Alternative Classical

Interview: Lloyd Griffith — Alternative Classical A conversation about how choir was the ideal training to be a comic and how the classical industry can combat the class divide.

"I think my stage fright for comedy has been curtailed because of choral singing." www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/interviews/l...

Reading Essentials for Aspiring Composers — Alternative Classical Books about orchestration, notation productivity, and overcoming self-doubt.

Book recommendations for aspiring composers

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/rea...

UK’s performing arts industry ‘inhospitable to parents’, research warns Long hours, lack of flexibility and last-minute scheduling driving parents, particularly mothers, from industry

The performing arts industry in the UK is “inhospitable to parents” and falling far behind other industries in supporting women who have children
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/m...

An introduction to 10 contemporary female composers:

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/10-...

Red Note Factory (Devising) Weekend ~ Glasgow — Alternative Classical A free weekend course for classical performers aged 18–28 who want to explore contemporary music, devising, and creative collaboration.

A free weekend course for classical performers aged 18–28 who want to explore contemporary music, devising, and creative collaboration.

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

What's on in March?

- A celebration of notable trans figures
- Original music honouring women's stories
- Live music and conversation celebrating women who are shaping the future of music

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

Full-time jobs in classical music & opera:

- Lecturer in music history
- Programme & orchestras manager at youth orchestra
- Director of audiences at orchestra

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/arts-jobs

15 Female Founders of Classical Music Organisations — Alternative Classical Here are some of the women who have forged their own path within the classical music industry.

15 Female Founders of Classical Music Organisations

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/fem...

There's a Listening Party in Oxford this week - a space to share the music you’re passionate about. Love this idea!

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

Good for her shining a light on this. Too often this sort of thing goes on in the shadows.

Yuja Wang accuses Radio 3’s Norman Lebrecht of misogynistic bullying Station will no longer be working with journalist after pianist makes email public

Yuja Wang accuses Radio 3’s Norman Lebrecht of misogynistic bullying
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Next week in Glasgow:

A feature film about the ups and downs of post-college life for Juilliard-trained viola player Isabel

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

10 Female Chief Executives of UK Orchestras — Alternative Classical An introduction to some of the women who are running British orchestras.

10 Female Chief Executives of UK Orchestras:

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/fem...

Classical Music Jobs Board — Alternative Classical Classical music jobs & opportunities.

Have you come across our jobs page? You're welcome to submit it (for free) via the link at the top of the page www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/arts-jobs

15 Unconventional Concertos including a Recycling Concerto that you can hear live in March, using recycled percussion as the solo "instrument"!

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/15-...

BBC Symphony Orchestra: Total Immersion - Icelandic Chill ~ Barbican, London — Alternative Classical A deep dive into the cutting edge of Iceland’s mesmerising musical landscape in a full day of music, film and talks.

This weekend in London: a deep dive into Iceland’s mesmerising musical landscape, ft Bára Gísladóttir performing her own genre‑defying double bass concerto.

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

10 Female Leaders of UK Orchestras — Alternative Classical An introduction to some of the women who are running British orchestras.

10 Female Leaders of UK Orchestras

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/fem...

Newsletter — Alternative Classical Receive concert recommendations, music jobs and opportunities, and news of innovation in the classical music sector.

New people join the mailing list every week and you could be one of them! www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/newsletter

A concert of remembrance, renewal, and musical storytelling @kingsplacelondon.bsky.social

Music by Caroline Shaw & arrangements by @nicomuhly.com

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

Interview: Jules Buckley — Alternative Classical A conversation about resistance to innovation in the classical music sector and being the underdog.

"We as listeners and concert-goers are always searching for different things. No-one owns this music, no-one owns this music experience." www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/interviews/j...

Looking for something to go to this week? There's a listening party, a classical music stand-up routine, and a musical wine tasting.

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

Alternative concerts & events with discounted tickets for under 35s

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...

Breaking the silence: Misogyny in the opera industry - Opera Now Katie Mitchell’s decision to step away from opera following decades of sexism has ignited a wider reckoning with misogyny and the abuse of power in the opera industry. We talk to various industry figu...

"Sexism in opera is rooted in both the stories told on stage...and a deeply hierarchical culture, where abuse and discrimination sometimes masquerade as tradition."
www.opera-now.com/content/feat...

Love this!

A requiem for arts coverage I used to say I wished that newspapers would treat their arts sections the way they treated their sports sections. What I meant was that sports sections offered a balanced mix of news stories, feature...

The Washington Post has only a single arts critic left - everyone else got fired today, along with all three arts editors. (There are still a couple of excellent arts reporters.) I was so upset I dusted off my blog to have my say: annemidgette.com/blog/f/a-req...

Our Composers' Hub brings together a list of awards, competitions, bursaries and composing schemes for composers based in the UK.

Free to access!

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/composers-hub

Are you organising an 'alternative' classical concert? You can submit it to our listings using this form:

forms.gle/ED34NtBpm7dK...

Jobs round-up:

- Artistic consultant for lunchtime concert series
- Director of music at London church
- Chief executive of Scottish music collective

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/arts-jobs

Interview: Sir James MacMillan CBE — Alternative Classical A conversation about the pressure of creating new works, elitism and the class divide in classical music, and the TV he’s been watching during lockdown.

"It’s always a mistake for commissioners to interfere too much. They have to just leave it up to the composer to write whatever is there, and shouldn’t be too prescriptive."

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/interviews/j...

Experience a deep dive into the cutting edge of Iceland’s mesmerising musical landscape in a full day of music, film and talks:

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/concerts-cal...