There are moments when we all want to shun our computer and all of its deleterious effects. Has it sucked the life and soul right out of us? Do we still know how to run, laugh, live life without it? It’s easy to see the negative impact of hours in front of the computer but the perks can be equally astounding.

Take this group of transcontinental people who gathered at Carnegie Hall. The auditions were held online, on YouTube. The winners included a marimba player from Japan, a clarinetist from Costa Rica a poker-playing California cellist and 93 other musicians who joined together in New York City to make beautiful cyber-based and created music.

Meeting in New York for the first time five days ago, the “YouTube symphony” practiced up to 12 hours a day for Wednesday night’s performance.

“It’s been like a summit conference and a scout jamboree, with elements of speed dating,” said Grammy Award-winning conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, who directed the concert.

The orchestra was picked from more than 3,000 videotaped auditions uploaded on YouTube in December and January. Judges from the world’s most elite orchestras whittled the number down to 200, and the final winners were chosen by millions of YouTube viewers.

The group received wild applause after playing “Internet Symphony No. 1, Eroica,” written especially for the event by Oscar-winning Chinese composer Tan Dun.

- by Beth Mann

Source: NY Daily News