Over the last three years, there has been a significant upturn in the percentage of people in Yorkshire and the Humber that say they would be interested in attending a concert that featured orchestral music - 89%, up from 72% in 2022 - according to new research from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).

The RPO research compares the public’s like to enjoy a wide range of orchestral concert experiences. Pop/classical crossover concerts were most popular among people that lived in Yorkshire and Humber (44%), above any other UK region. People in Yorkshire and Humber also were interested in orchestral soundtrack concerts (38%), hits from the musicals (32%), concerts featuring TV soundtracks (27%), orchestral rock (27%), family friendly concerts (22%) and, a film screening with live orchestra (15%).

Alongside these concerts, the popularity of experiencing core repertoire in concert - such as Beethoven, Mahler and Mozart – held appeal for around one in four adults (23%) and this level of interest has remained remarkably consistent for the last four years.

Nationally, the RPO research suggests that the joy of orchestral music lies in its rich diversity. For people new to the orchestral world, soundtracks from blockbuster films (41%) or hits from the musicals (27%) proved to be accessible starting points - but even here, at the earliest stage of the journey of discovery, there is also interest in experiencing more demanding core repertoire (14%).

Our new research busts a few myths: traditional symphonic repertoire is not the preserve of serious classical enthusiasts, and popular concerts are not just entry points for people new to the orchestral world. In truth, people like the genre because it is simply great music that is so wonderfully diverse, which is why we at the RPO refer to it as orchestral music. People can have an uplifting family evening out, they can dance, they can enjoy something familiar, but they can also be challenged, reflecting on the deeper ways that music can touch and inspire them.

Full findings: The full list of orchestral concerts people would like to experience

	2022	2025
Pop/ classical crossover	25%	37%
Soundtracks from blockbuster films	27%	35%
Hits from the musicals (e.g. West End, Broadway etc.)	28%	33%
Traditional Classical repertoire (e.g. Beethoven, Mahler etc.)	24%	23%
Soundtracks from TV shows (e.g. Dr Who etc.)	22%	23%
Family friendly concerts	19%	22%
Orchestral rock	18%	22%
A film screening with live orchestra	19%	20%
Contemporary repertoire	13%	15%
Chamber repertoire	12%	11%
Soundtracks from video games	10%	9%
Other	0%	1%
Not applicable - I would not be interested in going to a concert or performance that featured classical or orchestral music	24%	14%