San Francisco symphony wins younger fans with hip nightclub

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) β€” A Vegas-style nightclub with high-tech light and sound, video screens and several stages has become San Francisco’s hottest venue for classical music.

SoundBox is the San Francisco Symphony’s latest effort to attract a younger audience as it faces dwindling ticket sales and an average attendee age of over 60.

With sold out performances that mix traditional and modern sounds in a casual, tech-friendly atmosphere, many say the city’s symphony just hit the right note.

Organizers say the nightclub built inside a cavernous rehearsal hall behind the imposing Davies Symphony Hall offers an alternative to the traditional concert hall experience and allows musicians and a young audience to explore music innovations.

The symphony’s first four-month season at the club was sold out, in part because tickets sold at $25.