British violinist to top record for highest musical performance

A British violinist is preparing to break a new world record for giving the highest performance on land.
Hugh Midford, a freelance professional violinist, will climb 20,305 feet up a mountain in the Himalayas and play the violin to complete the challenge, all in aid of the Classic FM Foundation.
He will be joined by George Thomas, a radio DJ and founder of Henley’s Regatta Radio, and under the rules of the challenge, he must play for at least 15 minutes and be witnessed by at least ten people.
Speaking to the Henley Standard, Mr Midford said: “I really don’t know if we will be able to meet those conditions. It might be that it is simply too cold for me to play for that length of time with my gloves off and the weather could affect how many people we have there to watch.
“If I play I know that it will be the highest anyone has played a violin, it just won’t be an official record.”
As for the repertoire, the violinist says that he will play some Bach sonatas.
“This is something I have always wanted to do,” he added.
“I’m very much an outdoors person. I do a lot of hill walking and cycling and this takes everything to the next level.”
He will not be taking his antique violin along for the ride, however. Instead, Hickies Music Store in Reading has donated a violin especially for the charity fundraising trip.
“I think it might go out of tune a lot,” the violinist admitted.
The team will set off on October 1st and all donations will go to the Foundation, which funds music therapy for vulnerable people. During his three-week trip, Mr Midford will be updating his progress on the Classic FM website.