VENEZUELA locked in the Guinness record for the largest orchestra in the world yesterday, after thousands of local musicians performed Tchaikovsky’s Slavonic March.

Performers were brought together by the public-funded El Sistema programme, which was founded in 1975 and has since provided classical music training to thousands of working-class children.

Gustavo Dudamel, the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Paris Opera, is one of its most notable alumni.

An official in charge of delivering the verdict confirmed the record on a screen during a ceremony at the El Sistema headquarters.

“I can confirm that this attempt has been successful, congratulations. You are officially amazing.”

About 12,000 musicians, including both adults and children who are members of the main orchestra in the country, the Simon Bolivar, played for the record on November 13.

Guinness World Records recognised only 8,573 of them as having set the record, according to a certificate issued by the organisation.

About 260 auditors from accounting firm KPMG observed the performance of the piece, ensuring each musician complies with the rules to set a new record, which include not sharing instruments and playing for at least five minutes.

“This is a great achievement not just for El Sistema, but for our country,” said programme director Eduardo Mendez.

Russia had held the previous record, set in 2019 by more than 8,000 musicians. – AFP, November 21, 2021.