Recycled Orchestra of Cateura
Violins and cellos made from trash, played by kids from Asunción's riverside slums.
What it is
It was born in Cateura, the neighborhood surrounding Asunción's largest landfill, from a music school set up in 2007 within a recycling project where environmental technician Favio Chávez had been working since 2006. Luthier Nicolás 'Colá' Gómez, a former waste picker, builds violins, cellos and guitars from cans, pipes and scrap. The documentary 'Landfill Harmonic' made it famous and took it to stages in Europe, North America and Asia.
Did you know…?
In March 2014 it opened for Metallica on the band's South American tour.
Listen to
The documentary 'Landfill Harmonic' and videos of the orchestra playing classical and Paraguayan music.
Music & dance
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with — sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.