Joshua Lobsenz, a senior at Brown University studying neuroscience, recently achieved a lifelong goal of setting a world record during his final semester. To do so, he meticulously designed and built a 19-foot 4-inch conductor’s baton with a telescoping design made from fiberglass, paper, and cork.
Lobsenz enlisted the help of his bandmates, including head conductor Kanayo Duru. Together, they successfully set a new Guinness World Record in May by conducting 16 members of the band on Brown’s College Green. The record-setting performance was inspired by a previous attempt by the Brown Band over a decade ago.
Reflecting on the experience, Duru shared that conducting with the unusually large baton was a unique and enjoyable experience for him. He expressed his gratitude to Lobsenz for their collaboration and for making it possible to achieve this impressive feat.
In February 2022, Lobsenz submitted an application to Guinness World Records which was approved within three months. After receiving approval, he was given guidelines to follow for the record and the types of evidence required. Lobsenz expressed his excitement about achieving the official world record and surpassing the previous record held by the Harvard Band.
