YouTube NextUp Winners Sing Backup for Jimmy Wong

YouTube announced the winners of its NextUp Creators Contest early last month. A cross-section of 25 Youtubers – ranging in age from 18 to what 18-year-olds consider old (I think that means 40-something), areas of expertise from sewing gurus to Final Cut pros, and subscriber counts from 300 to just shy of 300,000 – won $35,000 each and an-all-expenses paid, week-long, online video bootcamp at the YouTube HQ in New York City.

The NextUp Class of 2011 started its education on Sunday and will graduate on Friday after attending and participating in lectures, seminars, and study groups from some of the biggest names in the online video and YouTube business (including Gary Vaynerchuk, The Fine Bros., Tony Valenzuela, and more). Class starts at 8AM sharp every day and lasts until 2PM, at which time the students break to collaboratively work on creating new videos.

Last night, the NextUp Creators took time off from their regularly scheduled studies to meet and greet with friends and fans on the Hudson River in New York City. A small crowd of enthusiasm, peer pressure, and someone who just so happened to bring an acoustic guitar forced Jimmy Wong (who is one of the NextUp winners) to perform an impromptu concert. I was there to get the action on camera:

Looks like fun, right?!? That’s because it was. Talking shop with established and up and coming YouTubers amongst their subscribers and fans was certainly an experience. We’ll have more coverage on that aspect of the night coming soon. But for now, please enjoy Wong and company’s ode to Alexandra Wallace.

(Photo of Metro236‘s Joel Jutagir looking awesome by Josh Cohen.)