For junior Katie Ashley, her appreciation for classics was first sparked due to her interests in dancing, which is often occupied by a classical piece of music. 

“I started listening to classical music when I was dancing. I don’t listen to it often, but when I was dancing I did,” Ashley said.

Ashley said that although she liked classical and modern works equally, they carry a different refined quality to them. 

“I just think that they’re both equally good in the sense that they have different objectives to them,” she said. “It’s kind of a different type of style. When you’re doing classical music it’s more ballet focused and it’s just very interesting to learn.” 

While contemporary music may bring a different energy to a routine, classical compositions create a distinct mood curated for specific dances. Furthermore, Ashley said although she enjoys classics, she doesn’t incorporate elements of them in her day-to-day life.

“I don’t think I necessarily do (bring it in my everyday life),” Ashley said. “I think that’s more just things I enjoy.”

Junior Matthew Mayberry, however, engages with the classics on a broader scale, from literature to orchestral music. He said he appreciates the originality of older works and the intention behind them.

“Literature is good because I feel at the time classical literature was novel,” Mayberry said. “It has a unique aesthetic, and as a genre there’s a lot of cool aspects about it, and all classical music is good.”

Mayberry said classical works often prioritize philosophical or cultural meaning over broad commercial appeal, requiring a different level of attention from modern audiences.“Classical literature wasn’t made just to be consumed at mass scale for profit,” he said. “It was more about actual philosophical or cultural meaning.”

At the same time, Mayberry noticed what he describes as a more performative trend surrounding vintage aesthetics. While secondhand fashion and retro styles are increasingly popular among students, he said he questioned whether that interest reflects genuine involvement with classical culture.

“I can definitely notice that people are becoming more concerned with vintage (things), and that’s pretty performative, I think,” he said. “I don’t think people are really actually engaging with classical literature or culture. It’s more so for the aesthetic appeal.”

Contrarily, orchestra director Margaret Hite said she sees consistent and meaningful engagement with classical music in particular among her students. 

“Many students listen to classical music on their own and will sometimes ask to play pieces from the classical music canon. As their ensemble teachers, we try to present them with music written in a variety of styles and time periods.”

Hite noted that some specific instrumentalists are contributors to students’ interest in classical music. 

“We had the opportunity to hear a performance given by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a symphony orchestra based in London, featuring Ray Chen, an internationally acclaimed violinist,” she said. “He does a great job connecting with the younger generations and building excitement around classical music.”

Hite said artists like Ray Chen help connect the gap between traditional and modern audiences by maintaining a sense of familiarity and charm on active social media platforms.

“Artists are doing a great job of engaging with fans online and bringing classical music to more people,” she said. “Another example of this is TwoSet Violin, they have created a ton of online content and, similar to Ray Chen, are bringing more people into the world of classical music. I think artists like this break down “barriers” and help to make classical music more accessible through their humor and charisma.”

Hite said she has not seen students turning any form of classical work into a specific “aesthetic” regarding clothes, but more so a feeling of community and excitement. 

“I always love when students get together in order to play music for themselves, for a class project, or out in the community. One specific instance in which students transformed a piece they were working on in class into a completely new aesthetic happened early in my teaching career,” she said.

“The piece was Warrior Legacy by Soon Hee Newbold and it took on a life of its own. Several students rearranged it so they could perform it in their rock band, they became Soon Hee Newbold superfans and created a Soon Hee Newbold tricycle team for Homecoming, and they even convinced Dr. Han (the orchestra director) to program the piece again the next year,” Hite said.

Ultimately, the appeal of classical works is due to their depth and emotional relatability. While some trends may lean into aesthetic presentation, many students continue to find authentic meaning in music, literature and art rooted in the past.

“Listening to and playing music is beneficial to our health and wellbeing. It’s a universal language that can help us connect with other people as well as ourselves. There’s no question that the arts make us and the world better,” Hite said.