—YouTube gets classical: When you think of YouTube, you may not think of classical music, but Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and a number of international orchestras are trying to change that with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra project. In the two-part project, amateur musicians from around the world can compete for a chance to play at Carnegie Hall, or be featured as part of a collaborative online performance. Entrants will be judged by both professional musicians from orchestras like the London Symphony, as well as the YouTube community.

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It’s a novel idea, but it doesn’t come cheap. The NYT says the cost of the live concert alone will be well into the six figures, not to mention the fact that Google will be covering the costs of flying the winners to NY (and their hotel rooms), as well as paying the two star conductors, Tan Dun and Michael Tilson Thomas. Guess it’s one of those “you have to spend money to make money” deals, as the initiative will definitely add more high-quality, advertiser-friendly content to the video site, something it has been sorely lacking.

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