Video Submission Instructions:

  • A link to the video on YouTube must be sent via email to: education@thetso.org. Upon receipt, a confirmation email will be sent to the applicant.

  • The submitted entry video should be performed by the aspiring musician and include the entire work or movement to be considered.

  • The video must begin with the competitor announcing their name as well as the composer and title of the piece to be performed. In addition, the competitor must announce that this is for the TSO Aspiring Musician Competition.

  • By participating and uploading a competition video, competitors are giving their consent to have their videos viewed by the competition judges as well as the TSO Executive Board.

  • Members of the competition jury will be looking for artistry, musicianship, technical skills and stage presence. The deadline for uploading and submitting/emailing the competition video is March 10, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

How to upload a video to YouTube using a website browser:

  1. Visit www.youtube.com

  2. Make sure you are logged in. If you don’t see your account avatar in the upper right corner, click “Sign In” and enter your Google account information or create a new account.

  3. Click the Create a Video button at the top of the screen. It looks like a video camera. In the drop-down menu, click “Upload video”. 

  4. The video upload page should appear. Under “Select files to upload”, click “Public” and choose what level of visibility you want for the video -- everyone can see a public video, but you can also make it unlisted (it’s still publicly available but only available to people a direct link). Make sure that the video is uploaded as public or unlisted so we can access your link for judging.

  5. Click the large arrow to choose the video file, or you can simply drag the video file onto the page.

  6. While the video uploads, please make sure to include the name of the applicant and piece in the video title and/or description.

  7. Click “Publish” to complete the process. You can publish the video while it’s still uploading or wait until the upload is complete. Either way, the video won’t appear unless you click “Publish”.

Once the video is uploaded, it will take a few minutes to process. The time it takes to process will depend on how long the video is. Please email the direct link to the video to education@thetso.org and include “[Competitors Name] Aspiring Musician Competition Video” in the subject line.

How to upload a video to YouTube using the mobile app:

  1. Open the YouTube app on your phone.

  2. Tap the video upload button at the top of the screen. It looks like a video camera. If this is your first time using the upload feature, you might need to give the app permission to access your camera and photo library.

  3. On the next screen, tap the video you want to upload.

  4. Tap “Next”.

  5. Please make sure to include the name of the applicant and piece in the video title and/or description.

  6. Choose a privacy level. Make sure that the video is uploaded as public or unlisted so we can access your link for judging.

  7. Tap “Upload”. 

Once the video is uploaded, it will take a few minutes to process. The time it takes to process will depend on how long the video is. Please email the direct link to the video to education@thetso.org and include “[Name] Aspiring Musician Competition Video” in the subject line.