A violinist from Bermuda. A marimba player from Tokyo who left behind her daughters, aged 5 and 6. A professional poker player and cellist from San Francisco.

Carnegie Hall had never seen a concert quite like this one, an unprecedented gathering of 96 ambitious, talented and noticeably young musicians from 30 countries, from China to Russia, Romania to the Ukraine.

Five Canadians - Ian Whitman (bass), Stéphane Tétreault (cello), Yunior Lopez (viola), Donovan Seidle (violin) and Gael Chabot-Leclerc (percussion) - joined the YouTube Symphony Orchestra last night, made up of players who auditioned by sending in videos.

Legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas introduced with great enthusiasm this new group of musicians.

"The old phrase 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' has a new answer," he said. "Upload, upload, upload."

The musicians performed a wide variety, from the lush, romantic, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9 by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos to Wagner's old warhorse, splendidly played, Ride of the Valkyries.

Tilson Thomas conducted much of the music, easily teasing a smooth, polished and impressive clarity from a group of strangers who'd had only three 12-hour days of rehearsal before the performance. Video clips of the musicians projected in the hall took away the starchy formality of the usual classical concert, making the music more accessible emotionally, although the professionalism of the players shone through.

"I think the concert will open people's eyes and ears," said Torontonian Lopez, 21.

"It's a big outreach to people in general. This music is bringing people from all over the world together. Rehearsals, though, offered their own challenges. ... Once you're in the orchestra we can communicate no problem because our instruments speak for us, but the language barriers were very hard."

Lopez said some significant adjustments were necessary on an accelerated schedule. "Our playing styles are very different."

Before the show, family and friends crowded proudly outside the hall, taking photographs of the posters plastered with the words Sold Out. Tickets went for $20 to $50 (U.S.), far below usual Carnegie Hall prices.

The audience also included regular concertgoers and tourists, like Barbara and Otto Rogers, visiting from Milford, Ont.

"We happened to turn on the TV and saw a YouTube clip. My husband was so moved by one of the musical pieces we wanted to come and see the concert," said Barbara.