Classical music fans, what type are you?

That’s because classical music and pop music appeal to two entirely different groups of fans.

But exactly who attends classical music events?

The Classical Music Consumer Segmentation Study is an audience measurement project sponsored by the James L. Knight Foundation to determine the size and composition of classical music audiences.

According to its 2002 national survey, the likelihood of attending a concert rises significantly in relation to one’s level of education. And while age has only a marginal relationship to concert attendance, households with children are less likely to attend a classical concert.

This is all good to know. But classical music buff and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra marketing director, David Bukvic has dug a little deeper. He cited a survey sponsored by the League of American Orchestras that identifies the types of individuals who attend classical music events. They breakdown into five categories of listeners.

The 5 types

1.

First are the purest of the pure:

the “music onlys.”

“Classical music purists are called ‘music onlys,’ ” Bukvic said. “They don’t care what they are dressed like. They pick their seats very carefully. ... They compare the live Shostakovich Eleventh Symphony with the five other recordings they have.”

2. Bukvic said the survey found that the largest group attending classical music concerts are called the "romantic evening outs." They make up roughly 25 percent of classical audiences.

“They tend to be a little bit younger than average, 35 to 55, and they want to have a great arts experience with their spouses,” Bukvic said.

3. Then there are the "social displays." For them, attending a classical concert is just one way of feeding their egos.

“This group feels that seeing and being seen at a DPO concert is part and parcel of being in the upper echelon of Dayton society,” Bukvic said. “They feel it is something good for themselves and good for their careers.”

4. The group identified as "symphony dedicateds" believe classical music is one of the legs of the chair that holds up society.

“Whether they attend a concert or not, ‘symphony dedicateds’ feel that if you take away classical music, society will crumble,” Bukvic said with a chuckle.

5. The final group couldn't care less about classical music. They are called "I'm with her."

"They tend to be male," he said. "He's there because she wants to be there."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmoss@DaytonDaily News.com.