How many musicians are in a full symphony orchestra?

Music medium Data from 2024

Guess before you scroll — the answer is below

Answer in musicians. Shorthand like 9m or 1.2bn works.

The answer

100 musicians

A full symphony orchestra has roughly 100 musicians, of whom around 60 are string players. The balance is not artistic preference but physics: a single trumpet can drown out a dozen violins, so the strings need the numbers.

Where this number comes from

Source League of American Orchestras
Figure refers to 2024
Last checked
Unit musicians

Numbers move. If this one has drifted from its source, let us know.

Think you can do better?

Five fresh questions every day. No account needed.

Play today’s puzzle

Related questions