London Vegetable Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Cover versions |
| Instruments | Carrot recorder, courgette trumpets, butternut squash trombones, pumpkin drums and aubergine castanets, amongst others |
| Years active | 2009-present |
| Website | londonvegetableorchestra |
TheLondon Vegetable Orchestra is a British musical ensemble that fabricates and subsequently plays musical instruments made out ofvegetables.[1][2][3] It is understood to be the only vegetable orchestra in the United Kingdom.[4]
The orchestra was founded circa 2009 byrecorder-maker Tim Cranmore. Tim was challenged in a bet to carve a recorder from a carrot, which prompted the founding of the ensemble.[1] Many of the original members were students at theRoyal Academy of Music.[4] As of 2016, members of the orchestra also included professional musicians with theLondon Symphony Orchestra or theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra.[1] Like theLong Island Vegetable Orchestra, the group was inspired byThe Vegetable Orchestra.[5][6]
Instruments created and played by the group includecourgettetrumpets,butternut squashtrombones,pumpkindrums andauberginecastanets.[1] Other vegetables played includebell peppers,potatoes andparsnips.[7] The group must use fresh vegetables, created on the day of performance, to ensure the best sound quality.[8] The group has performed onCountryfile,Russell Howard's Good News,[9]This Morning,[10] Ant and Dec'sSaturday Night Takeaway,[4]Room 101,[11] amongst others.
The group plays a wide range of music across genres, from "Greensleeves" to "Billie Jean" (punning on both names: 'Greens-leaves' and 'Billie Auber-jean').[1]
In October 2024, the group performed 'The 'Farmonic' Orchestra' atThe Other Palace Theatre in London, sponsored byGinsters and raising money forThe Trussell Trust.[12] In December 2024, a video of the group performing "Jingle Bells" on BBC Radio 3 went viral on Instagram.[13] The performance quickly gained over 11 million views.[4] In April 2025 the group performed atWindsor Castle andCharles III joined them for an impromptu performance of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in which he played the carrot recorder.[7][14][15]
