This October 24, Dream Orchestra celebrates its 8th anniversary. Since that first rehearsal, with only 13 students in 2016, more than 6,500 rehearsals and sectionals and 84 concerts have been held. These numbers represent the constant work of the DO teachers and volunteers, with more than 405 children and young people, their families, friends, who have become part of this musical community.
Dream Orchestra has been committed from day one to being more than just a place to make music. DO is a safe space for everyone. Here everyone is welcome, to make friends, and share musical challenges at the three venues: Gothenburg, Lövgärdet and Alingsås. Furthermore, 68 workshops took place and 298 fikas have been held in these 8 years. Dream Orchestra teachers also participated in 96 conferences to talk about the learning methodology used in the orchestra.
In these 8 years, two books have been published, which are available for free in digital format on the website: Dream Orchestra, a learning model, and Storytelling in the Orchestra. In addition, we have a safeguarding policy, Safe in the orchestra, which was written in cooperation with “Save the children” in Sweden.
During the pandemic, Dream Orchestra accompanied its students and teachers with more than 1,066 online classes. In 2021, the Young Leaders program was recognized with the Ockenden International Prize 2021 for being “a unique leadership project (…) that empowers and promotes resilience among the young refugees, by learning a musical instrument.” In the same year, it was also recognized by the Frihetstonen Prize 2021 because this “orchestra project has shown the importance of defending the vulnerable and has shown how music can give hope and strength to new voices.”
For more information, please write to info@dreamorchestra.se. You can also follow the orchestra via @dreamorchestra.se on Instagram and Facebook; Dream Orchestra Association on LinkedIn; and Dream Orchestra Sweden on Youtube.
