The 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra of Hungary, recipient of the Hungarian Heritage Award, is one of the world’s most renowned classical Romani symphonic ensembles. Founded in 1985 in Budapest, the orchestra was born from a gathering of musicians at the funeral of legendary primás Sándor Járóka Sr., where the idea of forming a large, professional ensemble took shape. Since then, the orchestra has performed over a thousand concerts across the globe—from the smallest Hungarian villages to the world’s grandest concert halls—building bridges between cultures and social classes. Their repertoire blends the works of classical masters like Liszt, Bartók, Kodály, and Brahms with traditional Hungarian Romani music, folk songs, and popular tunes. Listed in the Guinness World Records, the orchestra boasts numerous platinum and gold records and has received prestigious national and international awards. In 2014, it was officially recognized as a Hungarikum—a uniquely Hungarian treasure. While preserving rich musical traditions, the orchestra also invests in the future: its Youth Orchestra, founded in 2008, nurtures new talent and ensures that this extraordinary cultural legacy will continue to thrive for generations to come.
