In a UK first, star saxophonist and BBC Radio 3 presenter Jess Gillam celebrates her ARIA-winning weekly BBC Radio 3 show and podcast, This Classical Life, live with the BBC Concert Orchestra and a host of special guests at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on 7 July 2021.

Guest performers will include composer, drummer and producer Ollie Howell who has written music for multi-award-winning films and TV series; soprano Soraya Mafi; singer Orlando Weeks former frontman of The Maccabees and songwriter, vocalist and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

In the spirit of the Radio 3 show, where guests explore their musical influences and favourite styles, Jess and her guests will share and perform an eclectic range of music they love in the concert. Celebrating the power of live music, the concert promises to be an exhilarating and emotional evening conducted by the London Contemporary Orchestra’s Hugh Brunt.

This Classical Life: Live will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 14 July at 7.30pm.

Jess is passionate about inspiring and bringing joy to people through music and believes that good music is good music regardless of the genre or label. On her BBC Radio 3 show, audiences may hear The Prodigy next to Prokofiev, Hildegard von Bingen next to Bjork, Mendelssohn next to Michael Kiwanuka but there is one thing all of the sounds have in common: an ability to move us, transport us and connect us with alternative realities.

Jess Gillam says: “I cannot wait for the very first This Classical Life: Live! I am constantly inspired and intrigued by the guests we have on the show and to see that energy and artistry come to life in a live setting will be fantastic. Collaboration is a fundamental part of the programme so to have Soraya Mafi, Orlando Weeks, Ollie Howell, Ayanna Whitter-Johnson and Hugh Brunt as part of the night is a dream. I’m also very happy to be partnering with the BBC Concert Orchestra on this project - the orchestra’s dynamism and versatility will be perfect for a night packed with world class performances!”