Following their surprise semi-final departure from the BBC’s Great Orchestra Challenge, the LGSO are back with a program eschewing the usual seasonal chestnuts for a couple of crowd-pleasing classics – Gershwin’s An American In Paris, with more sparkle than the tackiest of tinsel, Sibelius’s Second Symphony, brighter than your average open fire, and throwing in Larsson’s Saxophone Concerto (soloist Philip Attard) for good cheer. London Gay Symphony Orchestra is the UK's oldest LGBT orchestra and one of only a handful in the world. Founded in 1996, the LGSO has given four or more concerts every year for the past twenty at venues including Royal Festival Hall; toured internationally to Paris, Zagreb, Cologne; performed with Jimmy Somerville, Rosalind Plowright and Sue Perkins; recorded a score for the cult film Pervirella; commissioned work from upcoming composers; and raised thousands for charities such as Amnesty and Albert Kennedy Trust. Patrons include Amy Lamé and Sandi Toksvig. Christopher Braime studied conducting at the Royal College of Music and has been musical director of LGSO since 2011. He’s also MD of Putney Choral Society and Grosvenor Light Opera Company as well as guest conductor for Sussex Symphony Orchestra. Philip Attard has appeared as soloist in venues including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, St John Smith Square, St James Piccadilly and the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall. He recently graduated with a Master of Music (distinction) from the Royal College of Music, where he won competitions including the Wind and Percussion category of the 2016 Royal Overseas League Competition.