Sweet Adelines International set the Guinness World Record for Largest Singing Lesson on Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. The record-setting event coincided with the 63rd annual International Convention and Competition held at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tn.
Members of the Chattanooga-based Scenic City Chorus were delighted to participate in the achievement of this ambitious feat. Voices from Chattanooga, Hixson, Ooltewah, Soddy-Daisy, Signal Mountain, Birchwood, Harrison, Cleveland, North Alabama, and North Georgia all joined in.
Music professional and past Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champion Peggy Gram led the lesson by demonstrating inspiring techniques for integrating the voice into the art form. The venue was filled with immense sound as 6,651 singers practiced the demonstrated techniques and sang simultaneously for the duration of the ten-minute lesson.
Guinness World Records official adjudicator Danny Girton Jr., presided over the certificate ceremony to validate the record and confirm that the achievement met the criteria set forth by the organization.
“We welcome Sweet Adelines International into the Guinness World Records family for its inspirational and fun achievement,” said Mr. Girton, while presenting the award.
Ms. Gram called the experience of teaching the Largest Singing lesson exhilarating.
“It was inspiring to demonstrate our unique style of music to thousands of singers from around the globe. While obtaining the world record is terrific, what’s even more important is that it allowed us the opportunity to show how rewarding it is to sing barbershop harmony,“ said Ms. Gram after accepting the certificate for World’s Largest Singing lesson.
Eager for the opportunity to make history, Sweet Adelines members from around the world lined up to participate.
“The enthusiasm of Sweet Adelines International members and fans was instrumental in achieving this record,” said Kelly Kirchhoff, director of Communications for Sweet Adelines International. “Instructing thousands of participants simultaneously is an extremely impressive accomplishment.”
Scenic City Chorus President Stephanie Harris said of the experience, “It was exciting to learn new music with so many Sweet Adelines and to make history at the same time. We are thrilled to know our members were able to contribute to the Guinness World Record.”
The women of the Scenic City Chorus share a love for music and singing four-part barbershop harmony. The chorus holds weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Burks United Methodist Church, 6433 Hixson Pike, Hixson.
To learn more about Sweet Adelines International and how to become a member of Scenic City Chorus contact Kathy Yonka at info@sceniccitychorus.com.
Sweet Adelines International is a musical force in the United States and throughout the world. This nonprofit music education association is headquartered in Tulsa, Ok., where it was founded in 1945. It is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women, committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance.
The membership encompasses nearly 25,000 singers, 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses in most of the 50 United States, Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, The Netherlands and Wales.