The sound of a single drum roll filled the halls of Lake Orion High School last Friday night…for 12 hours and 43 minutes.
The LOHS percussion ensemble sought to break the Guinness World Record for the longest group drum roll, and raise some money to purchase new drums at the same time. The record of 12 hours was set by four Wisconsin college students in 2003.
‘We were trying to think of fundraisers to buy things for the drumline,? said senior John Roberts. ‘We came up with the idea to try to break the world record, and get pledges.?
The eight members of the percussion ensemble who broke the world record with a new time of 12 hours and 43 minutes, beginning at 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 and ending just before 2 a.m. on Jan. 15, are, besides Roberts: Adam Redman, Shane Moore, Ryan Comeau, Paul Wirries, Natalie Hunt, Kelly Stieler and Heather Widgren.
LOHS band director Mike Steele and percussion ensemble instructor Dave Pickett helped organize and oversee the event, which was recorded and sent to the Guinness World Record people in Europe, as they were unable to send a representative to Michigan.
The students took turns drumming in 15-minute shifts on a snare drum that was set up in front of a TV and DVD player to help keep the drummers entertained. Another room off the LOHS Auditorium was filled with sleeping bags, snacks and video games.
The students needed to raise $6,000 to purchase new equipment, and in addition to collecting pledges for their world record attempt, they held a Day of Percussion on Jan. 15, featuring performances and demonstrations.