The cello has been named Australia's favourite instrument in the 2023 Classic 100 held by ABC Classic and ABC Jazz, the second-most popular countdown in the 22-year history of the event.
 

Known for its beautiful mellow tone, audiences named many different reasons for choosing the cello as their favourite instrument. For Geoff in Naarm: "I always just found the cello to be the most moving…it cuts straight through to your soul and through to your heart." "There's something close to poetry in something that aches and is beautiful at the same time," said Catherine from Queensland.
 

The piano, a mainstay across many musical genres from classical music, through jazz, and to rock, pop and folk traditions came in second place, with the violin taking out Australia's third most-popular instrument.
 

While 27 instruments from the symphony orchestra placed in the top 100, music from all over the world featured in the top 100, across all continents (except Antarctica), including the yidaki (didgeridoo), which came in at number 15 in the countdown. 
 

Read more about the countdown, explore the siren call of the cello with Ed Le Brocq, or take a tour through some of the fun facts your votes revealed . You can also check out the instruments that nearly made the countdown, with our list of instruments that placed 101–200.