The world's first collaborative online orchestra is finally a reality.
And you can thank YouTube.
Know officially as the "YouTube Symphony Orchestra Project," the groundbreaking project will allow musicians to join an online orchestra through video audition and selection.
And the project has a Northern California angle, too.
That angle comes in the form of conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony who are participating in the project.
The project will entail three stages: an online audition, musician selection, and a musical summit at Carnegie Hall in April 2009.
Here's how it will work: from Dec. 1,through January 28, 2009, musicians from around the world are invited to submit videos showcasing their personal style. This will be accomplished by participants performing in two different submitted videos - the first is their interpretation of an original Tan Dun composition that has been written specifically for this program. The second will be a talent showcase video designed to demonstrate musical and technical ability.
A panel of musical experts from the San Francisco Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and other leading orchestras around the world will narrow the field of entries down to semifinalists.
Also, the YouTube community will be invited to vote on the semifinalists from February 14, 2009 through February 22, 2009.
Musicians who are selected will be announced on YouTube on March 2, 2009.
Partners signed on as part of the project include pianist Lang Lang, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Carnegie Hall. As an initial orchestral partner, the San Francisco Symphony will be involved in helping choose candidates for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, as well as contributing educational content to the YouTube Symphony Orchestra website. The SFS and New York Philharmonic are the only two American Orchestras reviewing online auditions in the project currently.
For official rules of entry and more information, consult the YouTube Symphony Orchestra Channel (www.youtube.com/symphony).
Call arts critic Edward Ortiz at (916) 321-1071.
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