Millennials are typically under-represented at classical music concerts, new research from the UK sheds some light on why.

It’s been a much debated subject for years now, but what are the barriers that seem to be preventing, or disinclining, young people from going to classical music concerts? Even a casual glance across the rows of seating at a typical symphony concert will yield the truth of the matter. Children and young adults are conspicuous by their absence, and this is despite the strenuous efforts of the creative and marketing teams behind our orchestras to acquire new audiences.

Why exactly is this so? Numerous reasons have been put forward, including how concerts in their traditional format are too long to suit the listening preferences of younger generations, ticket prices are too expensive, and the formal, sit-in-silence atmosphere inside concert halls is too stifling. Others have suggested that newcomers to classical music are put off by the unanimated demeanour of the musicians themselves while they perform, which seems to hide their own involvement with the music and even make them look bored.

Classical Music, Young AudiencesMusic in the...