Why create a YouTube Symphony Orchestra? Google hopes to expand business by attracting new viewers who might not ordinarily find YouTube fare particularly appealing. It is hoped that more advertisers will jump on board with YouTube, drawing in additional revenue. The voting process is hoped to increase "traffic" on the site. Michael Tilson Thomas and composer Tan Dun (whose work will be performed by the orchestra) are excited about the project. They feel that it will bring attention to classical music through modernizing the ways in which people experience it. They also hope to give an opportunity to musicians all over the world who might not otherwise have the means to be heard, especially in a traditional orchestra audition.
Musicians will find the audition selections through YouTube. In addition to standard orchestral audition repertoire, one of the excerpts will by a piece by Tan Dun, who offers several videos with suggestions for performance of his work. Dun describes his piece as something modern that he feels will appeal to young people. Masterclasses by professional musicians providing tips on performing Dun's music will also be available.
The YouTube Symphony Orchestra Project sounds like an interesting way to make classical music more appealing to people who might not ordinarily attend a concert in a traditional concert hall. YouTube is a particularly attractive forum for younger viewers who are accustomed to an increasingly technological age. Classical music is often viewed as elitist - a silent audience sits in a dark auditorium while tuxedo-clad musicians elevated on stage perform in an ambiance of serious decorum. It is an experience probably distant from the real lives people have outside the concert hall. In non-classical concerts and informal music-making, audience members are free to react spontaneously throughout the performance, often cheering and clapping. There is a level of communication between audience and performers that may be less visible in the restrained classical environment where applause is reserved for the end of the piece being performed. The YouTube Symphony Orchestra Project draws in the world-wide public to view and vote from their own homes, thus personalizing the experience.
From the musician's perspective, having masterclasses and audition materials on the internet is both educational and useful. Being able to upload one's own video may entice those whose performance anxiety would be crippling in a face-to-face audition situation. The judges are professionals who can give helpful feedback to the applicants (hopefully in a constructive, positive manner that can be lacking in the sometimes cruel comments on "American Idol"). Professional orchestras are often concerned these days about aging audiences and waning ticket sales. There is no room for elitism if younger viewers are to become the audience of the future. Classical music can keep pace with the times if it is presented through new and creative technological media. The YouTube Symphony Orchestra project sounds like a unique idea, and I think it will be interesting to see how it all rolls out.
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