When Spanish pop royalty Rosalía released her single ‘Berghain’ in October 2025, the internet erupted into chaos. Not because the song mirrored the hard-style, ultra-cool techno club scene that the titular German nightclub has become known for, but for its unabashed celebration of classical music.
Seemingly overnight, clips of the flamenco-pop star surrounded by the London Symphony Orchestra, Escolania de Montserrat, and Orfeó Català classical choirs dominated social media, cementing a musical movement that’s been building over the last decade: classical is back in the cultural bloodstream.
While the classically trained vocalist may be the latest star to bring full-scale orchestral arrangements back to the Top 40, the resurgence of classical music in the industry isn’t solely classical as nostalgia, but classical as reinvention.
Speaking to AIM at the 2025 ARIA Awards, classical composer Sophie Hutchings spoke about the new wave of “rebellious classical composers” in the modern industry – highlighting the importance of the genre’s expansion.
“My genre has always found it so hard to know where it fits in, and we’re finally finding our place,” she shared, adding, “A lot of people kind of stereotype classical into a box, and it’s not like that at all these days. It’s changing a lot, and you look at people like the ABC’s Megan Burslem, who are stretching the genre to these modern composers who aren’t traditionally classical.”
With genre-bending compisitions leading the charge, the resurgence we’re seeing isn’t classical as nostalgia, it’s classical as reinvention.
Despite classical music’s seemingly overnight skyrocket into the mainstream, the genre has been on an upward trajectory since early 2020, with TikTok and Instagram exploding with orchestral covers, composers headlining major festivals, and technical breakdowns of major pop string arrangements.
So why is now such an ideal moment to study classical? Because the skillset, narrative power, and emotional intelligence classical musicians develop are suddenly more relevant than ever – essential for scoring, collaboration, live performance, studio work, experiential art, and even viral digital culture.
For those dipping their toes into the rich world of classical, 2025 ARIA Award winner for Best Classical Album, Andrea Lam, emphasised the importance of narrative when creating within the genre.
“I think it’s always finding what matters in the music and finding the story you’re trying to tell, and always accessing that in as vibrant a way as you can,” she shared.
“I think any composer who wants to work really hard just needs to show up. If you show up, and – I know this sounds cheesy – but it’s okay to have inspiration, but make yourself your own inspiration. Just work hard and show up,” added Angela.
Ready to make your mark on classical? Speak to our team about our dedicated Bachelor of Music (Performance)- Classical course.
