| For too long, classical music has been | | | | phenomenal mainstream success was not |
| regarded as the domain of instrumentalists, | | | | typical, the fact that she was such a young |
| composers, academic musicologists and, | | | | musician in the classical industry was. |
| typically, anyone over 40 years old. But | | | | |
| while the majority of today's youth would | | | | In the twenty-first century, the likes of |
| rather listen to Britney Spears' greatest | | | | Katherine Jenkins and "male soprano" Michael |
| hits or watch My Chemical Romance on MTV, the | | | | Maniaci, 28 and 29 years of age respectively, |
| view that young people are completely | | | | are making headlines the world over for their |
| uninterested in classical music is not just | | | | innovative approach to classical music and |
| erroneous - it's simply not grounded in | | | | their stunning vocal range. Edward Gardner, |
| historical reality. | | | | the new Music Director of Glyndebourne on |
| | | | Tour (one of the UK's premier operatic |
| Mozart, widely regarded as one of the | | | | fixtures), is also only 28, proving that |
| greatest classical composers of all time, | | | | there is certainly no dearth of young people |
| wrote his first symphony at age eight and was | | | | performing classical music, although there |
| dead by the age of 35. Schubert also died | | | | may be fewer youths than OAPs listening to |
| when he was 31, while Chopin famously didn't | | | | it. |
| live past the age of 39. Moreover, the | | | | |
| phenomenon of the castrato in classical music | | | | But as classical music institutions and |
| in the 1700s shows that young people haven't | | | | performing arts organisations try their best |
| just been interested in classical music | | | | to reduce their median audience age, |
| throughout the years - they've practically | | | | classical music isn't just becoming more |
| been canonised as part of a classical music | | | | accessible to young people - it's also |
| tradition that, although lost, is not | | | | becoming more affordable. Scottish Opera, for |
| forgotten. | | | | instance, offer special ticket deals for |
| | | | people under 26, while many music-specialist |
| Today's orchestras, choirs and opera houses | | | | booksellers are making classical music books |
| are packed with young singers and musicians, | | | | and guides that will help younger classical |
| many of whom are still in their twenties. | | | | listeners learn more about the craft. So |
| Moreover, almost all modern, successful | | | | while many may lament the loss or decline of |
| classical musicians will have undergone | | | | youth interest in classical music in today's |
| training from a very young age. Charlotte | | | | world, they need only look towards the |
| Church may have made headlines when she | | | | country's concert halls to see where the |
| released her debut album "Voice of an Angel" | | | | future lies. |
| in 1998 aged just thirteen, but while her | | | | |