Sweet Adelines set world record for largest singing lesson

Sweet Adelines International set the Guinness World Record for Largest Singing Lesson on Oct. 24, 2009 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, Tenn.

Sweet Adelines members are women who excel in singing the unique musical art form of barbershop harmony.

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 10-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 Girton, Jr. while presenting the award.

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 Gram after accepting the certificate for World's Largest Singing lesson.

Eager for the opportunity to make history, Sweet Adelines members 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."