YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY Chorus looks to carol its way into record book

A New York church is also attempting to break the record.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Symphony Chorus is challenging area residents to help break the world's record for the largest caroling service and help the area's neediest residents at the same time.
The event will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 17 inside the Chevrolet Centre, 229 E. Front St., in downtown Youngstown. "We wanted to have it inside, so that people will be warm and cozy," said Maxina Gohlke, president of the chorus.
Participants should bring a non-perishable food item for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Bags of groceries are welcome as well.
"The food bank does need food, and the community will enjoy this," said Gohlke.
The record
The current record was set Dec. 20, 2003, in the Civic Square in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, when 1,175 carolers sang Christmas carols for 28 minutes.
"We're trying to break both records," said Gohlke. "We're going to try to sing longer than 28 minutes."
Participants must sing for the entire time. The chorus will provide background music and the lyrics.
To prove it set the record, the chorus must provide thorough verification to the Guinness Book of World Records, including videotape, photos, news coverage and sworn statements from witnesses. "We're having every participant fill out a form saying they sang," said Gohlke. "And marshals that we select will be monitoring it to make sure everyone is singing."
Validation forms are available online at the chorus Web site. Each person participating should bring a form. Children are welcome to join the fun, but if they are unable to sing the carols continuously, they will not be counted toward the record attempt.
The carols haven't been selected yet, but Gohlke said familiar songs will be sung "so that no one trips up over the lyrics. Plus, we want songs that appeal to young people."
How idea started
Gohlke said the idea came out of chorus board discussions. "Other choruses are also trying to break the record, and we decided that we could do it," she said, noting that St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City will make a high-profile stab at the record on Dec. 19.
The Lady Steelhounds, the hockey team's dance squad, plan to offer selected discount Hockey Tickets to those who attend.
The chorus will accept any donations to help defray costs of the event and to help support the art of choral music. Donation stations will be at the exits.
For more information, call (330) 881-9517 or visit the Web site http://ysc-online.org.