When it comes to enthusing youngsters about classical music, you would be forgiven for shying away from suggesting an outing to a concert, for fear that the proposal would fall on deaf ears.

But an arts chief has said that there are now other ways to encourage children to appreciate orchestras, arguing that video game music is just as good an introduction.

James Williams, managing director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), said that computer games are an important “access point” for youngsters to experience classical music for the first time.

“I think exposure to orchestral music in all its forms is a fantastic thing,” he said.

“It is encouraging to hear that there are platforms and opportunities for young people to engage with orchestral music, albeit in different mediums. It is about sparking their interest.

“What we are finding is once we have lit that fire there is a real desire to carry that journey on and explore.If [computer games] are the trigger and the catalyst that can only be a really positive thing.”