Celebrate Pride with music

Ahead of Pride Month in June, we are showcasing and celebrating a few of our wonderful LGBTQ+ member groups.

Pride Month, which takes place in June in the UK, is about acceptance, equality and celebrating the work and lives of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the diversity of the human experience when it comes to sexuality, gender identity and gender expression. And what better way to celebrate this than to come together and make music as a community?

We have asked a few of our LGBTQ+ specific member groups to talk about the importance of their music group being LGBTQ+ specific, originally for an article in Highnotes issue #58 — however, we received so many responses that we couldn't fit them all in the article! Read on for the full list of LGBTQ+ groups who responded.

Diversity Choir

The Diversity Choir, Christmas 2024

The Diversity Choir was formed in 1992 and is London’s original LGBT+ chamber choir, performing a wide variety of joyful music from ABBA to Rachmaninov, and from choral music to musical theatre. They are a four-part harmony choir, currently with 52 members that form a very inclusive community. Their ambition is to grow the choir so they can reach wider audiences, support more community events and provide more opportunities for new members to experience the great atmosphere and sound at their concerts. Additionally, this season they are proud to support Rainbow Mind, a charity championing the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community from hubs in London and Manchester. 

‘Visibility and representation are important — they are ways to celebrate the enrichment that diversity offers. The medium of music is an engaging way to include those who might feel isolated or not heard and are looking for a positive and supportive representation of their community. As Madonna famously once sang 'Music makes the people come together' — being an LGBT+ choir enables us to support important initiatives including LGBT+ History Month (February) and Hate Crime Awareness Week (October). ’

Find out more on their website and follow them on YouTube

European Queer Choir

The European Queer Choir in Brussels, 2024

The European Queer* Choir was formed in 2016, from a small pop-up choir that performed at the GALA LGBTQ+ choir festival in Denver, USA. The choir currently comprises around 30 singers from the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium. Most years they perform at LGBTQ+ choir festivals such as Various Voices (Europe) or Hand-in-Hand (UK and Ireland). Their mission is to use joy and enthusiasm for singing to find connections with people across Europe and work towards a world where people are respected and equal, as well as celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and its culture and educating people about this. Inclusivity is central to their ethos, so they welcome those who are queer, questioning, identifying (or non-identifying) in terms of sexuality, gender and attraction.

‘Some people may question whether it is helpful or necessary to have separate choirs for LGBTQ+ people in this day and age — but we believe strongly in the value of these choirs, for many reasons. To start, the first LGBTQ+ choirs formed out of political activism, and there are still many countries in the world where being queer is illegal and carries harsh punishments. When we perform at the Various Voices European festival, we get to meet and support singing groups from countries which are still repressive towards queer people. Queer choirs have also shown solidarity with choirs and communities in countries where LGBTQ+ rights were previously promoted but where governments have recently become less tolerant.' 

Queer choirs educate their members, their community and the wider public on diversity, discrimination and LGBTQ+ history, through informative and thought-provoking performances. Queer choirs challenge stereotypes and promote a positive image of LGBTQ+ people to the public and to those who may be questioning their sexuality. In 'A Queerly Joyful Noise' (2017), Julia Balen suggests that queer choruses 'actively, publicly and joyfully offer a creative counterstory' that 'challenges some of the most damaging stories used to oppress: that you are alone… and that you have no right to life or joy'.

In addition to the shared values and shared interests that are found in any inclusive choir, a specifically LGBTQ+ choir surrounds members with people who have a shared history and experience, providing validation and fostering a sense of belonging rather than being in a minority. Balen (see above) argued that 'queer choirs do as much work to heal and empower those who sing in them as they do to create change in the larger culture'. And finally, queer choirs provide social contact with other LGBTQ+ people who share a love of singing and music, and have seen the beginning of many relationships!'

Find out more on their website

London Gay Men’s Chorus

London Gay Men’s Chorus performing. Photo credit: Steve Gregson

The London Gay Men’s Chorus is Europe’s largest gay choir, with over 200 members united by a passion for music and a mission to promote equality through song. Founded in 1991 by nine friends singing carols to raise money for the Terrence Higgins Trust during the height of the AIDS crisis, the chorus has grown into a powerful collective voice for the LGBTQ+ community, performing to sold-out audiences across London and beyond. From musical theatre to pop and electronica, their diverse repertoire reflects the rich variety of experiences within the community they represent. More than just a choir, they are a community of support, celebration, and a powerful voice for representation and inclusion. Their aim is to bring people together and challenge discrimination through song, using performances to spark conversations and shift perceptions about LGBTQ+ lives. 

