In the clip, one of the participants from the music camp talks about why she is impressed by classical music.
One of the world’s largest choir and orchestra camps for children and young people, Side by Side by El Sistema, is taking place right now and is one of Gothenburg’s jubilee projects. The camp is organized by the Gothenburg Symphony, and participants between the ages of 6-23 join from all over the world. During the days in Gothenburg, they will offer seven concerts, the largest of which will take place in Scandinavium.
“Classical instruments are not as cool”
Fewer and fewer young people choose to play classical instruments, and this type of music-making faces many challenges. Björn Lovén, director of the orchestra at the Gothenburg Symphony explains how he believes that classical instruments are marginalized.
– New influences and new genres are coming, which we have great respect for, with them competing with classical instruments, which then don’t become as cool. Classical music is not what you hear when you go out on the town, so it comes in the background, says Björn Lovén.
Want to attract influencers, pop bands and YouTubers
But the unique cultural heritage is something that we must be afraid of, believes Björn Lovén.
So what should be done to attract more young people?
– Invite artists who are already known among young people. So someone from YouTube, some influencer or pop band that you recognize and get them to play together with a classical orchestra, and in that way introduce classical music, says Marjolein Vermeeren who is the project manager and conductor at the music camp.