200 French horns set a world record — the Taiwan International Band Festival is even more impressive than you think

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team, compiled and reported

The 2017 Chiayi City International Band Festival commenced with great fanfare on December 22, gathering elite wind musicians from six countries — France, Finland, Austria, Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand — as well as outstanding performers from Taiwan. A total of 14 international ensembles, global maestros, and top local lineups presented over 70 high-caliber wind music performances. Music lovers are warmly invited to Chiayi to enjoy an 11-day musical extravaganza.

To celebrate the 26th anniversary of the Chiayi City International Band Festival, this year’s event features two major highlights. The first is the street parade opening on December 23, where the “Father of French Horns in Taiwan,” Chuang Szu-yuan, gathered 200 French horn players from across Taiwan for a joint performance, setting a Guinness World Record. The second highlight is the special invitation to internationally acclaimed clarinetist Paul Meyer to serve as the festival’s ambassador, aiming to elevate the event’s global profile and strengthen the international brand of the Chiayi City Band Festival.

Throughout the band festival, there is a diverse series of activities including 70 indoor and outdoor concerts, 3 master lectures, 3 master workshops, 9 school exchange events, and 6 community tours. The annual year-end Chiayi City Band Festival is like a city-wide carnival, bringing music into every corner of the community through neighborhood tours and promoting culture and art throughout Chiayi City.

This year’s most popular event, the Band Carnival Street Parade, featured a float shaped like a French horn named “Lü Chuang Jia Ji” (Breaking Records in Chiayi), leading a procession of 48 contingents with over 5,000 participants. The parade started at the Zhongshan Road fountain, proceeded along Zhongshan Road, Wufeng North Road, Minzu Road, Qiming Road, and Sports Road, and arrived at the Chiayi Municipal Stadium. Domestic and international visitors are welcome to return to Chiayi at year’s end

This year’s most anticipated highlight is undoubtedly the performance by the international ambassador of the brass band festival — Paul Meyer, who will present two indoor concerts on December 28 and 29 at the Chiayi City Concert Hall. The New York Pioneer Press once hailed Paul Meyer as one of the most renowned clarinetists of our time. He has received numerous international accolades, including the European Young Musicians Competition and France’s highest musical honor, the “1999 Light of Music in France.” In addition to his concert performances, he will also hold a masterclass, offering brass band enthusiasts the rare opportunity to learn and interact closely with the world-class maestro.