Op-Ed Critiques Classical Music's Accessibility and Audience Deselection
In a recent op-ed published by SF Classical Voice, the author contends that classical music remains largely inaccessible to many Americans due to systemic obstacles and voluntary exclusion. Despite its rich heritage, the genre depends heavily on affluent benefactors and decreasing government support, leading to a decline in its significance. Critical issues include funding that prioritizes traditional repertoire and the belief that the primary audience is predominantly older, white, and affluent. Although performances featuring Black composers at the Met Opera are commercially successful, they are often viewed as mere concessions. Steve Hackman's Tchaikovsky X Drake drew Black audiences to the SF Symphony, yet the venue was still underpopulated. The piece raises the question of whether a Black composer could propose a comparable project and highlights the overshadowing of contemporary art music composers by a select group of commercial composers, calling for reduced barriers to entry.
Key facts
- The op-ed was published in SF Classical Voice, a classical music publication.
- Classical music in the U.S. relies on wealthy donors and limited government funding.
- Funding decisions often favor warhorse pieces and exclude diverse applicants based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
- Major institutions assume their core audience is older, primarily white, and moneyed.
- Performances featuring Black composers at the Met Opera have sold well but are seen as concessions.
- Steve Hackman's Tchaikovsky X Drake mashup attracted Black concertgoers to SF Symphony but the hall was fairly empty.
- The author questions whether a Black composer could pitch a similar project to an A-level symphony.
- People increasingly first encounter classical music through film and game soundtracks, not canonical composers.
- Live performances of film and game music are becoming more standard in symphonic programming.
- The author argues that the main barrier is a sense of not belonging to an exclusive club.
Entities
Artists
- Steve Hackman
- Drake
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Billie Jean King
- Garcia Lorca
Institutions
- SF Classical Voice
- Met Opera
- SF Symphony
Locations
- San Francisco
- United States
- New York City
- War Memorial Opera House