A Chopin competition for amateur pianists has been launched on YouTube. Kemble Pianos launched the online contest at the start of April, inviting budding pianists to submit videos of themselves playing their favourite Chopin piece.
Similar to last year's YouTube Symphony Orchestra, which saw musicians from around the world submit audition videos to the website in order to form an orchestra, the Kemble competition takes place entirely online.
After the closing date of 1 August 2010, there'll be a public vote to come up with a shortlist of entrants, from which the judging panel, including pianists Kevin Kenner and Christopher Elton, will select the winners. The winner will receive a special edition Kemble Chopin upright piano worth over £8,000, and a private piano lesson with internationally acclaimed Chopin specialist Kevin Kenner.
'It's a great showcase for passionate amateur pianists to display their skills and promote piano playing to everybody,' says Leanne Hassan from Kemble Pianos.