YouTube Launches Classical Music Contest

The video-sharing site has launched a contest to discover new talent, and the prize is playing at Carnegie Hall.

The old joke is that it takes practice, practice, practice to get to Carnegie Hall. But now YouTube is offering a few lucky and talented musicians a shortcut. They’ve launched a competition to discover new classical music talent, and the prize is participation in a three-day musical summit at the legendary New York venue.

Contestants have until January 28 2009 to submit a video of themselves playing, with the final votes coming from the public two weeks later. However, the audition piece is set. It’s a special commission from YouTube by composer Tam Dun, who wrote music for the Beijing Olympics and the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Those wanting to compete will have to go to the YouTube Symphony Orchestra page, download the sheet music for their instrument, and watch video tips from London Symphony Orchestra musicians on how to play it. Then, once they’re ready, simply video themselves performing their part and upload it to YouTube, Bloomberg reports.

Ed Sanders, product marketing manager for YouTube, told a press conference:

“There are a phenomenal number of communities out there in the classical space already on YouTube.”

With this there will certainly be more.