Rewriting the Score: Making Classical Music More Accessible at UCLA (non-narrated) by Isabelle Preston

Classical music is very meaningful and exciting to some people, but quite the opposite in the eyes of others. The culture around classical music is often regarded as extremely rigid, and its accessibility is a conversation that has been gathering interest recently. Classical music is often described as exclusive or elitist, extremely resistant to change, and not allowing opportunities for learning about or entering the sphere. A generational divide also causes hesitance in younger people to explore the genre, and its reputation of being stuffy or boring makes some reject it entirely. Where is this divide between those involved in the genre and those who feel excluded or uninterested? UCLA has a thriving music school that encompasses a wide variety of genres and interests, and various ensembles and performances are made available to all students and a wider public. I spoke to students and faculty in an attempt to discover some insight and perspectives about the issue and what efforts are being made within UCLA to bring classical music to a wider audience and allow musicians and audiences alike to get involved. Credits: Neal Stulberg, Samuel Chung, Alfredo Morán, member of UCLA Symphony who wishes to remain anonymous

Genre

Storytelling