Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Dubai Six-Year-Old Sets Guinness Record for Identifying 16 Classical Composers by Ear

The officially witnessed September 14 attempt saw Shivankh Varun Varadharajan meet the one-minute challenge under Guinness rules.

Overview

  • He named 16 composers in 60 seconds from randomized selections, including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss, Rossini, and Brahms.
  • Khaleej Times reports that his school teachers served as official witnesses, and the family later received Guinness certificates confirming the record.
  • According to his mother, his aptitude surfaced around age three as he recognized orchestral themes in cartoons and quickly matched melodies to composers.
  • The family describes daily practice tailored to speed and accuracy for the timed format, with sessions in public spaces to build confidence under pressure.
  • Coverage cites his mother saying he can now identify over 65 pieces by ear and that the family plans greater exposure to live performances such as at Dubai Opera.