The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Classical Music Lovers

In 1840, Clara Schumann gifted Robert a new collection of lieder she had composed for Christmas: Am Strande, Ihr Bildnis, and Volkslied. The songs are a profound exploration of longing and Robert was overjoyed by the result. The lieder continue to captivate audiences worldwide, a gift that transcends generations and attests to the enduring brilliance of Clara’s work. Times change, but music lives on.

For centuries, classical music has formed the perfect gift, whether offered through a heartfelt composition, an engaging listening experience, or a medium that deepens our connection to the artform. The possibilities for presents are endless, yet choosing can feel like staring at a blank stave and not knowing where to start. To help spark some creative inspiration, I’ve put together a selection of gift ideas for the classical music enthusiasts in your life—from timeless treasures to new releases. 

For the Avid Listener 

High-quality headphones

Why not grant them access to classical music at all times? Soundcore Life Q20 Over-ear headphones provide hi-res audio and hybrid active noise cancellation at a reasonable price. I’ve used these for five years: the sound quality is great and the bass output is strong. On the premium side, Sony WH-1000XM5 offers outstanding audio with strong high-frequency performance and Adaptive Sound Control. Both options allow them to listen to Corelli and Copland on their commute.

Vinyl

Renowned cellist Leonard Elschenbroich only ever listens to music for pleasure on vinyl, expressing a love for its analogue sound. His acclaimed Brahms Analogue: Cello Sonatas / Four Serious Songs recording used analogue technology at Abbey Road Studios. The result is a warm and authentic sound, allowing the music to naturally enter the space of the listener. From Yunchan Lim performing Bach’s Goldberg Variations to Andrea Bocelli singing a brilliant range of duets, the vinyl can act as a ritual for relaxation and bring the music of the best artists to life.

For the Book Lover 

Illustrated biographies

Unsure who their favorite composer is? It’s time to find out. Composers: Their Lives and Works is a compelling celebration of the world’s most influential composers from the medieval period to the present day. Beautifully illustrated with portraits of each musician, the book also shows photographs of their homes and studios, original musical scores, and personal correspondence. With around 90 of the most significant composers explored, I’ll be surprised if they can narrow it down to just one.

Wide-ranging works

For those who listen to Philip Glass and The Beatles in the same five minutes, Everything We Do Is Music: How 20th-Century Classical Music Shaped Pop is the ultimate gift. Elizabeth Alker explores the ways in which pop and rock were transformed by the pioneering visionaries of classical music. She highlights classical innovators and their followers in pop who challenged the notion that musical worlds were mutually exclusive through interviews with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Steve Reich. If they’re looking to broaden their musical horizons even further, Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day provides one inspirational piece to listen to each day: a selection of canonical works along with underrepresented pieces from the medieval to the modern.

For the Design Enthusiast

Music-inspired prints and posters

Run by a composer and designer based in LA, Gliss Prints produce beautiful music theory charts and wall art prints, including concert posters. Though designed with music classrooms and studios in mind, they’re suitable for display anywhere from an office to a film set or bedroom. For an artistic exploration of the materiality of music—its instruments, scores, performances, places of practice—the book Voir la musique features stunning artistic depictions of music spanning from the 16th to the 20th century. The perfect choices for finding inspiration to redecorate their space.

Handmade instrumental miniatures

The sweetest miniature versions of instruments and the ideal mascots. Little Green Workshop are suppliers of dolls house miniatures in high quality packaging. My music teacher once gave me a mini flute that is on my desk as I write—it’s a thoughtful keepsake and a tiny musical companion that accompanies my work.

For the Aspiring Musician

Sheet music facsimiles

Do they long for the authentic practice experience? The Early Music Shop has a vast collection of facsimiles, from Telemann’s Fantasies to Clementi’s Sonatas, so they can see the composer’s original vision in full detail and perform it like the piece’s premiere.

Elegant accessories

There’s nothing worse than a music stand that dramatically collapses whenever you put three sheets of paper on it. The Donner Sheet Music Stand Foldable DMS-1 is made of 100% high-strength tubular steel and its tripod base gives it great stability. It can also be used as a desktop stand, so they can practise wherever they like. If they also desire their concert A at a precise 440 Hz, you could also purchase one of Ragg’s Tuning Forks, a brand that specialises in their manufacture since 1883.

For the Experience Seeker 

Opera House Tours

From the chandeliers of the Met Opera to the marble Grand Staircase of the Palais Garnier, book yourself and a friend a tour of the world’s greatest opera houses. These tours are offered as both guided and self-guided, and will provide you with an unforgettable insight into the behind-the-scenes of the operatic stage.

Concert tickets

They’re a classic gift for music lovers, but for good reason. Nothing beats the chance to experience their favorite music live, whether that be Beethoven’s 9th at The Royal Albert Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra or Esperanza Spalding’s innovative wellbeing concert at Carnegie Hall.

For the Young Virtuoso

Da Capo the Music Theory Card Game

Monopoly sparks arguments and existential angst, so why not turn to a fun card game instead? Developed by musicians for musicians, Da Capo is suited to anyone, from professionals to newcomers. The game is named after the action card which can force any player to start again, mirroring the sinking feeling of reaching a ‘Da Capo’ in real life and knowing you’ve got to play the music all over again.

Beginner instruments

Grant them the power to create their own music with beginner instruments! The Roland FP10 is a high-quality beginner piano with an 88-note PHA-4 Standard keyboard and evocative piano tones projected through onboard speakers or headphones. If they’re drawn to wind instruments, consider the Yamaha YRS24BUK Descant Recorder with Baroque Fingering: an excellent school descant recorder. As for string instruments, the Mahalo Kahiko Series MK1 Soprano Ukulele is a great place to start, built using top quality materials and available in a range of colors. 

Small gifts & stocking stuffers

A tote bag: the unsung hero of a musician’s commute. Classical Musician has a wonderful collection of composer tote bags and a range of accessories, including coasters, caps, and candles. RadRandomStickers produce orchestra and band-themed packs of stickers, perfect for instrument cases and a gentle reminder to keep practising.

A medici.tv subscription

A gift that transports them to the world’s greatest concert halls, whenever and wherever they are. medici.tv is the world’s largest catalogue of classical music and jazz, with thousands of concerts, operas, ballets, and more available to experience live and rewatch any time. Videos stream in HD or 4K quality with high fidelity sound, featuring the international superstars of today and tomorrow. I’ve attended Klaus Mäkelä’s Carnegie Hall debut under a blanket fort and watched Martha Argerich’s 1970 Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 performance at the kitchen counter. 5/5 on Tripadvisor.