Manchester Camerata present a triumphant celebration of LGBTQ+ artistry at Scene Festival

This August, Manchester Camerata unite once again with Scene Festival for a seven-day celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and artistry, blending inspiring panels, new and classic queer cinema and unforgettable live performance at Aviva Studios.

In one of this year’s most anticipated events, the Camerata welcomes esteemed trumpeter Aaron Akugbo for a powerful evening of music and film on Thu 21 Aug, exploring themes of resilience, self-expression and creative freedom. Taking to the stage alongside Manchester’s innovative chamber orchestra, Akugbo guides audiences through a profoundly stirring journey, beginning with Meredith Monk’s Stringsongs – a shimmering work for string quartet – and Aaron Copland’s tender, sweeping paean to America’s wild frontier, Appalachian Spring, performed in its exquisite arrangement for thirteen instruments.

Following the concert, the celebration moves from stage to screen with a showing of the new documentary, Monk in Pieces, a rich and absorbing mosaic tracing the life and legacy of Meredith Monk.

The film captures the creative brilliance and uncompromising artistry of the visionary composer, performer and musical trailblazer, as she reflects on a remarkable career spanning over five decades. With appearances from Björk, David Byrne and other creative luminaries, Monk in Pieces offers a rare insight into Monk’s unique, ever-evolving craft and her impact on generations of musicians and performers.

Find out more about this year’s Scene Festival HERE.

Book your tickets to A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Composers + Monk in Pieces screening below.

Image credit: Mark Allen