CT marimba players hope to break world record for largest ensemble

CAPE TOWN - On Saturday afternoon, over 1,000 marimba players will take the stage in attempts to break the world record for the largest marimba ensemble.  

The event will take place in Cape Town at the Grand West arena, where performers of all ages from all over the country will perform musical items.  

The current record is held by Guatemala, sitting at 505 players.  

The Marimba Jam group, who is heading the event attempted to break another record in 2018, but the win wasn’t recognised due to resource constraints.  

CEO of Marimba Jam Kiara Ramklass says they hope this event highlights the importance of music education in schools. 

“For many of the kids playing the marimba, this is their way of expressing themselves, a creative outlet at school and we hope that more young people will be inspired to take up music at school because of all the amazing benefits it has.” said Ramklass.

Ramklass said they want to make their win official this time around  

“We thought a Guinness world record would be a way for us to take that same energy to a national level and bring together the whole of south Africa in unity to achieve a marimba world record, celebrating our moto, finding harmony in community.” Ramklass added.