How YouTube can get you to Carnegie Hall

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.

[dascha1]

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!

[Douglas_at_VidOpp]

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!

[criscarvis]

testing only -- please ignore