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Sir James Galway and NFA - Guinness World Record ConfirmedBy Ann Rosenblum
VP, GSI
December 16, 2009
Guinness World Records Confirms Sir James Galway and the National Flute Association Break World Record for Largest Flute Ensemble
December 17, 2009: Guinness World Records confirmed that Sir James Galway and the National Flute association have officially broken the Guinness World Record™ for World’s Largest Flute Ensemble. According to GuinnessWorldRecords.com, “The largest flute ensemble was achieved by 1,989 participants in an event organised by The National Flute Association and Sir James Galway (USA) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York, on 14 August 2009.” The event surpasses the previous record of 1,975 flutists set on July 14, 2009 in China.
The event was part of the National Flute Association’s 2009 Convention, at which Sir James Galway was honored with the NFA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Sir James Galway led the massive ensemble, which performed Galway Fantasie, commissioned by Sir James for the event from David Overton. In addition to Sir James, the group was led by 6 conductors, including John Bailey, Katherine Borst Jones, Paul Dunkel, Ervin Monroe, James Walker and Ransom Wilson, with the music displayed on plasma screens throughout the room. Elliott Forrest, Peabody Award winning host on WQXR and Gail Wein, music journalist, served as witnesses. Flute groups around the world, including a group in Bordeaux, France and Australia, played at the same time in support of the effort.
Video of the event is available at http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/Flute-Ensemble-New- York-City/video/846019/7691.html
The National Flute Association is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1973 and is the largest flute organization in the world. Membership in the NFA and attendance at the convention is open to all flutists and flute enthusiasts. The NFA has approximately 6,000 members from more than 50 countries. The NFA will be holding its 38th Annual Convention in Anaheim, California from August 12 – 15, 2010 honoring Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Leone Buyse and Fenwick Smith and National Service Award recipient Gwen Powell. Sir James Galway is internationally regarded as both a matchless interpreter of the classical repertoire and a consummate entertainer whose charismatic appeal crosses all musical boundaries. Celebrating his 70th birthday this month, Sir James performs all over the world and conducts master classes for people of all ages.
For more information, please visit www.nfaonline.org.
### Hi-resolution photos of the World’s Largest Flute Orchestra are available by request.
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