There is a skit somewhere on the Internet that pokes a little bit of fun at the music revolution. An elderly woman speaks to a younger child, presumably a grandchild, and heads to the radio to turn on classical music. She says something along the lines of "Here Johnny, let's listen to some Eminem."
It might be comical at first, but dig deeper. Could the likes of composer masterminds such as Bach, Beethoven and Mozart really be in danger? Common sense says there is no way these figures could ever be lost, but this question is something to think about.
David Sheldrick, the assistant director for audience development and artist services for the Performing Arts Series at Miami University said "The Classical industry is in a small decline. Funding from states is down and the audience is getting smaller."
When asked about the Performing Arts Series in particular, Sheldrick commented attendance is "holding steady."
Many significant classical orchestras across the United States are facing growing debt and shrinking audiences. The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, a longtime member of the great United States "Big Five," headed to bankruptcy court in April. In addition, a number of smaller orchestras such as Honolulu, Seattle and the Florida Philharmonic are facing bankruptcy or devastating budget cuts. Perhaps the biggest reason for this is a shallow turnout at programs. The decline in popularity could be directly linked to the increasingly elderly age of the majority of the audience of classical music. The current generation is not spending as much time at the performance halls.
To fight this issue head on, The Cleveland Orchestra promoted an "Under 18 Free" program this past summer at Blossom Music Center. This flagship idea is simple: if you are under 18 years of age, your ticket is free. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) offers another special for the younger generation. The "Ignite" program targets audience members aged 18 to 30 and gives a special discounted ticket of $12 to see any Orchestra Concert. The CSO also offers a special college night, at which $12 gets a ticket to the concert and access to a special after-party with free food, prizes and a chance to meet the musicians and conductor.
Another association tackling this issue is Enjoy The Arts. Membership for men and women under the age of 35 is a mere $35 dollars. With this membership, a voucher for free or significantly discounted tickets are granted to over 25 Cincinnati arts organizations including the CSO, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet and numerous art museums. isit Enjoy The Arts website at https://enjoythearts.org/.
According to Sheridan Monroe, the president of Miami's chapter of the National Association for Music Education said, "Orchestras are targeting the younger generation by appealing to newer and more popular forms of music."
These might include movie soundtracks, pop songs and other creative elements including visuals. Looking at the upcoming CSO schedule, a wide variety of guest performers, conductors, and a good balance between well known classical music mixed with lesser known pieces offers audience members a vast array of options.
"Classical music has not changed much throughout the years, but society and technology have changed a lot. Major orchestras are trying to invent new ways to attract audiences," Ricardo Averbach, Miami University Symphony Orchestra direcior, said "There is a boom of opera performances that are now broadcast live and presented in commercial movie theatres all over the world."
This year, the Metropolitan Opera from New York City will be airing live performances across the United States of famous operas including Mozart's Don Giovanni and Verdi's La Traviata. The success of this program has been quite profound, and is now spreading to other areas including concert music. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, has begun to air concerts locally in the hopes of gaining a wider audience and more revenue.
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"Youth orchestras are creating a new meaning for classical music," Averbach said.
The Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, directed by Dudamel, is perhaps the most well known in the country. Locally, the CSO offers a youth orchestra that meets weekly, as does the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
"Everyone in this business needs to do their part," Averbach said.
Music is an important outlet for creativity and offers numerous benefits to those that perform and listen to it. Take some time to embrace the genius of composers and simply soak in the melody, rhythm and harmony.
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