The Classical Club Scene

                

Did you know it even existed? I'm referring to the classical club scene.

Yes, that scene that was front and center in Saturday Night Live.

The club scene has expanded it horizons to include classical performers.

In the past 15 years there has been a surge in the number of musicians getting a performance degree; however, the number of jobs available for these performers has decreased. This leaves many musicians with the chops, but not the jobs.

Hence their entrance into the club scene as freelance musicians.

This idea is not new.

Bach used to play reading sessions in coffee shops. 

    ( Hmmmm, I wonder if this is what prompted his Coffee Cantata?!? )

Schubert played for dance parties.

Mozart struggled to make money as a freelance artist often playing at venues seeming to be beneath his genius.

For many, then and now, the classical club scene is a performance venue. A place where musicians can make money. A place where musicians can reach audiences that would never set foot in a concert hall. Not only this, it is a place that reaches out to young audiences, those in their 20s or 30s.

With the graying of the audience of the symphony orchestra, the future of the symphony may be dependent in part on the classical musicians who today draw the young listeners in the classical club scene.

Oh, by the way, these performers love playing in the orchestra. It is difficult to deny one's first love.

They just do both: the classical orchestra AND the classical club scene.

Now you know!