Wednesday, October 5, 2011

  Largest violin ensemble: Taiwan students sets world record (Video)

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A total of 4645 elementary and junior high school students gathered in Changhua County in central Taiwan to play violins - setting the new world record for the Largest violin ensemble, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com).

  Photo: 4645 Taiwanese schoolchildren came together to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest violin ensemble. Photo: AFP/Sam Yeh ( enlarge photo )

  The Guinness world record for the largest violin ensemble featured 4,645 participants and was achieved by the Changhua County Government, Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan at Changhua Stadium, Taiwan.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest string ensemble consisted of 858 players from Hillsborough County String Teachers and Students (all USA) at Williams Middle Magnet School in Tampa, Florida, USA.

  Taiwan's Central News Agency said a Guinness World Records official from Britain was on hand for the record-setting event in central Taiwan's Changhua County Saturday.

  The previous Guinness world record of 4,000 had been set in London back in 1925, the Taiwanese news agency said.

  The students who took part in the event came from 172 elementary and junior high schools located throughout Changhua, said the County Government.

  Without the local school teachers efforts it would not have been a possible, County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan told Taiwan Today.

  During the world record attempt, the young musicians played three pieces composed by local musician Arbin Yang 'The Changhua Concerto,' 'In Praise of Changhua' and 'Joy of National Games'.

  "Every student participating in the performance will obtain a certificate from the Guinness World Records as a testament to history," Changhua County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan said.

  Education officials said playing music has traditionally been a privilege for families in Taiwan and only the wealthy could afford.

   The local government has now initiated a program to give all students the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.