Music like you’ve never seen before: This orchestra’s uncommon instruments broke a world record!

Imagine walking into a concert hall, the lights dim, and the musicians take their place, ready to enchant you with melodies.

But instead of the gleam of brass or the polished wood of string instruments, you see... vegetables?

This isn't your typical orchestra, and they've carved (quite literally) a unique niche in the music world.



Formed in the heart of Austria's capital in 1998, this 11-piece ensemble has redefined the concept of an orchestra.

With a Guinness World Record under their belt, they've performed 344 concerts worldwide, each one showcasing their extraordinary talent and their even more extraordinary instruments.

From the sweet sounds of a carrot recorder to the deep tones of a radish bass flute, the orchestra brings a whole new meaning to “playing with your food.”


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The Vegetable Orchestra is an 11-piece ensemble from Vienna, Austria, that performs with instruments made from fresh vegetables. Image source: vegetableorchestra / Youtube

Their instruments are as fresh as their sound, crafted from vegetables like cucumbers, eggplants, and leeks.

The musicians, with diverse backgrounds in electronic, rock, punk, and classical music, have one thing in common: a passion for exploring the uncharted territories of sound.

“We believe that we can produce sound that cannot be [easily] produced by other instruments,” they share on their website. “You can hear the difference. It sometimes sounds like animals, sometimes just like abstract sounds.”



The orchestra's creativity doesn't stop at their music. They're constantly inventing new instruments, and their performances are a testament to their improvisational skills. Vegetables, after all, aren't the most reliable materials.

They can break or dry out, but the orchestra takes these challenges in stride, turning potential mishaps into opportunities for innovation.

And what happens to the instruments after the curtain falls? In a delightful twist, the orchestra serves their audience soup made from the leftover vegetables. It's a sustainable encore that's both eco-friendly and delicious.



The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra isn't just a novelty act; they're serious musicians with a message. They aim to show audiences that music can be created from just about anything.

“Each thing contains a very specific acoustic quality and represents an intricate universe of sound,” they explain. Their performances encourage us to look at the world around us with fresh eyes—or ears—and to find the music in the mundane.

Despite their plant-based instruments, the orchestra members are quick to address the elephant in the room—or should we say, the vegetable in the stew?

They're not all vegans or vegetarians, and they'd prefer if that weren't the focus.


“No, we are not. Don’t ask again,” they state plainly on their website, having fielded the question more times than they can count.

The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra continues to tour the globe, sharing their unique brand of music and their love for sonic exploration. They invite audiences to open their minds to the possibilities that lie within a simple vegetable.
Key Takeaways
  • The Vegetable Orchestra is an 11-piece ensemble from Vienna, Austria, that performs with instruments made from fresh vegetables.
  • They have played a total of 344 concerts and are known for their innovative approach, creating sounds that are sometimes likened to animal noises or abstract sounds.
  • The orchestra serves soup made from the leftover vegetables to the audience after concerts, emphasizing that music can be made from almost anything.
  • Despite frequently being asked if they are all vegan or vegetarian, the musicians clearly state on their website that they are not, and have grown tired of the question.
Have you ever experienced music from unconventional sources? What's the most unusual instrument you've encountered? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below!

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