The Dovetail Orchestra uses music to change the lives of refugees and asylum seekers and model a new approach to supporting them. In July 2023 the orchestra was awarded a grant by The Edith M Ellis 1985 Charitable Trust to continue past the pilot phase, grow membership and implement project developments.
Refugee and asylum-seeking members are supported to grow in confidence, musical ability and English language skills. They are part of a welcoming and inclusive community and their mental health and wellbeing improve. Via community events and performances, they meet and engage with local people – breaking down barriers, challenging perceptions and supporting their social integration.
The grant was crucial to the survival of the project. It enabled the continued delivery of orchestra sessions and learning and community engagement opportunities. Since July 2023 the Dovetail Orchestra has supported a further 110 refugees and asylum-seekers (on top of the 60 they had already worked with prior to their grant application) from 22 countries including Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Sudan. On average between 20 and 30 attend sessions each week.
At weekly rehearsal sessions members have received expert support and tuition to develop their musical, collaboration and performance skills. They have worked together to explore the diverse musical heritages found in the group and create new versions of world folk music. The funding has also supported weekly group meetings, extra instrument lessons (violin, guitar, saxophone, drums) for members, travel and food. These activities have enabled skills development (musical, linguistic and transferable) and five performances at concerts and community events reaching mor than 500 local people.
Playing in Dovetail often has a transformative effect on members’ mental health and wellbeing. Rehearsals offer a much-needed sanctuary and a chance for them to forget their circumstances and experiences. Members who have endured huge trauma immerse themselves in the creative process and start to recover. Recently 100% said their mood improved by the end of rehearsal and 85% said their mental health had improved overall.
“Being in the orchestra has given me the feeling of belonging which I was always lacking. It is healing.” (Khrystyna, from Ukraine)
“Being in orchestra means a lot to me, it gives me joy and letting go of my worries. As an asylum seeker, doing what gives you joy is very essential because of where you are coming from and what you have encountered in life. Indeed, music is life.” (Uhunoma, from Nigeria)
Dovetail’s music is of a high standard and many members are talented musicians. The orchestra aims to produce a musically impressive programme that can be performed in a variety of venues. These performances are a crucial aspect of the project, facilitating community engagement and helping to break down barriers and perceptions of forcibly displaced people. Concerts also offer members quality performance experience and networking opportunities. Since receiving the grant, Dovetail has performed twice in St Ambrose Church to audiences of 100-150, at an Easter Festival in the Beehive Community Centre for 80 local residents and at the ‘Be Kind Bristol’ event (https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/be-kind-bristol/) at Bristol Beacon to an audience of 150+.
“It was surprising how well Dovetail went down. Our guys aren’t used to asylum-seekers. It was lovely, really feel-good, we had a lot of excited comments afterwards. They want to see Dovetail again.” (Louise, Beehive Community Centre Manager)
One of the most powerful aspects of Dovetail is how it brings people together. Members from historically opposed groups, religions and cultures play and learn together. Music and shared creative endeavour bridges centuries-old divisions. Certain songs and music styles demarcate both personal and collective identities. Sometimes, such boundaries have to be negotiated carefully. It was a big step, Taban, a Kurdish singer, to all a Turkish singer to translate and sing a verse from her song. Some of the Muslim musicians weren’t initially comfortable taking part in a Latin American ballad. Not everybody was on board with the Iranian’s protest song (in fact, a group decision was taken to avoid protests songs in general). Everybody was required to work on music that, at times, would feel alien and very different to what they’re used to. When, for example, a strict Muslim realised that they can sing a Congolese version of the Christian ‘Kumbaya, My Lord’ and not feel compromised or sullied by the process, that suggests to everybody, not just them, there is a wider connection to be had. this is a crucial part of Dovetail; the community they are building is defined by an identity linked to common purpose, while also respecting and celebrating cultural difference. This is all the more relevant in the context of the current world events which will undoubtedly lead to more people seeking refuge.
“This orchestra once that knows no boundaries.” (Ozcan, from Turkey)