'At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and safety remain under threat in many parts of the world, spaces like ours are as necessary as ever. The chorus offers a safe and empowering environment where gay, bi, and trans men, as well as non-binary people, can share their stories through song — creating connection, fostering pride, and reminding audiences of the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, and equality in all walks of life.'

Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter) / YouTube

London Gay Symphony Orchestra

The London Gay Symphony Orchestra. Photo credit: Simon J. Webb

The London Gay Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1996 by a group of friends led by Robin Gordon-Powell, the orchestra’s first conductor. Almost three decades later, they're still just a group of friends who now perform five concerts a year with exciting repertoire and push the boundaries for leisure-time orchestras across the country. For Pride 2025, they're celebrating bold voices and boundary-pushing brilliance with their summer concert on 22 June, their season's finale — tickets on sale now.

'LGBTQIA+ societies in music, like ours, play a crucial role in fostering both artistic expression and community cohesion. Music has long been a powerful means of storytelling and identity, and for LGBTQIA+ musicians, having a group to play with where everyone can bring their whole selves to orchestra is invaluable. Beyond the personal joy of making music, our orchestra provides a platform for visibility and representation. By bringing together musicians from diverse backgrounds, we not only create beautiful music but also challenge stereotypes, promote inclusivity, and strengthen the cultural fabric of London's wider community.'

Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter) / YouTube

Pink Singers

The Pink Singers, 2025. Photo credit: Jessica Rowbottom

The Pink Singers is Europe’s oldest LGBTQ+ community choir, founded in 1983 to sing at London Pride. Led by musical director Olivia Doust, the group has grown from strength to strength as a powerhouse in the queer choral community, showcasing diversity and inclusion and the joy of singing together as a chosen family. The choir has supported each other and the LGBTQ+ community singing through four decades of change, fundraising in the HIV-AIDS crisis, and facing the many challenges and celebrating successes for queer people in the UK and abroad. Now a registered charity, they perform and march at Pride events and take part in community events including the Soho Vigil Against Hate Crime and Transgender Day of Remembrance. To celebrate Pride 2025, they are presenting ‘Geek OUT!’ live at Cadogan Hall on 5 July — tickets on sale now.

'LGBTQ+ specific spaces are crucial in all walks of life, and just as special interest music groups around the country provide ways to enrich their members lives, so the Pink Singers is a space where choir members can enjoy the affirmation and joy of singing together to a high standard as well as socialising. Not only does the choir’s repertoire represent concerns particular to the queer community, but singing together provides a sense of solidarity and mutual support for its members, and a joy of being their true selves that radiates out to audiences. We promote an open audition process and — unusually for an SATB choir — members sing in the part that is most comfortable for their range, regardless of traditional gender norms, and can move voice parts as necessary.'

Another member of the Pink Singers also said, 'I’ve never been a part of a choir that wasn’t gendered before and that felt really special. In my first season we sang a song called ‘The Village’, which is about a trans masculine experience, and as we were rehearsing it for the first time, I thought, 'This song is about me!'. It just hadn’t occurred to me that there was such a song, or that we would be singing trans music. The lyrics were so resonant to me. It’s really powerful to be in a room with everybody singing music that speaks to your experience'. — Ev (they/them), tenor

Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter) / YouTube

Rainbow Chorus

The Rainbow Chorus at their summer concert in 2023

The Rainbow Chorus are the largest community LGBTQ+ SATB choir in the south-east outside of London. Based in Brighton and Hove, the chorus has been celebrating diversity through music since 1997. The choir welcomes people from all sections of the LGBTQ+ community and offers an enjoyable, supportive and affirming environment for members to sing, develop their community spirit and awareness, and enable individuals to develop their talents, skills and confidence. There are around 80 members in the choir split into the four classic SATB sections. For those with less time, or who want a more informal setting to sing in a group, the choir also runs an a monthly choir called RC+, which was awarded the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Trans and Non-Binary Culture Participation’ by the Federation of Gay Games.

'Now, more than ever it is important for LGBTQ+ groups to stay visible and vocal, and to provide a safe and welcoming space where LGBTQ+ people can express themselves. Through public performance, the choir enhances the profile of LGBTQ+ people, particularly in Brighton and Hove, and contribute to the quality and range of community events. Singing at national and European events such as Hand in Hand and Various Voices and locally at the World Aids Day concert and Trans Pride sends a clear message that we are out and proud and all different. Strength in harmony!'

