Is this for real? Has anyone applied yet? What I want to know is, am I going to start getting resumes that say things like Finalist for Americas Hot Musician 2007?

oh my... i must wash my face & hands from looking at this rubbish. this saddens me.

OK while I agree that this looks ptetty tacky it may not be such a bad idea if it helps promote talented but otherwise unknown young musicians. The BBC has been televising the Young Musician of the Year competition for many years now and finalists are held in high esteem, and recently they launched 'Fame Academy' for non pop music. A very talented friend of mine won a large amount of money from this which he was allowed to put towards further education, making a recording, travel costs - in fact anything that would help his career. He has since released two albums, is touring all over the place and has received much deserved recognition. My only hope is that that there is no audience vote at the end - otherwise why bother with the competition? Just give the prize to the blonde with the large breasts!!!

Holy Crap - American Idol for the classical set? Did you see they just signed Marissa Regni, principal second violin of the National Symphony to be a judge?

If Marissa is on these forums, it would be really interesting to hear what she has to say about the show!

There's nothing wrong with the idea... it's just that the production is so tacky and terrible. They need to get new hosts with actual camera experience because the guy especially is just AWFUL and no one will want to watch him.

What if there is a red head with large breasts?

Frosty the "ODB" freelancer.

quote:

Originally posted by Ting:
OK while I agree that this looks ptetty tacky it may not be such a bad idea if it helps promote talented but otherwise unknown young musicians. The BBC has been televising the Young Musician of the Year competition for many years now and finalists are held in high esteem, and recently they launched 'Fame Academy' for non pop music. A very talented friend of mine won a large amount of money from this which he was allowed to put towards further education, making a recording, travel costs - in fact anything that would help his career. He has since released two albums, is touring all over the place and has received much deserved recognition. My only hope is that that there is no audience vote at the end - otherwise why bother with the competition? Just give the prize to the blonde with the large breasts!!!

well, i looked over the rules out of curiousity with a friend, & to see if there was anything redeeming about it... there isn't. You can basically just send a "song" for prelims. WHO on earth plays a SONG, unless you're talking about a vocal Schumann piece?!?! Oh, & get this, there IS audience vote!! Even if I had ANY intention of entering this, the use of that word alone & ANY audience involvement just makes my intention go into the negatives. If they had more serious guidelines about what actual PIECE a player was to play, it wouldn't bother me as much. So basically, I could record myself playing variations on Mary had a little Lamb as long as I look hot in a tight dress & wore an unhealthy amount of make-up? BAAAAH. I just REALLY question the level of talent that they're gonna get from this. The way this is advertised was obviously NOT written by a classical musician. They just HAD to bring the stupid reality phenomenon into our territory, didn't they?!?! *shakes head*

wow! I take back everything I said - I have just watched the Youtube link and it's very very bad! Although maybe I got confused and clicked on 'America's Hot Dropout'...I might enter actally - I have a great arrangement of Greensleeves for African thumb piano somewhere. Now, if only I were American...

quote:

What if there is a red head with large breasts?

Then I guess they would have to fight it out in the Bikini Mud-wrestling Final!!

Several months ago, I sent an email to a friend who has been a judge in a sequel to Idol--I call my idea 'American Classical Idol'--it can be done with great taste, and I thought I'd judge it with people like Josh Bell, Yo Yo Ma, maybe conductors like Marin Alsop and Andrew Litton--I really think it would be cool and spark some big interest in classical music in this country. Unfortunately, I don't know of any Simon Cowell classical equivalents--any thoughts?

Done well it really is a great idea and can really open up doors for very talented musicians who maybe otherwise wouldn't get noticed. I imagine it would be for soloists but would you have a recording contract for the prize or some professional engagements say with a top orchestra? The BBC competition has some fairly strict guidelines when it comes to length of programmes, repertoire etc and the final is basically a concerto competition with one of the BBC orchestras. As for a Simon Cowell equivalent...I have heard of Helga Schmitt being likened to this position in the past...but I wouldn't like to insult anyone by comparing them with him! But I do know that she knows her music, is very business savvy, is quite a powerful woman in the opera world and used to work closely with Sir Colin Davies.

It would be great if you could keep us all posted on your progress with this idea - I really think it could go somewhere and can only show classical music and musicians in a positive light.

Is this really so different or worse than "From the Top?"

Frankly, it acknowledges that instrumental music exists. That's a step forward, in my humble opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeffrey Biegel:
Unfortunately, I don't know of any Simon Cowell classical equivalents--any thoughts?

Cmon Jeffrey, you're just not trying. We are looking for an arrogant, conceited, pompous know-it-all? Just ask a conductor!

I like Simon, he cracks me up . What we need is a PAULA from the classical world.

You mean someone nice? That's Manny Ax all the way. Yo Yo Ma--

Maybe some ears will pick this idea up--I think it is different from 'From the Top'--no chars, no interviews--just in the same manner as American idol--just with short classical pieces--excerpts--then you need an orchestra--the excerpts would need to be done by the players with taste--and the music and parts would need to be prepared by the soloists--one can't play an entire movement to something--and I think having a piano accompaniment would cheapen the show--you need an orchestra--you need a big budget behind it--a network, etc etc. But I think it would be a great spin-off of the pop version.

quote:

Maybe some ears will pick this idea up--I think it is different from 'From the Top'--no chars, no interviews--just in the same manner as American idol--just with short classical pieces.

But I think it would be a great spin-off of the pop version.

First off, I agree with Jeffrey Biegel that the concept is completely different than From the Top. FtT pimps the under 18 "wunderkind" crowd and if you aren't associated with Juilliard, NEC or other similar pre-college prep program, you wont get on FtT. AI has a minimum age of 16 up to 28. IMO, the average 25 year old musician is much more interesting than a 12 year old. I'd put a minimum age requirement rather than a strict maximum. We need to start pimping more seasoned musicians in classical music.

Next, the idea could work if PBS took charge. Their "reality" programing (Frontier House, etc) is completely cheeseLESS. No fussy editing or Hollywood gloss with "Beautiful people". They have showcased similiar Opera and piano competitions - much less condensed than the American Idol format, but they have experience in this area. It's just a matter of combining the AI format with classical music.

As for one of the big three networks - I wouldn't hold my breath as mindless gameshows and reality programs grip the nations attention. Deal or no deal anyone? Brain or no brain IMO.

OK--now--who knows anyone at PBS?????????????

This show needs a new theme song. Maybe the winner can record one for them. Wow! Saw it on youtube. Doesn't look good.

Why PBS? Why not Bravo or A&E? Personally I think that there would be more money on these two networks than on PBS to do such a program, but if you find the right sponsors, who knows? I have thought about this idea as well and I would like see an age min. instead of an age max. as well.

OK--who has connections to these? I do know Eugenia Zukerman, who handled the classical segments for CBS Sunday Morning--she's amazing--great player, speaker, she's the total package. She'd be a great judge too--need a dynamic host--not necessarily classical.

How about Keith Lockhart? He seems to work an audience well.

Frosty the Freelancer