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A small study looking at why young people who attend cultural events don’t go to classical concerts, suggests that audience behaviour at two ‘traditional’ classical concerts (by the London Symphony Orchestra [LSO] and the London Chamber Orchestra) was alienating for younger audiences, and that the less formal experience offered by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) in its ‘Night Shift’ concerts was more tempting. The study, which interviewed nine people aged 24–35 (six of whom attended all three concerts), praised the Night Shift’s explanations and commentary on the music performed. William Norris of the OAE said: “Our audience is 80% under-35s and a third students – unheard of for classical music.” The LSO told AP that it disputes the conclusions drawn in Dr Melissa Dobson’s report on ‘New Audiences for classical music: the experiences of non-attenders at live orchestral concerts’. It is performing seven concerts this season specifically aimed at students, and for a £6 ticket attenders receive a programme with content written specially for students, and free drinks at a pre-concert reception where LSO players will drop in to meet them. An LSO spokesperson was keen to emphasise its “level of interaction with, and dedication to, the students”. Dobson’s research will be published in the Journal of New Music Research later this year.