Acclaimed saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam will celebrate Earth Day at the Royal Albert Hall in 2027, bringing together the BBC Concert Orchestra for a unique evening that explores humanity's enduring relationship with nature. Concurrency scheduled for Thursday 22 April 2027, the beloved musician and soloist will spotlight a diverse selection of compositions that pay homage to the ever-present music of the natural world. The evening's program will be conducted by Tom Richards and spans both classical and contemporary music traditions, drawing vital attention to the fragile beauty of our planet.
The absolute heart of the performance will feature five world premieres written especially for the event. These brand-new commissions include works by legendary musicians and composers Jamie Cullum, Tan Dun, Rachel Portman, Anoushka Shankar, and Eunike Tanzil. Gillam expressed her immense excitement for the spectacular showcase, noting that some of the most extraordinary music ever written has been inspired by the natural world, from birdsong and flowing water to vast landscapes.
The show further cements Gillam’s historic relationship with the iconic London venue, where she previously served as an inaugural Associate Artist. Since making history as the first saxophonist to reach the final of the BBC Young Musician competition in 2016, she has developed into one of the UK's most distinctive musical voices. She remains the youngest presenter in the history of BBC Radio 3, hosting the award-winning series This Classical Life, and was appointed an MBE for Services to Music in 2021.
The major Decca Classics recording artist recently returned to the venue as a special guest for organist Anna Lapwood’s International Women’s Day 2026 recital. Tickets for the upcoming 2027 Earth Day concert start from £30 and are scheduled to go on general sale at 10am on Friday 3 July via the venue's official website. Friends and Patrons of the Hall can access an exclusive priority booking window starting from 10am on Thursday 2 July.
