Oliver Zeffman

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Oliver George Zeffman (born October 1992) is a British conductor who launched and has curated the annual Classic Pride festival held at the Barbican Centre in London since 2023. The festival was Europe's first event of its type, highlighting music written by gay, lesbian and bisexual composers, and performed by LGBT musicians.[1][2]

Biography

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Zeffman was born in London, United Kingdom. His brother is journalist Henry Zeffman.[3] Oliver Zeffman began learning the violin aged four. He studied History and Russian at Durham University, during which he attended St. Petersburg Conservatory for one year. Zeffman founded his orchestra the Melos Sinfonia whilst still at school, later giving performances abroad. In 2017 he and the Melos Sinfonia gave the Russian premiere of George Benjamin's Written on Skin and then gave the Russian premiere of the same composer's Lessons in Love and Violence in 2019.[2][3][4]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Zeffman created Eight Songs from Isolation, commissioning composers including Thomas Adès and Nico Muhly to contribute songs that were performed by singers including Iestyn Davies and Sarah Connolly. It was released through Apple Music and Marquee TV.[2][5][6]. In 2021 Zeffman released Live at the V&A with violinist Viktoria Mullova and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields on Apple Music and Marquee TV, and filmed in the Raphael Court of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.[7] During 2022 Zeffman continued his partnership with Apple Music with Music x Museums, a series of concerts in the Science Museum, Cutty Sark and British Library that were filmed and recorded for release in 2023 on Apple Music's Platoon label.[2][8]

In 2023 Zeffman conducted the first Classical Pride concert by a major orchestra outside of the US, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and soloists Pavel Kolesnikov, Samson Tsoy, Nicky Spence, Davóne Tines and Ella Taylor at the Barbican Centre.[9][10][11]

In 2024 Zeffman curated a second Classical Pride festival, featuring a classical drag show judged by Monet X Change and Thorgy Thor, alongside opera singer Nicky Spence. At the Barbican Centre, Zeffman also conducted the London Symphony Orchestra playing work by composers including Aaron Copland, Cassandra Miller, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Karol Szymanowski, and Jake Heggie.[12][13][14]

In 2025 Zeffman curated a third Classical Pride festival, including for the first time an international performance at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles where he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The Barbican Centre hosted Voices of Joy and Sorrow, where Zeffman conducted the London Symphony Orchestra playing music by Jake Heggie, George Benjamin, Tchaikovsky and others. The concert featured soloists Jamie Barton and Cameron Shahbazi.[15][16][17]

References

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  1. ^ Kampfner, Constance (26 April 2023). "London to host Europe's first major LGBT classical concert". The Times. London: Times Newspapers Ltd. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d White, Michael (22 June 2023). "Meeting British conductor Oliver Zeffman". Classical Music. London. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b Frazer, Jenni (24 June 2021). "Oliver Zeffman: Making things happen". The Jewish Chronicle. London. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023 – via thejc.com.
  4. ^ Bennett, Tyler (9 July 2025). "Gay music isn't just Kylie — it's Tchaikovsky and Britten too'". The Times. Archived from the original on 17 September 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  5. ^ "How to produce an opera in lockdown (Phoning it in)". The Economist. London. 8 October 2020. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  6. ^ Fairman, Richard (22 October 2020). "Songs of lockdown — the best new operas online". The Financial Times. London. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via ft.com.
  7. ^ "Violinist Viktoria Mullova performs at the V&A". The Strad. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  8. ^ Markay, Afton (8 March 2023). "Oliver Zeffman 'Music x Museums' to be Released as Audio-Visual Album on Apple Music". OperaWire. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  9. ^ Fisher, Neil (23 November 2023). "Classical Pride review — grit, glitter, grief and a fresh perspective". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  10. ^ Morrison, Richard (23 November 2023). "'Discrimination doesn't exist in Russia, because you don't talk about being gay'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  11. ^ Hewett, Ivan (30 July 2023). "Elijah at the Proms was a little too tasteful – plus the best of July's classical concerts". The Daily Telegraph. London. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ^ Linton, Siena (12 April 2024). "Classical Pride returns with 5-day festival with media partner Classic FM". Classic FM. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  13. ^ Jackson, Claire (31 July 2024). "Anna Clyne's new work is dispiriting, but the Messiaen was glorious, plus the best of July's classical concerts". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025.
  14. ^ Jackson, Claire (28 June 2024). "Europe's pioneering LGBTQ+ classical music festival is back. Why you don't want to miss Classical Pride 2024". Classical Music. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Meet the man making classical music gay again". Esquire. 1 July 2025. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  16. ^ Mohammed, Hikmat (30 June 2025). "Oliver Zeffman Is Conducting the Queer Side of Classical Music". Women's Wear Daily. New York. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  17. ^ Brown, Geoff (6 July 2025). "Classical Pride review — celebrating queer composers past and present". The Times. London: Times Newspapers Ltd. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 6 July 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.