As teenagers across the country eagerly – or perhaps apprehensively – await their GCSE results, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s latest research finds that more than four in five (86%) parents feel more could be done to engage their children in classical and orchestral music.
The bigger picture for music education at GCSE level remains cautiously optimistic. Last year, music GCSE results published by the Joint Council for Qualifications showed a 6.1% increase in music entries across the UK. Coupled with an 8.7% rise in 2024, this is positive change, but it takes place against a worrying backdrop: music GCSE entries in England have fallen by 25.6% since 2010. The recent removal of the English Baccalaureate, which encouraged schools to focus on non-arts subjects for their students, has gone some way in improving the situation, but the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) wanted to explore solutions from the people who know these students best – their parents.
RPO research carried out in June among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults asked parents what they feel could be done to encourage more young people to get involved in classical and orchestral music.
Music lessons topped the list, with 31% of those surveyed calling for more music lessons, while one in three (30%) of respondents felt that getting more young people to play in orchestras at school would be an effective way to build enthusiasm and 29% of parents called for more school trips to classical or orchestral concerts. Beyond the classroom, 23% of those surveyed felt their children would get involved with the classical sector if classical music was in mainstream music charts like the UK Top 40.
Vasily Petrenko, Music Director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, adds: “Our research this year shows that interest in orchestral music is on the rise and it’s very encouraging to see that an increasing number of people are experiencing the genre for the first time. For many people new to orchestral music, the magic of the live concert experience is usually the moment that converts curiosity into interest – and this probably explains why parents care so much about their children having the opportunity to experience playing in an ensemble at school, or to experience unique emotions in a classical concert.”
The RPO research also explored which musical instruments are popular among school children – whether they are already learning to play a specific instrument or would like to take one up. Painting a picture of what tomorrow’s orchestra might look like, the piano remains at the top of the list (35%), followed by the guitar (28%) and drums (22%). Across the country, the violin, trumpet and recorder are on the rise, chosen by 18%, 11% and 14% of respondents respectively. French horns and trombones, however, remain ‘endangered’, chosen by only 3% and 5% of children respectively.
Sarah Bardwell, managing director of the RPO, commented on the new data: “While it is of course heartening to see a rise in music GCSE uptake – something we hope to see continue in the 2026 results – it is clear that more needs to be done to safeguard the musicians and audiences of tomorrow. The RPO’s engagement work with young people is a vital way of filling the gaps left by underfunding in formal music education, and our players find it hugely fulfilling – but this latest data shows that we need more action at a government level to build more opportunities for young people to enjoy orchestral music.”
