Young maestro to play 20 instruments today

Violin, piano, bass guitar, Arabic drums, saxophone — there’s precious little that precocious 20-year-old Ebin George can’t juggle.

The Dubai youngster has music in his genes. The son of choir members, George is a boy with a plan, attempting today to set a world record by playing 20 musical instruments and in so doing acquire the tag of ‘most number of instruments played in a one-hour concert’ or ‘the maximum number of instruments used by a single person in an instrumental music concert’, depending on the category approved by the Limca Book of Records authorities.

When Khaleej Times phoned George, he was on his way to practise his music, carefully and with strict discipline apportioning time to each instrument.

Credit has to be given where due, as George has learnt to play the instruments by himself, except the keyboard. The judges will tell how competent he is, but going by his record, there’s enough to be impressed with.

George started playing instruments at the age of two. The first instrument that he played was the electronic pad drums. His first performance on the drums was at a church programme conducted by the CSI Parish in Bahrain, when George was just three.

He passed keyboard theory and practical exams up to Grade 3, conducted by the Trinity College of Music in London. He is planning to do the higher grades later.

Far from a one-trick pony, George has already completed a degree in Biotechnology from Manipal University in Dubai. And now that he has grown up, the youngster has a publicity team that manages his affairs.

In 2011, the musical talent who has been on a tight practice schedule these past few weeks, started practising the Soprano saxophone. In January last year, he performed his first Soprano Sax recital in Sharjah. His inspiration? The live show by the world record holder Benny Prasad held in July 2011. That’s what made him approach the record authorities for an attempt to play a host of instruments continuously with the background music.

The world record attempt, which George has called ‘Nothing is Impossible’, will be held today at the SWC Auditorium in Sharjah, entry for which is free. So if you happen to be in the neighbourhood, and while his family and proud parents will be cheering him on, he might need your moral support.

nivriti@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE