Now it’s official – there’s a poster!

Guiness Book World Record Mandolin Ensemble attemptTara Linhardt and her band of merry mandolinists are dead set on wresting the record for the largest mandolin ensemble back from the Creteians, and they will do it at the 2015 Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA at 2:00 p.m.

Tara’s team took the record in 2012 by assembling 389 mandolinists during the Galax convention, and had it certified by The Guinness Book of Records. Then last year, a troupe in Crete managed a new record of 414. Well we certainly can’t have that!

So August 4, 2015 at Felts Park in Galax has been established as the date to not only smash the current record, but do so in such a convincing fashion that no one will ever try to beat it again!

A poster has been prepared, and Tara is asking mandolinists far and wide to download a copy, print it off, and start posting it wherever mandolinists might congregate. Put one up in your dorm, where you jam, at the local music store, on your church bulletin board, at the grocery store. Anywhere. Keep them in your case, and hand them out wherever you go.

2012 Mandolin Ensemble Record at GalaxYou needn’t be a high skill player to participate – just be able to play through simple arrangements of four popular fiddle tunes. Oh… and either own or have access to a mandolin, and be willing to bring it to Galax in August.

The tunes that must be performed in unison at the attempt are:

  • Soldier’s Joy (D)
  • Angeline The Baker (D)
  • Cripple Creek (A)
  • Old Joe Clark (A)

If every fiddle and mandolin competitor at Galax this year drags along an 8-string, the record will be a cinch. The key isn’t how many people are willing to stumble through the tunes, but whether enough mandolins are available. So if you are coming to Galax, even if you couldn’t play a lick with your life on the line, try to bring along a mandolin. They can find someone to play it if it’s there!

You will need to have an admission pass or ticket to the convention for 8/4 to take part, but you do not have to be registered for the competitions.

Be a part of mandolin history!

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.