Dovetail Orchestra

Dovetail Orchestra performing at Trinity, May 2026

Trinity partners with Dovetail Orchestra - a Bristol-based community orchestra bringing together musicians from different countries, cultures and musical backgrounds - to perform at the centre.

Founded in 2022, Dovetail was created to provide a welcoming space for people seeking sanctuary, using music to build connection, support musical learning and create a sense of belonging. The Bristol-base orchestra has welcomed people from more than 32 countries and brings together around 30 musicians each week. As part of Dovetail's weekly sessions, musicians work together to create new pieces, combining musical ideas, memories and sounds from the different cultures represented in the room.

Dovetail shows how a music can connect communities from around the world, giving people a chance to share where they come from, develop new skills, build confidence and courage. The orchestra is open to people regardless of musical experience, with professional musicians supporting the group to develop its skills and create performances that can be shared with audiences. For refugees and people seeking asylum, having a regular place to meet, make music and develop friendships can provide an important sense of stability and belonging.

Through their live performances, Dovetail brings together people with different musical traditions and experiences and platforms this work to reach a wider Bristol audience. Trinity hosts Dovetail performances, giving members the opportunity to move from weekly participation and learning into performing on stage and sharing their music with the public.

In May 2026, Dovetail's live concert at Trinity celebrated music from our local-to-global communities with audiences invited not only to listen but to join in with space for dancing as well as seating. For Trinity, this is an important part of what partnership in supporting a community-led creative process and helping to provide a pathway from participation to performance.