KU alumnus Andy Chester will perform with a classical symphony orchestra today at Carnegie Hall, thanks to a little help from a not-so-classical tool — YouTube.

“I’ve been to New York a few times before, and I’ve walked by Carnegie Hall and thought, ‘I’ll play there someday,’” said Chester, a 2007 tuba performance graduate. “I just never thought that YouTube would be the vehicle to get me there.”

Chester is one of 96 musicians chosen to be a part of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, a new competition for musicians of all ages started by the popular Web site. The Carnegie Hall performance will be posted on YouTube Thursday.

Chester is performing because he won first prize last month in the orchestra’s tuba category, which required him to create two audition videos and post them on YouTube. He is currently a student at DePaul University and will receive his master’s degree in tuba performance in May.

In his auditions, Chester played a piece from Tan Dun, the composer for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and excerpts from Hector Berlioz’s “Death Mass” and Gustav Mahler’s “Second Symphony.”

“Your personality comes through the video,” Kate Berland, YouTube spokeswoman, said. “Andy’s personality definitely came through in the video.”

Viewers of Chester’s audition video commented on his performance technique, including his clear, sharp tone and the expression in his music.

Berland said the orchestra received more than 3,000 audition videos. A panel of expert musicians narrowed it down to 200 finalists, and winners were selected by votes from YouTube viewers.

The 96 winners come from more than 30 countries and range in age from 17 to 55, Berland said.

In addition to today’s Carnegie Hall performance, the winners will spend the remainder of the week attending rehearsals and master classes, in which they will play for distinguished musicians and receive pointers and critiques.

“It’s going to be really exciting to meet all of these musicians who are going through the same thing I am, from around the world that I normally wouldn’t have the chance to meet,” Chester said.

When Chester attended the University, he was involved with KU Wind Ensemble, Marching Jayhawks and the KU Tuba-Euphonium, a group of tuba players who performed at several local and international conferences. He worked closely with Scott Watson, professor of tuba-euphonium.

Watson said Chester had a real talent for playing in the orchestral style, something that was evident in his audition videos.

“I told him that my chest was sticking out an octave with pride,” Watson said.

But for now, Chester is excited about performing and said he enjoyed the way the YouTube Symphony Orchestra combined new with old.

“My favorite part is the innovation behind it,” Chester said. “Just combining something really old, like classical music, with a new medium like YouTube is a really great idea.”

To view one of Chester’s audition videos: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgf-KdS44og

To view Chester’s introductory video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yUyLalr8o4

YouTube Symphony Orchestra: http://www.youtube.com/symphony

— — Edited by Andrew Wiebe