Is Classical Music a Sport?

By Ewa Gorniak Morgan

Did Romeo and Juliet meet at a stadium?

Did they meet at a concert hall?

What if?

In this short video they do.... and.... there is a happy ending, or....a beginning of a new old story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsPqa6alNRg&feature=youtu.be

Apollo, the God of Music, was given his lyre by Hermes, the God of Sport!

Shakespeare wrote:

“If music be the food of love, then play on.” If music and sport are the source of well-being, then:

Play the game for the Love of Music!

Launching CultureALL association's project to link music and sport where young people meet for the better future. In collaboration with the United World Games, the biggest youth sporting event in Europe opening June 19th, 2015 with the official presentation of the "Sport is Music/Music is Sport" video featuring John Axelrod conducting the KSO Kärntner Symphony Orchestra at the Musikverein in Klagenfurt with music from Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet Overture" and young athletes from the United World Games.

“Probably the two best known natural medicines for the body, mind, heart and soul are sport and music,” says conductor and CultureALL president, John Axelrod. “It is my belief that sport is music and music is sport. The physical and psychological demands require a unique and consistent level of virtuosity and technical brilliance. The parallels are obvious. We both stretch before we play. We both wear uniforms. We both celebrate a job well done. We both want to win by doing our best.”

”This is a wonderful opportunity for our Games to connect with an initiative with similar values. Both organizations want to make a difference in the world, reaching out to young people and getting them involved and connected through their common passion," says Franziskus Bertl, Secretary General of the United World Games.

The purpose is to encourage younger sport fans to take an interest in classical music and to increase support for the instrument of the orchestra. The campaign will include future games to fundraise for classical music education and collaborations with other sports organizations.

CultureALL, a non-profit association endorsed by the UNESCO and supported by private and institutional donations, creates projects and events to develop the musicians and audiences of tomorrow and provide access to cultural education and patrimony through classical music.

To make a difference in the lives of everyone, note by note!