Find out more on their website and follow them on Bluesky / Facebook / Instagram / Threads / YouTube

South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus

South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus at a Pride event

The South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus has been bringing joy and community to Cardiff since 2008. What started as a small group has grown into a thriving, inclusive choir that welcomes people of all sexualities, genders, and backgrounds. Over the years, they’ve performed across the UK and internationally, even hosting the prestigious Hand in Hand LGBTQ+ Choral Festival in 2019. They regularly perform for free at new and emerging Pride events, giving back to the community and helping to amplify LGBTQ+ voices across Wales. Their 'Lights, Camera, Slay!' concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama was another huge highlight, packed with iconic songs from cult classic and guilty pleasure movies, performing to a sold-out crowd. For Pride 2025, they are gearing up for its biggest and most fabulous show yet — a disco extravaganza at Tramshed on 27 June — tickets on sale now.

'The South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus is about more than just performing — it’s a chosen family. Singing together creates a space where people can connect, express themselves, and feel truly at home. The choir is proof that music isn’t just about sound — it’s about belonging.'

Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter) / YouTube

Sunday Boys

The Sunday Boys in concert

The Sunday Boys, founded by Michael Betteridge in 2016, is Greater Manchester’s inclusive LGBTQ+ choir for low voices (tenor and bass). Open to all, no experience is needed, just a passion for singing — as vocal coaching and support will be provided every step of the way. They've performed nationwide and toured Iceland and Europe, and are regularly commissioning new work.

'LGBTQ+-specific music groups like ours play a crucial role in fostering community, visibility, and empowerment. They offer a safe space for individuals to express their identities free from judgment or discrimination. They also challenge traditional norms in the music industry, promoting diversity and inclusivity. By coming together, we not only create music but strengthen the bonds within our community, advocate for equal rights, and celebrate the powerful history of the LGBTQ+ community and its culture.'

Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter) / YouTube

Surrey Rainbow Choir

Surrey Rainbow Choir in concert

The Surrey Rainbow Choir, based in Guildford, welcome voices across every shining color of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. They perform everything from ‘pride bangers’ like Lady Gaga and the Spice Girls to vintage classics and even bops from upcoming queer talent. Their talented Musical Directors, Fraz Ireland and Amy, arrange a lot of piece specifically for the choir — for example, 'Blood and 'Roses', a traditional protest song featured in the movie 'Pride', was arranged with new LGBTQ+ themed lyrics that the choir helped write in a song that's become a Surrey Rainbow Choir Staple. Another concert staple is their 'Reasons for Rainbow' — where their members anonymously share what they love about singing and their rainbow family, and then everyone takes a turn reading these out over a background of humming — it never fails to be moving and brings more depth and power to the songs they sing. The choir has collaborated and performed with the National Trust, Surrey County Council, at Pride events, and partnered with other LGBTQ initiatives, groups and venues where they can represent and contribute to the local LGBTQ community. 

'People join LGBTQ+ specific music gorups for a variety of reasons — wanting to make new local queer connections, experience the real wellbeing benefits of close-knit community and singing, or even just the chance to sing while being recognised as their authentic selves.' 

Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook

Thames Valley Gay Chorus

The Thames Valley Gay Chorus performing 'The Time Warp'

Thames Valley Gay Chorus is a dedicated LGBTQ+ choir in Reading and has been running for 20+ years. Started in 2003 as Reading Men’s Gay Chorus, it became Reading Gay Chorus in 2004 and then changed to the current name in 2011. This community choir aims to provide a safe-space for the LGBTQ+ community of Reading, and surrounding areas, to get together, develop skills in singing and performing, whilst also taking advantage of the wide array of social opportunities. They are a 'led by and for choir', and this year their Musical Director, Christopher Wray, has themed their spring and summer concerts around the feeling of 'home' after a time of feeling lost or not belonging, and feeling 'proud'. These themes represent both the wider LGBTQ+ community but also the community built at the choir, and how they celebrate and share that through singing and performance. 
 
The chorus gets involved with the local community as well as wider LGBT+ projects — like providing music for the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil, performing at varying Prides around the Thames Valley and getting involved with national and international LGBT+ choir festivals. For Pride 2025, their spring concert ‘There’s No Place Like Home’ is in partnership with Stonewall Housing to highlight the important work they do for the community. 

'With the rise in hate speech, often fuelled by the media and political climate, it is so important to have a dedicated space for those of all identities to feel seen and accepted, or to simply exist without judgement — and also to lift the seldom heard voices within society and what better way than by singing!'

Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

*Historically used as a slur, Queer is now being reclaimed by many within the LGBTQ+ community as a positive self-descriptor for individuals whose sexual orientation or gender identity falls outside of heterosexual and cisgender norms, or who reject specific labels altogether. Making Music’s usage of this term is unequivocally positive.