For years now, classical music has not been getting the appreciation and adoration that it received when it was first introduced. The declining popularity of classical music is in direct opposition to the rising of other music genres like pop rock, rap, etc.
Most people haven’t even noticed the declining number of people who still tune into the beauty and fullness that is classical music because they are too absorbed in other genres.
The increased focus on pop music and popular singers is not the only culprit for the continuous decline of classical music enthusiasts. According to the New York Times, the lack of donor support, decreased budgets, cancellation of tours and concerts, and a lack of radio stations that play classical music are also responsible.
It is time to take action and stand against the pattern that our recent society has placed on orchestral music and all other music types just like it. One ASU student, Vasillios Makavos, has already started the process of changing orchestral music by revolutionizing the music itself. Although it is his goal to change the predetermined notion that orchestral music is just sweet and can only be used to put a person to sleep, his plans could actually bring back the type of acknowledgement classical music deserves, but with a twist.
McClintock’s three orchestras (Concert, Symphony, and Chamber) kicked off Makavo’s master plan to show how amazing classical music really is. Alongside the sweet, rhythmic tone a full orchestra brings naturally, Makavos added the contrast of the upbeat and radicalness of techno music—two different types of music brought together to make one greatly unexpected rock concert!
The MORF, McClintock Orchestra Remix Fusion, concert was only the first step in Makavos’s goal to revolutionize orchestral music. McClintock’s performance was only a small portion of Makavos’s plan. From then on, Makavos’s goal is to unite all of the surrounding schools (Desert vista, Mountain Pointe, etc.), and create one big concert called forte. However, that is a far off goal for him to put together in the future.
For the MORF concert, orchestra teacher Doreen Press was standing on the sidelines and watching her orchestras perform the many pieces that Maestro Makavos’s composed himself and conducted during the concert. Then to add to the greatest of a (rock) concert, Tanner Ninke, a former McClintock student, produced all of the electronic music. The audience that was invited to partake in the (November 25) concert ranged from ASU students, McClintock students, families, and anyone else who was ready to rock. Dancing in the front of the stage and yelling in the audience was highly encouraged as well.
This new development in music is exactly what the music world needs in order to bring back the love and joy people used to feel about classical music. Even though there are faithful listeners that still love a good live band or orchestral performance, the classical music industry definitely needs more followers. Therefore, hopefully Makavos’s actions will start a revolution in the forgotten music.