Want to Play at Carnegie Hall?

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice... or win a YouTube contest! (Insert rimshot here.) In what might be described as American Idol for the classical music crowd, YouTube yesterday announced YouTube Symphony Orchestra, a collaboration with several classical music organizations.

The London Symphony Orchestra plays the Internet Symphony No. 1 "Eroica" - for YouTube, conducted by Tan Dun.

Through January 28, 2009, musicians of any skill level can submit a video performance of a work by composer Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The performances will be rated by judges and YouTube users, and the finalists will be invited to participate in April's YouTube Symphony Orchestra summit and perform at Carnegie Hall with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas.

YouTube Symphony Orchestra also offers a collection of online tools for learning and rehearsing the new Dun piece.

Rosin your bow, head on over to YouTube Symphony Orchestra and start practicing.