It’s no secret that interest in classical music is rising in younger people. For years, pundits have lamented that the audiences for Western art music are ageing along with earlier generations, with no influx of new listeners. According to a recent study, and anecdotal evidence, that seems to be changing.
Once last fall, and again earlier this year, posts on the social media platform Reddit have gone viral talking about attending orchestral concerts in the city.
We spoke to Toronto resident Serena Causton about her experiences.
Getting To The TSO: Reddit
“I grew up playing the piano,” says Serena Causton. Along with her training in classical music, she attended performances of the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra with her family growing up. “Once we went to the TSO with my music class,” she recalls.
But, after high school came university, and those connections began to fade. She still enjoyed the music, but found herself the only one in her current social circle with a taste for it.
“It was hard to go by myself at first,” Serena acknowledges. She went with her father a few times, but says she was aware he was only going for her sake.
Even so, she’s found the experience of going solo sometimes is also something to look forward to. “It’s really relaxing going to places by yourself,” she says.
The first time Serena went by herself, she happened to meet someone who she ended up chatting with. It was a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. “I talked to him there,” she says. She crossed paths with him again, but didn’t have the courage to ask about becoming friends so they could go to concerts together.
“I thought it would be cool to learn from others,” she adds. Her symphony acquaintance was knowledgeable, and she enjoyed the insights he added to her concert experience.
She created a Reddit post last fall on the off chance her orchestral connection would see it.
“I sat next to a guy at the TSO at Roy Thompson Hall tonight, balcony section, and we talked a little bit about music & the symphony, we were both there alone. I mentioned I go alone because none of my friends are interested in the symphony. I wanted to ask if he wanted to be symphony friends but chickened out. Later I ran into him on the subway and still couldn’t work up the nerve 😭. If this sounds like you and you are interested in being symphony friends let me know!”
“I made the post just in case he’d see it,” she adds.
She didn’t hear from that person, as it turns out, but she did find out she wasn’t alone. The thread grew and grew, and an online symphony buddies group was formed.
A more recent posts on Reddit has gone viral talking about the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s TSOUNDCHECK program. It’s an initiative for audience members aged 15 to 35, where a block of tickets are released a couple of weeks before a concert date — with prices starting at $22 each.
“I think as you get older, it’s harder to find a group of friends who also enjoy classical music,” Serena says. At the same time, many younger people are realizing its appeal. “I do think it’s more popular than people think.”
The symphony buddies group has been meeting in person for concerts, beginning with about 11 at the first outing. Serena says it’s a very diverse group in the age range of 20s and 30s, and connected her with people to meet up with not only for the concert, but drinks or dinner as well.
“I really like having dinner afterwards.”
The spark was lit, and the idea is growing.
“People are trying to start groups for the opera house, and jazz.”
Making connections with culture buddies online is an idea whose time has come.
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