Young people have overtaken their parents and grandparents' generation as being the people most likely to enjoy orchestral music as part of the countdown to Christmas - according to new festive research by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).

The national poll of 2,000 adults turned on its head the long-held assumption that orchestral music is a music genre for older people. Instead, the RPO study revealed that 74% of people aged under 25 will engage with orchestral music this Christmas, compared to just 46% of people aged 55 or over.

In addition to being more likely to enjoy Christmas carols (21%) - or to attend a Christmas concert (14%) - the under 25 age group were also most likely to engage with orchestral music this festive season through their digitised lifestyles. For example, young people were those most likely to make playlists of orchestral music (via streaming sites) to enjoy during the Christmas countdown (20%). The under 25s were also most likely to say they would engage with orchestral music by watching YouTube documentaries (18%), enjoying streamed concerts (16%) or experiencing the orchestral world through computer games (12%).

How people plan to engage with orchestral music during the Christmas countdown - age group comparisons

These figures underline a trend that has emerged since the end of lockdown - RPO data  indicating a resurgent interest in orchestral music amongst younger people. Research earlier this year indicated that 78% of under 25s were interested in experiencing an orchestral concert this year - whether traditional repertoire or modern manifestations of the genre, such as film music. In addition, 35% of young people said they were prepared to make a concerted effort to go to concerts as a way of supporting the arts after the lockdown era. For many young workers, orchestral music has become part of the soundtrack of their daily routines in 2022 - with 22% finding it suitable music to work to and 25% enjoying orchestral music when cooking. For those still at school, 39% said they enjoyed orchestral music when studying or doing homework.

Regionally, the RPO research also found that people enjoy orchestral music at Christmas in different ways. For example, Londoners were most likely to go to a carol concert (14%), whereas people in the North East were most likely to enjoy orchestral music through a Christmas playlist from their steaming platform (16%). People in the East Midlands were most likely to enjoy orchestral music via classic radio stations (18%), whilst those in the North West were most likely to get their orchestral festival fix through movies (16%).

Huw Davies, Deputy Managing Director of  the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra commented: "The growing popularity of orchestral music with a new generation of fans and supporters is hugely encouraging. What our Christmas research makes clear is the importance of technology and media in giving more people a greater range of introductory entry points into the genre. Classical radio, streaming sites, YouTube and Podcasts all make it easier for a greater number of people to experience the genre. All of this will point towards the nurturing of a new audience for the concert hall, a place where curiosity can be translated into a life's passion. For the first time this year, the streaming and podcast generation is also the age group most likely to be going to a Christmas performance or carol concert - and that is not a coincidence."

Supporting young people's resurgent interest in orchestral music, the RPO has recently launched a Young Professionals Club - a music community for people in their 20s and 30s that want to discover more about the genre. The RPO offers the group an exciting programme of opportunities and events during the year, building on its mission to bring the transformative power of music to the widest possible audience.

Journeys of Discovery