Ukulele World Record Bid In Southampton

18 July 2014, 08:07 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Nearly 4,000 people will attempt to set a new musical world record at Southampton Football Club later.

It's to try to become the largest ever ukulele ensemble.

CBeebies actor and presenter, Justin Fletcher MBE, will join the Chairman of Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire Music Hub partnership to lead the throng, that will include over 2,300 musicians of all ages, playing a 30 minute programme of well known songs on their ukuleles (sandwiched between two entertainment sessions).

Jill Larner, Head of Hampshire Music Service, said: 

"The response to our appeal for ukulele players to take part has been fantastic and I am hopeful that we have a really good chance of strumming our way in to the record books. 

“Not only have we been working with classes and groups all over Hampshire, teaching them how to play the ukulele, we have also inspired Councillor Colin Davidovitz, Hampshire County Council’s Chairman, to take up the ukulele and encourage fellow councillors to support our world record attempt. This has been a marvellous motivation for learning and will certainly help us to end the school year on a high note.

“I am grateful to Southampton Football Club for allowing us to use the stadium for this event and to Mahalo, the company that makes our ukuleles, who have kindly donated £4500 for t-shirts for all the participants.”

The current record of 2,134 participants in a ukulele ensemble, was set during the Leiland Grow Incorporated Ukulele Picnic at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse in Kanagawa, Japan in 2012.