In an unexpected blend of classic rock and classical music, a student orchestra from Vermont has taken the internet by storm with their stirring performance of Led Zeppelin’s iconic song “Kashmir.
” The high school ensemble, comprised of students from Montpelier High School, uploaded a video of their spring concert performance to YouTube — and within days, it had garnered hundreds of thousands of views and praise from music lovers across the globe.
What started as a creative challenge by the school’s music director, Emily Thorne, quickly turned into a viral sensation. Thorne, who has been teaching at the school for over a decade, wanted to show her students that orchestral music isn’t limited to the works of Mozart and Beethoven.
“Led Zeppelin was revolutionary in their sound, and ‘Kashmir’ in particular has a driving, almost symphonic quality to it. I thought, why not bridge the generations and give students a taste of something powerful and new?” she said.
The arrangement, carefully adapted for strings, brass, and percussion, was both faithful to the spirit of the original and innovative in its orchestration. Students poured their hearts into weeks of practice, some even listening to the original track dozens of times to understand its intricate rhythm and emotional depth.
The video, simply titled “MHS Orchestra – Kashmir (Led Zeppelin Cover)”, begins with a slow, moody build-up as the students tune and prepare, then erupts into the instantly recognizable riff that defined a generation. The conductor’s energy is matched by the students’ commitment — violins and cellos adding a haunting layer of drama while the percussion section drives the piece forward with rock-inspired beats.
It didn’t take long for the internet to take notice. On social media, users praised the students’ talent and the boldness of the musical choice.
Some Led Zeppelin fans admitted they were skeptical at first but came away deeply impressed by the rendition. “This is what music education should be — relevant, challenging, and moving,” one commenter wrote on Reddit, where the video climbed to the front page in the “Music” subreddit.
Not only did fans love it, but even some musicians took note. Rumors swirled that a member of Led Zeppelin’s former touring crew had seen the video and shared it with Robert Plant himself. While unconfirmed, the story only added to the performance’s legend.
Back in Montpelier, the students remain modest, though clearly excited by the attention. “We didn’t expect this at all,” said junior cellist Maya Kim. “We just thought it was a cool song and fun to play. The fact that people are listening and loving it means everything.”
As the video continues to rack up views, other schools have reportedly reached out to Thorne for the sheet music arrangement. The success of the performance highlights the power of music to connect generations, genres, and communities — and proves that sometimes, a group of passionate teenagers with violins and a vision can rock just as hard as the legends themselves.
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