You, Keith, YouTube, and $5,000

First Keith Lockhart got himself an official website. Then the Boston Pops started teaming up with pop/rock/alternative musical acts. Now Keith and Company are taking to YouTube for some "American Idol"-style action. The Boston Pops - not your average orchestra!

Lockhart sent out a call to amateur singers everywhere today, via a YouTube posted on the Pops' new YouTube group. From his seat at a piano within the Conductor's Room at Symphony Hall, the cool and confident Keith told his audience about "the chance of a lifetime" - to perform with the Pops at its annual Fourth of July festivities, appear on the Pops' national tour and win $5,000. This contest has been dubbed "POPSearch 2007" and is a continuation of the amateur contests held in 2004 and 2005.

Interested? You have three options: 1) swing by Symphony Hall from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 18 or 19 to tape an audition, 2) post a two-minute performance video on the YouTube group site or 3) send a two-minute video to POPSearch (check the Pops website for the full details).

Keith and his fellow orchestra members are going to play the part of judge in order to whittle down the selections to a top 16, and those auditions will be posted online, allowing site visitors to vote for their favorites. There will be rounds of competition (including live concert competition for those who advance to each new level) and we'll learn who America, the Pops and a panel of judges have selected on June 28.

We'll only note one thing: If Keith doesn't show up for these concerts with a tight black t-shirt and at least a good-natured jab at a British accent, we're going to be terribly disappointed.

For the Lockhart fans out there, here's the video: