• On TechRepublic: Why VISTA HATERS will love Windows 7
December 2, 2008 5:54 AM PST

How YouTube can get you to Carnegie Hall

by Caroline McCarthy

Right now, the most famous classical musician on YouTube is arguably Nora the piano-playing cat. She, sorry to say, probably isn't eligible for "YouTube Symphony Orchestra," a new competition from the Google-owned video-sharing site.

Musicians from around the world (legitimate ones: I'm looking at you, Modded Guitar Hero Controller Guy) are invited to audition by submitting videos of themselves performing "Internet Symphony No. 1," an original piece written specially for YouTube by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon composer Tan Dun, in addition to a "talent video."

Judges come from the London Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and a number of other high-end orchestras--they'll winnow the selections down to a set of semifinalists by February 14.

Then, YouTube members will vote on their favorite semifinalists, and winners will be announced on March 2. The prize? A trip to New York for three days of a "classical-music summit" with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and a performance at the legendary Carnegie Hall.

YouTube has sponsored competitions before, like the "Democracy Challenge" filmmaking competition, but this is the first one open to anyone from any country, the company said.

I hope that they at least invite Nora to watch. I'm sure she can sit still.

Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline.
Recent posts from The Social
Facebook debuts 'fan box' tool
Facebook movie screenplay reportedly doesn't suck
So is Facebook for old people now or what?
Kindle patents lay out plan for ads
Andreessen: Facebook revenue to top $500 million in '09
Boston to launch complaint-filing iPhone app
ABC content starts arriving on Hulu
Report: Guilty verdict overturned in MySpace suicide case
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
by dascha1 December 2, 2008 9:25 AM PST
Ironically, reminds me of wedding music I wrote. Unfortunately my piece as it turned out unintentionally, required a performer, sans myself since I was getting married to my wife, to have a long finger span in order to effectively achieve the layered voices over two octaves and in chordal progression written for keyboard (piano (my minored instrument, organ). After realizing this (found no one talented with long fingers), I desperately called my professor at JMU (btw their marching band quality got them to Macy's, see YouTube) whereas 'luck' turned out had just broken his arm and couldn't play the piece. Jesh, my last straw! How did I resolve eventually? I simply played it and then programmed it on my computer using Orchestra parts. It sounded great!

Another bit of irony, I did the same thing again some time on only this time it was for someone else's wedding - the composer of Black Tie White Noise (hint, look in the UK).

Good luck with this piece everyone!
Reply to this comment
by Douglas_at_VidOpp December 3, 2008 10:05 AM PST
There are hundreds of video contests around the internet with impressive cash and prizes. YouTube is not the only place to find them, they are also on xlntads.com, geniusrocket.com, ourstage.com, and take180.com. One great site that brings together all the video contests from around the internet is www.vidopp.com - but I am hardly impartial!
Reply to this comment
by criscarvis December 4, 2008 6:55 PM PST
testing only -- please ignore
Reply to this comment
(3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
advertisement

With Chrome, Google reignites the OS wars

roundup Google Chrome OS, due in 2010, underscores the Web giant's cloud-computing ambitions and opens new competition with Microsoft.
• What Chrome OS has on Windows that Linux doesn't

Laying a guilt trip on military robots

q&a Georgia Tech's Ronald Arkin aims to configure armed robots with a built-in "guilt system" to help them avoid civilian casualties.

About The Social

CNET News' Caroline McCarthy is a downtown Manhattanite who believes that, despite popular opinion, the Web can actually help your social life. She's happily addicted to fun social-media tools from Twitter to Yelp to Facebook, sends an inordinate number of text messages, and has a tendency to waste time at the office reading restaurant blogs. Here, she explores all facets of the Web's gregarious side, as well as the unique tech culture in her home city of New York. (Don't call it Silicon Alley.)

Add this feed to your online news reader

The Social topics

advertisement
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right