In April 2009, nearly one hundred classical musicians participated in the YouTube Symphony, a musical experiment facilitated by YouTube, the popular video-sharing website. YouTube invited musicians from around the world to audition by uploading a video of a personal performance to the YouTube site. From these virtual auditions, winners were selected to form a “real” orchestra that would perform in-person at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.
YouTube launched the project in December and enlisted the support of several leading music organizations including Interlochen Center for the Arts. Within a few months, more than 3,000 auditions from 71 countries had been posted online. From the thousands of auditions, 200 finalists were selected by a panel of judges that included musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra. YouTube users made the final cut, choosing 90 participants.
Four Interlochen alumni who performed with the orchestra include: Ana Catalina, clarinet (IAC 00); Wade Coufal, bassoon, (IAC 08-09); Andrea Jarrett, violin (IAC 02-06); and Nina Perlove, flute (AS 1986-88).
“This was a serious musical endeavor,” said Perlove, who admitted she initially had doubts about the concept. “Even when I recorded my audition, I wondered if it was going to be a gimmick. But once we arrived – it was clear that it would be a serious thing.”
The orchestra rehearsed all day for two very long days, preparing movements and excerpts from 15 diverse works and a premiere of Tan Dun’s Internet Symphony No. 1, “Eroica.” The performance of the world’s first collaborative online orchestra was held on April 15 in Carnegie Hall. The New York Times review of the concert was positive, noting that although the orchestra had only been together for two days, it played quite well.
Perlove hoped that the experiment might help classically-oriented musicians give more thought and consideration to the growing importance of online video. “When people think YouTube, they usually don’t think high culture,” said Perlove. “But this might help musicians to see the potential for this medium. It can be a platform for performance - or a tool for teaching and collaboration.”
Utilizing online video is nothing new to Perlove, who has offered online flute lessons for nearly two years, developing a substantial following among young flutists. While she notes that online video is no substitute for personal interaction among artists and teachers, Perlove sees a great deal of untapped potential for artists and musicians. Her simple, low-budget web videos with useful tips about flute technique have received millions of views from aspiring flutists.
“With both the YouTube Symphony and my online lessons, I think these types of activities are great ways to energize the classical music community – to encourage anyone to pick up an instrument or to keep playing. It is a wonderful way to connect with other people who share our love of great music.”