Livestreamed to launch Digital Pride ’17, the LGSO's Spring Concert begins in Germany with Beethoven’s famous ‘Fifth Symphony’, heads southeast to Hungary for Kodaly’s flashy-folky ‘Dances of Galanta’ and keeps on across the Black Sea to Armenia for Khachaturian’s virtuoso ‘Flute Concerto’ with soloist Mark Taylor. 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. They were recently semi-finalists in the BBC’s ‘All Together Now – The Great Orchestra Challenge’. Patrons include the new night tsar Amy Lamé. lgso.org.uk 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. christopherbraime.com Mark Taylor is currently studying for his Masters Degree at the Hochshule für Musik und Tanz, Köln. He recently graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with First Class Honours and received his formative musical training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Competition successes include the Guildhall Needlemakers Woodwind Prize. As a soloist he’s performed recitals in venues including Glasgow’s City Hall and London’s Milton Court. joinencore.com/marktaylor Digital Pride returns for its second outing April 24-30th 2017. It’s a Pride that anyone in the world with a computer or smartphone can be a part of, delivering a unique program including performances and panel discussions. gaystarnews.com/digitalpride/