Scene Festival: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Composers + Monk in Pieces screening

Thu 21 August 2025, 7pm,
Aviva Studios, Manchester

We’re proud to be partnering once again with Scene Festival for this 7-day celebratory event, featuring new and classic LGBTQ+ cinema and TV, screenings, panels and special events..

Join us alongside Aaron Akugbo for a powerful celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and artistry through music and film.

Join us for a live concert that features music exploring identity, resilience, and self-expression. The program includes Stringsongs, a moving work for string quartet by Meredith Monk, and Aaron Copland’s iconic Appalachian Spring, arranged for 13 instruments. Together, these pieces take listeners on an emotional and musical journey.

This is followed by a screening of the new documentary Monk in Pieces

Discover the story of Meredith Monk—visionary composer, performer, and artistic pioneer. Monk in Pieces explores her groundbreaking career, her challenges as a young artist, and her lasting influence on music and performance. As Monk works on her latest piece, Indra’s Net, the film captures her reflections on legacy, creativity, and the passage of time.

Featuring insights from fellow artists including Björk and David Byrne, this beautifully crafted documentary mirrors Monk’s unique artistic style and celebrates a life devoted to innovation.

Programme

  • Joy Guidry They know what they’ve done to us
  • Meredith Monk Stringsongs
  • Poulenc Banalités
  • Copland Appalachian Spring
  • Screening of the film, Monk in Pieces

Performed by

  • Aaron Akugbo Trumpet
  • Tom Aldren Director
  • Manchester Camerata

Book now >
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