2014 “Hohner Cup” National Accordion Championships, 18th to 21st July - China
18th July 19th July 20th July 2012 Hohner Cup

Daily Report - 20th July
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD SUCCESS!


The Guinness World Record for Largest Accordion Ensemble was smashed on the morning of 20th July with a new record total of 1,361 accordionists all playing together. Here is the picture of them all.

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The aim was to make a new Guinness World Record for Largest Accordion Ensemble and this was achieved. The previous "largest accordion ensemble" record consisted of 1,137 participants conducted by Martin Tezak at the 2011 Panonika Harmonika Festival in Cerklje ob Krki, in Slovenia on 8 August 2011.

Guinness official certificate of the new World Record 1,361 players is displayed to the crowd by Ding Peng (Manager Hohner China), Prof. Li Cong President of the China Accordion Association and orchestra conductor Liu Xi. Look at the dozens of cameras of parents and friends and also lots of media present.

The event organisers had gone to huge effort to make this a new world record. Every detail had been attended too from organising all the people into groups, good signs, to organising with the city officials and accordion teachers to have many officials assisting in every way, from Police and security for crowd control to many teachers each looking after groups of young excited players.
Many of the participants were wearing the t-shirts that had been printed especially for this event. All ages were participating and wearing the t-shirts.
Each group had a big sign and all the people in their group had to form up behind the sign ready to march in and be counted. It was very very hot and the first aid people were on hand in case the heat was too much for some of the youngest children. There were lots of very young 3-5 year old children participating.
Look at the numbers in the gathering area!
An official of Guinness Records, Lisa Hoffman was checking that all her requests to organise the players so that the number of players could be accurately counted was done. She spoke very fluent Chinese and strictly made sure her instructions were exactly followed. The whole area was cordoned off with security and Police making sure that everyone attending the event had to come through the one gate and be counted, one person at at time.
Yuguang Guo with Li Cong and orchestra conductor Liu Xi checking all the fina details and supervising this very major event. Crowds and crowds of accordionists and supporters.
City officials had provided lots of Police and medical first aid staff to ensure that the event ran smoothly, there was good crowd control and to ensure that all people had to enter at the one entry point so they were accurately counted. The superb organisers had arranged access to a hotel room overlooking the event so that we could get very good video and photos. Here we see Prof. Li Cong on the ground organising and giving a wave to us in the hotel room.
One of the China Accordion Association teachers organised with her teacher friends on the steps to WAVE to us. They had even organsed a large group of teachers at the top of the stairs. Because the people were entering the area one by one to be counted, it took a long time for the players to assemble in their designated areas. It was really hot as well and you can see some of the children were really young. They young ones were all really excited to be participating and playing with so many other accordionists. It was a real FESTIVAL!!!!!
President Li Cong making a speech to the players and to the large audience. Look at all the cameras!
There was lots of media attending the event too. Li Cong also introduced Guinness Records official, Lisa Hoffman to the audience who explained the process and strict requirements to all the players.
Orchestra conductor Liu Xi rehearsing the orchestra before the record breaking performance. It was lots of fun for everyone.
When it was finally announced, there was cheers from all the people especially when the Guinness official certificate of the new World Record of 1,361 players was displayed to the crowd by Ding Peng (Manager Hohner China), Prof. Li Cong President of the China Accordion Association and orchestra conductor Liu Xi. You can see them holding up the certificate to show the crowd. What a fun event and a great way to promote the accordion.

Huge Newspaper and Media Coverage




Amazing Coverage in the media.














Prizegiving

Announcing the results was the ever busy event organiser Ding Peng of Hohner China. Prize giving when you have over 1,500 entries and many are receiving prizes was scheduled to take 3 hours! Ding Peng was calling forward the categories of prizes for all the three hours. Also working throughout the event were many local event helpers who were tremendous, helping with so many parts of the festival.
As usual, the stage was beautifully presented, this time with the neat cup graphic and text. Different teachers from the association were presenting the cups and certificates and shaking hands with the prize winners.
You can see from the prizegiving pictures above, that people of all ages were participating. This was a fun event and prize giving was also part of the fun as you can see the smiles on the prizewinners faces.

Final Concert

Alot of effort was made during the whole event to have nice graphics on the stage to compliment the performances. Xiao Chang announces the start of the Final Concert. Xiao Chang compered several concerts and is studying for Masters majoring in accordion at Shanghai Normal University.
Ding Peng (Hohner China Manager) making his speech. Jianhua Tong, President of the Shenzhen Province Accordion Association makes a speech.
Li Cong, President of the China Accordion Association thanks Jianhua Tong and Ding Peng (and their organisations) for their enormous contribution to the great success of this 2014 event.
Li Cong  
 
Xinhua Zhang conducting the First Primary School of Yucai, Shenzhen.
Xinhua Zhang  
 
 
Quality duet music by Meng Qian and Jin Ling. Meng Qian has represented China at the 62nd Coupe Mondiale in New Zealand in 2009. Now she is a teacher in The National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Jin Ling is a teacher in Northeast Normal University.
 
Ruan Hailin and daughter Ruan Mingyuan duet performance. Ruan Hailin is an accordion teacher at the "Doh Ray Mi" private accordion school with his wife Lei Xiufang in Jinzhong city, Shanxi province. Daughter Ruan Mingyuan was my translator for the Hohner 2012 festival. Mingyuan was the 3rd prize winner of the 2009 Coupe Mondiale and 2nd prize at Castelfidardo.
Jérôme Richard Concert Program
Jérôme Richard poster
Jérôme Richard Program List
Jérôme Richard program
From slow with great feeling.
to ripping Fast and Fun!
Jérôme Richard all smiles, just before he strolled of the stage into the audience, to the delight of the audience. He was called back for encore after encore.
Some End of Concert Pictures
China Accordion Association official and accordion tutor at Shanghai Normal University Crystal Wang with Li Cong proudly show off the Guinness World Record Certificate. Many had their picture taken with the official certificate.  Ding Peng with Alessio Gerundio, Zero Sette Accordion Factory, Italy.
Jianhua Tong, his wife and conductor/teacher , Harley Jones, Crystal Wang, Chen Jun.
University tutor Chen Jun (internationally known as "Panda") with his friend Andrea Ballone Burini. Popular Li Cong in one of many photos.
Viktor Romanko with the Guinness Certificate. Crystal Wang thanking compere Xiao Chang for her excellent announcing. Li Cong is the accordion tutor of Xiao Chang and Crystal Wang is her very proud compere tutor.

After the concert, there was a dinner for all the teachers/organisers where again, the top officials, teachers and helpers were thanked very much for the great success of the event and their part in the skilled organization of this event. A very enjoyable farewell to a most successful event.


18th July 19th July 20th July 2012 Hohner Cup

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