RETUNE Festival is returning from March 3rd-14th. The Festival, spearheaded by the Oxford-based Alternative Canon Project, celebrates the commitment, courage and creativity of under-represented music makers. Launched to great success last year, this year’s edition is packed with 27 events, covering a range of styles and genres, all promoting underrepresented musicians and music. 

Erin Townsend, one of four Artistic Directors of the Festival, said: “We are proud that all of our events spotlight music that has been excluded from historical processes of canon formation which traditionally favour composers who are white, able-bodied, cisgender, and heterosexual men. Our mission at the Alternative Canon Project is to redress this balance by programming a wider range of music, giving marginalised voices a platform, and introducing audiences to some incredible music in the process.”

Highlights of the 2025 Festival include two song recitals with professional artists at the Holywell Music Room (Mon 3rd March & Thu 13th March) and the World Premiere of Dr Anita Datta’s symphonic organ work played by the composer at Exeter College Chapel (Tue 11th March). This year’s Panel Event focuses on queer issues in musical discourse, with panellists including broadcaster and bassoonist Linton Stephens (Mon 10th March). The centrepiece event of the Festival is a celebration of Samuel and Avril Coleridge-Taylor with Oxford University Chorus and Players on International Women’s Day (Sat 8th March).

RETUNE is run by the city-wide student initiative, Alternative Canon Project (ACP) which encourages increased diversity in concert programming. They provide resources and advice, alongside organising events which showcase the huge benefits of playing music by composers and artists from a diverse range of backgrounds. ACP would like to thank the Faculty of Music and Oxford University Music Society for their support of the event.

RETUNE Festival takes place in venues across Oxford, 3-14 March 2025. Find out more and book tickets for events at [alternativecanonproject.co.uk/retune-festival]