Most of Britain's children cannot name a single classical composer - and when asked, some said they thought that Elvis Presley, Shakespeare and Michael Jackson were composers.

A nationwide survey of 600 children, aged between six and 14, has exposed the ignorance of school children about the European musical tradition.

The media has a duty to bring the exciting things in classical music to young people, instead of constantly force-feeding them pop

Julian Lloyd Webber

Only 11% of respondents could correctly name a classical performer, and only 35% a classical composer.

And some named Britney Spears, Eminem and Will Young as classical performers, in the poll carried out for radio station Classic FM magazine.

Welsh prodigy Charlotte Church failed to get a single mention.

Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber described the survey as "an urgent wake-up call".

Education

"We should be ashamed that 65% of six to 14-year-olds could not name a single classical composer," he said.

"Far more musical education is needed in schools.

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"The media in general, and television in particular, has a duty to bring the exciting things that are happening in classical music to young people, instead of constantly force-feeding them pop."

Despite the fact that some 40% of children played a musical instrument, many had trouble identifying which instrument was which.

Only 40% could identify a clarinet, and 23% the french horn.

The best-known classical musical instrument was the trumpet, correctly identified by 79%, followed by the violin (77%).

The recorder is the most commonly played instrument - played by 21% of children - followed by the piano at 19%.

Sarah Kelleher, publisher of Classic FM magazine, said: "We are shocked at how many children confused common musical instruments and were not able to name artists or composers."