The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is joining forces with the the Vancouver Pride Society to present Symphonic PRIDE, a virtual concert performance celebrating BIPOC LGBTQ performers, composers, and dancers.

VSO assistant conductor Andrew Crust will curate the program, which is to be hosted by Old Soul Rebel's Chelsea Johnson.

Other performers include nonbinary drag artists the Darlings, spoken-word artist and poet Rabbit Richards, dancers Ralph Escamillan and Jason Bempong, and spoken-word artist Kevin Fraser.

The program will span music from ABBA, Lizzo, the Righteous Brothers, Nina Simone, and Franz Schubert, as well as the brief History of Queer Musicians in a medley of music from Frederick Handel to Freddie Mercury and Janelle Monáe.

“This will be a celebration that highlights queer musicians and allies throughout history, many of whom were forced to hide their true nature during their lifetimes, and also celebrate BIPOC LGBTQ artists, who for far too long have been underrepresented or excluded from our stages," Crust said in the announcement today. "These two themes come together perfectly in Symphonic PRIDE. I have invited some of the most creative and daring artists in Vancouver to come and share the stage with the exceptional musicians of the Vancouver Symphony. It’s going to be a great night of music and art.”

The concert is being filmed at the Cultch Historic Theatre and will be presented for free through the VSO and Vancouver Pride social media channels on July 31 at 7 p.m.