancy Smith
Still dreaming about Classical Pride at the @barbicancentre ? Same 😌
Here’s a throwback to rehearsals with the phenomenal @londonsymphonyorchestra and the one and only @jbartonmezzo , conducted by @ozeffman 💖
Magic before the show even began! 🌈
Dusty Knuckle ticket giveaway! 🎟️ We've teamed up with east London's favourite bakery to offer 5 pairs of tickets to our headline show at the Barbican on 4 July.
Just send @thedustyknuckle a dm saying 'Classical Pride' before Monday 30 June and they'll pick the winners at random. GO GO GO! 🌈
Good Morning, Beauty 🌈
Pumeza Matshikiza sings Jake Heggie’s sumptuous song that had the Barbican Hall captivated on the final night of Classical Pride last year 🏳️🌈
From Handel to Britten to Bernstein, queer culture has always co-existed alongside classical music. This summer, celebrate Pride in style at @classicalprideuk , a festival that spotlights the impact of the LGBTQ+ community on the genre. Join the glittering finale on 4 July in the Barbican Hall with the @londonsymphonyorchestra , conductor @ozeffman and soloists @jbartonmezzo & @cameron.shahbazi for 🎶 Voices of Joy & Sorrow 🎶
PLUS a free warm-up concert that same evening 🎶 Voices of Tomorrow 🎶 a song recital that showcases some of today’s leading young classical music talent.
Classical Pride 27 June – 10 July 2025
Multiple venues from London to LA
🗓️Tickets on sale now
