Classical music is not expensive
My whole life, I have heard, and been told, that classical music is a past-time of the rich and wealthy. The financial barrier to hear such music is among the primary reasons I hear of why people avoid attending concerts. This belief however, is completely false. Live classical concerts, in fact, are among the cheapest concerts you can attend.
Currently, when scanning ticket prices at four separate Boston organizations (Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, A Far Cry, Boston Chamber Music Society) and their spring season events, I found that tickets ranged from $9 - $189, with a median ticket price of $71. Each of these four groups is a premier ensemble in Boston, with the Boston Symphony being one of the most highly regarded classical music ensembles in the world. In January, one can attend a BSO concert and hear the world-renowned violinist Midori for just $30.
I looked at ticket prices at three spring season events at the Foxborough Gillette stadium and one event at the TD Garden (Ticket Links: Taylor Swift, Metallica, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen). Each of these artists are world renowned, and in a comparable tier to the classical ensembles listed above. Between these four events, tickets ranged from $151 - $4,496 with a median ticket price of $1,192. The cheapest ticket at the Taylor Swift concert was $450, and the cheapest ticket between all of the concerts was $151 at Metallica. One should note that Taylor Swift definitely inflated the numbers, though not by much. Furthermore, one can do the mental math on how much these ticket prices will increase as the event date approaches.
If you go down one “tier” in the classical music level, and attend smaller chamber music organizations, and conservatory orchestras, tickets enter the Free - $20 range. Though these groups lack the prestige of the BSO, they often match them for playing level, especially at competitive music schools like New England Conservatory and Juilliard (many of the students at these institutions find themselves winning chairs in these orchestras within five years of graduation).
There are absolutely affordable concert tickets out there for non-classical music. One can attend your average jazz club for free, and hear world class performances. Classical music however, when it comes down to it, is one of the most affordable concerts one can attend. Moreover, orchestras, ensembles and players are bending over backwards to engage their communities, and partner with local organizations to offer free tickets to those who have a true financial barrier.
