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Ricky Kej has assembled an extraordinary ensemble of Indian living legends, culminating in a ground-breaking musical experience of the national anthem. (PTI)
Building on his previous achievement, Kej has assembled an extraordinary ensemble of Indian living legends, culminating in a ground-breaking musical experience of the national anthem
Indian music composer and three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej, after conducting the largest-ever Symphony Orchestra (100-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, UK) to perform the Indian national anthem at Abbey Road Studios, London in 2023, has taken the celebration of a new Bharat to unprecedented heights by breaking a Guinness World Record.
Building on his previous achievement, Kej has assembled an extraordinary ensemble of Indian living legends, culminating in a ground-breaking musical experience of the national anthem.
The impressive recording features performances by illustrious maestros such as Kej, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Bansuri maestro and Padma Vibhushan winner; Rakesh Chaurasia, Bansuri maestro and Grammy Award winner; Rahul Sharma, Santoor maestro; Amaan & Ayaan, Sarod maestros; Sheik Mahaboob Subhani & Kaleeshabi Mahaboob, Nadaswaram maestros and Padma Shri winners; Dr Jayanthi Kumaresh, Veena maestro; and Giridhar Udupa, Virtuoso Carnatic percussionist.
Kej, in collaboration with Dr Achyuta Samanta, has recorded a choir of 14,000 tribal children from Odisha, creating an awe-inspiring choir that performed together in one location at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, home to 80,000 indigenous children (40,000 current students and 40,000 alumni), is a fully free, fully residential institute and university with UN Consultative Status and the UNESCO International Literacy Prize.
“We have so much to learn from these communities. Their deep connection with nature and sustainable living practices are lessons the world needs to embrace,” said Kej.
The extraordinary event has set a new Guinness World Record for the “Largest Singing Lesson”, previously held by Sweet Adelines International, Nashville, USA with 6,651 participants. The video also features the 14,000 children forming a human map of India and the word ‘Bharat’ in Hindi and English. The achievement symbolises the unity and diversity of India, showcasing the nation’s rich cultural heritage and the limitless potential of its youth. The recording is a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary elements, representing the essence of a new Bharat. It serves as a beacon of inspiration, celebrating the nation’s journey and its bright future.