Accessibility over Appeal: Developing Classical Music Audiences through Community

This study examines the challenges facing modern orchestras in the United States, including declining audiences, reduced funding, and rising expenses. It explores the strategies orchestras employ to attract broader audiences, such as modifying concert formats and programming modern music, while critiquing the unintended consequences of these efforts. By analyzing academic literature and practices of leading American orchestras, the study assesses whether current approaches prioritize increasing ticket sales or fostering deeper community engagement.<p></p>