Penn Band Attempts to Set Guinness World Record for Oversized Conductor's Baton

WHO:  University of Pennsylvania marching band

WHAT:  Unveiling of 15 foot, 8 inch conductors baton

WHEN:  Oct. 20, 2007, around 1 p.m.

WHERE:  Franklin Field

33rd and Spruce streets

Penn's marching band will unveil the world's largest conductor's baton during the halftime program at the Penn football game against Yale.  The band has submitted the baton for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.  Band Director Greer Cheeseman will lead the band using the oversized, nearly 10-pound baton.  Its more than 15 times the size of an ordinary baton, which weighs several ounces and is 12 to 16 inches long.

Band members, many of whom are engineering students, and alumni crafted the baton using wood and cork, the same materials as an ordinary baton.