Classically Black Weekend

14 – 16 August 2026
Snape Maltings

The Classically Black weekend celebrates Black and Global Majority artists and builds on the hugely successful Classically Black event, now in its third year, which has quickly become a must-see in the classical music calendar.

The weekend is the result of a collaboration between Black Lives in Music (BLiM) and Britten Pears Arts and includes performances from the brilliant violinist Nathan Amaral, jazz giant Julian Joseph in a 60th-birthday show and a performance from trailblazing musician Ayanna Witter-Johnson giving a sneak preview of music from her new album.

5 events on this page of 5 total

Classically Black:

Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Soulful powerful vocals and her signature blend of classical, jazz, reggae, soul, and R&B styles make any Ayanna Witter-Johnson concert a unique experience.

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

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Classically Black:

Recital I

An afternoon of spellbinding music that pushes boundaries and inspires, including Schumann’s poignant Ghost Variations and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Forest Scenes, highlighting the composer’s gift for musical storytelling.

Peter Pears Recital Room, Snape Maltings

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Classically Black:

Julian Joseph Trio

A towering figure in British jazz, Julian Joseph joins us with his renowned trio, playing material from their much-anticipated new album, Voyage of the Faithful.

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings

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Man with short dark hair playing a string instrument.
Classically Black:

Recital II

An eclectic afternoon of music by composer-performers that blurs the boundaries between classical, electronic and other genres, featuring improvisation, song, samples and more.

Peter Pears Recital Room, Snape Maltings

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BBC Concert Orchestra with conductor Barry
Classically Black:

Friday Night is Music Night

A rich mix of music, encompassing jazz, classical and more that celebrates the incredible breadth and diversity of music written by Black composers, all recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

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