The history of classical music is long and winding and it is of course difficult, and for a reason, not to think of great masters such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Mahler.

But how do we actually define classical music? It is a little more difficult than one might think because even if we go with vague terms like ‘music of the old days’ there is plenty of old music that is not classical music as well as modern music that certainly is.

Although many people still associate classical music with the great old master, the historical symphonies and operas, people still compose new classical music. Examples of famous modern day classical composers would include Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Meredith Monk and Krzysztof Penderecki.

Keynote speakers on classical music may choose to focus on definitional discussions relating to classical music, on the history of classical music, on compositional techniques, on genres or composers.