“As a composer, what struck me most the first time I participated in an Arts Capacity program was the equally profound experience that was had by both the prisoners and the performers. While it should come as no surprise that humanity is shared equally between all individuals, the opportunity to communicate on equal terms is not something I always expect when confronting my audience, and I certainly didn’t expect it when visiting a prison. Music itself certainly allows for communication with fewer barriers, but Arts Capacity is creating space for musicians and inmates to bring their diverse experiences together and create something new that is greater than any of them could have achieved alone. Sometimes new ideas and perspectives are the results of Arts Capacity’s sessions; sometimes, entirely new pieces of music are formed. What I can tell you, as a composer, is that my creative process is different now because of interacting with the inmates, and that is why I’m so excited to serve on the board of Arts Capacity.”