BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.0.1//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:2621@bob.guide DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251010T193000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251010T230000 DTSTAMP:20250910T090532Z URL:https://bob.guide/events/classically-black-with-laura-mvula-and-the-cb so SUMMARY:Classically Black with Laura Mvula and The CBSO DESCRIPTION:Laura Mvula returns to Birmingham to perform with the CBSO in c elebration of Black and Global Majority musicians and composers \n\n \n\nS ongwriter\, composer and recording artist Laura Mvula will return to her h ome city this October to perform with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orch estra (CBSO) as part of the Classically Black festival. \n\n \n\nThe one-o f-a-kind concert\, which takes place at Symphony Hall on Friday 10 October 2025\, marks Laura’s first solo collaboration with the CBSO. Conducted by Matthew Lynch\, the performance will bring her signature blend of rich harmonies and soul stirring vocals home\, performing several of her songs - including Green Garden\, Father Father and Sing to the Moon – alongsid e the full-force of the orchestra. \n\n \n\nThe concert is part of Black L ives in Music’s celebrated classical music festival\, Classically Black. Now in its second year\, the festival celebrates the depth and brilliance of Black composers and musicians - past\, present\, and future - reimagin ing classical music through the powerful lens of culture\, experience and creativity. \n\n \n\nAlthough this is Laura’s first solo concert with th e CBSO\, she has a long history with the organisation. First as a member o f the CBSO Youth Orchestra\, before later working as a receptionist after graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. It was during this tim e she began to write her own songs. \n\nLaura released her debut album\, S ing to the Moon\, in 2013\, earning her two MOBO awards and a Mercury Priz e nomination. Since then\, Laura has released two more albums The Dreaming Room and Pink Noise\, both Mercury Prize nominated\, won two Ivor Novello Awards for Best Album\, composed music for the Royal Shakespeare Company and a Netflix Series\, and recently released a single as part of the 2024 John Lewis Christmas campaign. \n\n\nLaura Mvula\, said: “Coming back to Birmingham to perform with the CBSO feels like a full-circle moment. The orchestra has been part of my life since I was a child\, so to now share m y music at Symphony Hall\, alongside these musicians is deeply personal an d incredibly special. To be able to do it as part of Classically Black\, c elebrating the contribution of Black musicians and composers\, adds even m ore meaning. I am so excited to perform to a home crowd\, it’s going to be an unforgettable night.” \n\n \n\nIn the last year\, Laura has been a Special Guest on tour with Lenny Kravitz and performed at Glastonbury wit h Coldplay. Classically Black with Laura Mvula &\; the CBSO is Laura’ s first hometown performance since the closing ceremony of the Commonwealt h Games in 2022. \n\n \n\nThe event will also reflect a wider family conne ction – as a teenager Laura performed with the vocal acapella group Blac k Voices\, founded by her aunt Carol Pemberton. The group has performed al ongside the CBSO several times – including a performance of Dvorak’s 9 th Symphony and African American Spirituals earlier this year. \n\n \n\nEm ma Stenning\, CEO of CBSO\, said: “We’re thrilled to be working alongs ide Black Lives in Music to bring Classically Black to Birmingham. Our hom e city is fantastically musical\, and full of diversity and creative adven ture. To be able to celebrate and share Laura’s incredible music-making with audiences is a powerful moment - not just for the CBSO\, but for the whole city. Her story is rooted in Birmingham\, and this collaboration is a chance to honour that journey with something truly unforgettable.” \n\ n \n\nRoger Wilson\, Director of Operations of Black Lives in Music\, said : “Classically Black is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the not ins ignificant contribution of Black and global majority musicians and compose rs in classical music. The largely unacknowledged contribution by this com munity to this genre of music is as rich in heritage as it is in legacy. T here is no more versatile and beautiful voice than that painted with the o rchestral tonal palette.” \n\n \n\n“Classically Black is a celebration that also encapsulates the narrative of intersectionality. Laura Mvula is a phenomenal talent\, transcending musical genres as artists should. As a Black Woman\, creating and leading from the front\, she is a beacon of ho pe for so many still disenfranchised in classical music today. To have an opportunity to work with the world class artist that Laura is\, and on hom e turf in Birmingham with the equally world class CBSO are two invaluable pieces of the jigsaw coming together. BLiM are both honoured and proud to be bringing together these world class artists.” \n\n ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bob.guide/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Scr eenshot-2025-09-09-at-09.36.36.png CATEGORIES:Celebration,Classical,Live Music LOCATION:Symphony Hall\, 8 Centenary Square\, Birmingham\, England\, B1 2EA \, United Kingdom GEO:52.478883;-1.910784 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=8 Centenary Square\, Birmin gham\, England\, B1 2EA\, United Kingdom;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Sympho ny Hall:geo:52.478883,-1.910784 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20250330T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR