Hes gay but classical music

“Pride celebrations tend to focus on pop music and parties, which is great,” Zeffman says. Zeffman believes that visible corporate backing, LGBTQ+ networks, and out executives are important progress for the community.

Has Zeffman faced barriers as a gay man in classical music?

Surprisingly, Zeffman says no. This year, the festival expands to multiple London venues including Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, Wilton’s Music Hall, and the Barbican.

“But classical music is also part of queer culture, and it deserves to be celebrated too.”

What highlights can audiences expect this year?

2025 marks the third edition of Classical Pride. I’ve not worked in the corporate world and I’m sure there’s still progress to be made, but the fact that most big businesses in the West have LGBTQ+ networks, that they spend their money - which they’re under no obligation to do so - on Pride events, that they’re willing to publicly support Prides in cities around the world, that there are lots of powerful, out LGBTQ+ execs, that’s something I’m all for.

As a gay man in classical music have you encountered any barriers personally or professionally?

To be honest, not really.

I started Classical Pride, less to combat homophobia in classical music - rather to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community that has contributed so enormously to the genre, something which classical music simply hadn’t thought to do.

Which piece of classic music instils the greatest sense of pride in you?

I love conducting Tchaikovsky - he just writes the best tunes.

Besides being able to inspire each other artistically, fashion has huge - and very engaged - audiences across the globe and I’d love for classical music to look to tap into this with interesting collaborations and partnerships. And with very few exceptions, this just doesn’t happen in classical music. Many attendees were new to classical music but became captivated by live performances.

Zeffman, a confident, athletic man, is more Jon Snow from “Game of Thrones” with his charmingly dark features and light eyes than Bach or Handel in their powdered wigs. Their cues can dictate whether something should be played aggressively or delicately.

Classical music’s rich history led Zeffman to studying history and Russian at Durham University.

It’s hardly an obscure list. They hosted sold-out concerts at the Royal Albert Hall featuring Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Wagner. What was the motivation?

Frankly, I’m not sure it’s a particularly unusual or out-there idea.

At 32, he stands out for his sharp look and vibrant energy—far from the traditional stereotype of conductors.

Zeffman’s passion project, Classical Pride, launches this week. Young, stylish, and confident, he represents a fresh, modern image in the world of classical music. It’s like being a director or soccer manager — all the work happens in rehearsals,” Zeffman says.

The role of the conductor on stage is to guide the orchestra and control the tempo of the music.

Even his lesser-known works have tunes better than most composers’ best.”

How can fashion and classical music connect in the future?

Zeffman notes that classical music tends to be insular compared to pop, rock, or hip hop, which regularly intersect with fashion and other art forms. Tchaikovsky, Britten, Barber, Szymanowski, Poulenc, Copland, Bernstein, (probably) Schubert, Chopin, Handel, or today Caroline Shaw, Judith Weir, Thomas Adès, George Benjamin, Nico Muhly, Meredith Monk and so on.

So many of the most important and influential musicians in classical music past and present - are LGBTQ+.