Festive Live: Akiko Saxophone Quartet at Aviva Studios

Led by composer and conductor Michael Betteridge, The Sunday Boys is an ambitious, open-access, low-voiced choir for LGBTQ+ people based in Manchester.

Twice winners of the RNCM’s top brass prize, this young quartet brings a set of seasonal brass fresh from the Lucerne Festival.

The Manchester charity orchestra behind tributes to Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder brings its music-for-everyone ethos to The Social.

A North West jazz quartet featuring guitarist John Bailey reimagines David Bowie’s catalogue in a free evening show.

26 years old, MCR Proud Chorus is one of the largest LGBTQ+ choirs in the UK, bringing showtunes alongside the seasonal favourites.

Coached by members of the Elias, Chilingirian and Talich quartets, this RNCM-formed string quartet brings genre-hopping versatility to Festive Live.

Sing Out Music brings together professional gospel singers, worship leaders from Christian churches and auditioned vocalists for a special festive set.

Named RNCM Chamber Ensemble of the Year in 2026, saxophone quartet Fractal brings contemporary, energetic repertoire in this free set.

Cottontown, Bolton’s multi-award-winning male a cappella group, expands barbershop’s classic four-part sound to full chorus scale.

Four final-year RNCM musicians bring improvised jazz on piano, saxophone, bass and drums to a free set at Aviva Studios.

Hear Christmas soul and R&B from NIA Choir, a free community choir for women, trans and non-binary people living in Hulme, Moss Side and the surrounding areas.

A stripped-back line-up from The Untold Orchestra brings a free festive set to the Social to kick off Festive Voices.

In the new opera Ghost of the AI Empire, audiences use their phones to decide how a futuristic Japanese ghost story unfolds.

Hyperpop star underscores brings her GALLERIA tour to Aviva Studios, celebrating her acclaimed third album, U.

Gold Panda swaps reflective electronica for fast, scrappy house on his latest album TON UP, bringing 140bpm energy to The White Hotel.

30 years after writing a piece for The Bridgewater Hall’s opening celebrations, Thomas Adès returns to conduct it alongside Stravinsky and a world premiere.

Nearly 50 years after The Durutti Column formed in Manchester, their music comes home to Albert Hall for a one-night-only chamber-style performance.

A stripped-back line-up from The Untold Orchestra brings a free festive set to the Social to kick off Festive Voices.

RNCM Opera are back with another classic this winter, performing Tchaikovsky’s best-loved opera, Eugene Onegin, across four shows in the run-up to Christmas.

Charlie Mackesy’s much-loved story comes to life with live orchestral music, a beautiful animated film and plenty of festive fun.