The London Medical Orchestra raised £2,000 for the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants when it played in Tufnell Park on Sunday.

As part of Refugee Week, the orchestra brought its 50-strong ensemble to St Mary Brookfield Church to play a variety of symphonies.

“It went really well, the music was well received and we had around 150 people attending,” said Yasmin Mukhita, marketing operations manager for the orchestra.

The orchestra was founded in the 1950s by refugee and migrant doctors, and has been growing ever since.

Sunday’s concert was part of a drive by the Islington Centre to raise £40,000 by August, so that the centre can open three days a week instead of two days.

“Islington Centre is a small charity very close to my heart,” said actress Juliet Stevenson, patron of the charity.

“It provides food, finds emergency accommodation, offers English classes and many more activities for refugees and asylum seekers. They say money can’t buy happiness – but in this instance, it can buy the nearest thing to it that these refugees can hope for.”

After the concert raised £2,000 for the centre, Ms Mukhita said she was impressed by the sense of community from those present.

“It really stood out for me how music can bring people together in these tumultuous times,” she said.

“We usually raise money for medical charities, but given the orchestra’s roots this was an easy decision. It felt like a really nice meeting of values.”

For more information about the centre’s fundraising, visit islingtoncentre.co.uk

The orchestra welcomes new members. Anyone interested should email info@lmo.org.uk