Dream Orchestra

Here, everyone brings their best, finding their place and sharing their cultural backgrounds in a safe and friendly environment. Their voices are heard through music from around the world. Learning to play an instrument in the orchestra is an effective tool to promote inclusion and peaceful coexistence.

Many came to Sweden in the autumn of 2015, others have lived here all their lives. Many came into contact with a musical instrument for the first time through the Dream Orchestra, others have been playing before. Regardless of your background, the orchestra means the same thing to everyone: an opportunity to discover the power of music.

At Dream Orchestra, children and young people, with their families and friends from more than 24 countries, share the music stand, rehearsals, stage and healthy leisure time spending: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bolivia, Bosnia, Colombia, Chile, China, Eritrea, France, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Palestine, Dominican Republic, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela and Vietnam. Today it consists of 405 children and young people.

Fostering respect and appreciation for the differences among us, whether that be age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity or religion, this musical community has transformed their lives and has given them new perspectives for a future in which, in some cases, the sound of bombs is drowned out by the notes of a violin.

Since 2016 Dream Orchestra has become a safe space in Sweden for those who crossed borders, seas, rivers, mountains and deserts for a better life. Most of our founding students have been able to integrate into Swedish society with jobs and started having their own families. Others, who have been deported from Sweden, stay in contact with Dream Orchestra and have become our friends. Almost every week new students arrive at our three locations. We offer free orchestra activities, instruments that can be borrowed and the opportunity to make friends who become family.