Dovetail Orchestra

Videographer: Var Smallwood

Dovetail Orchestras exist to provide a welcoming space for people seeking sanctuary, building connections through music and supporting musical learning on a regular weekly basis.
We have orchestras in Bristol, Cardiff, North London (Dovetail Da Capo), South London (Brixton) and soon (from November 2026) in Taunton.

We were founded in 2022 by Jonathan James, with the first orchestra based in Bristol. Every week we create pieces that ‘dovetail’ the voices and styles of whomever is in the space.

Players' stories

Discovery, Wellbeing, Belonging

‘Being in the orchestra means a lot to me because it gives me joy, makes me very enthusiastic and and helps me let 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.’

‘Music caresses the human soul. It is an emotional necessity.’

‘Being in the orchestra has given me the feeling of belonging which I was always lacking. Here I have met people who have a soft spot for music and are experimenting with it as myself. We can easily speak together in one unifying language, no matter from which background or country we are.’

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