Walker State Faith & Character Based Prison
Interactive Concerts
Arts Capacity has been deeply intertwined with the transformative journey of Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison in Rock Spring, Georgia since 2016. From our very first concert, we discovered the profound impact of live music on the lives of the residents. Guided by their feedback, we meticulously crafted each subsequent concert, always seeking to deepen the connection between art and emotion.
Through the years, our collaborations have explored the full spectrum of human emotion in music, fostered connections between residents and their families, and revealed the lasting calm a concert can bring—sometimes for up to two weeks. We’ve seen residents paint and sculpt art inspired by the music they’ve heard, and in turn, we’ve used that art to inspire composers to create new works.
Our journey has led to the creation of an original opera and the development of a string orchestra program. Today, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, presenting top-tier musician performances and relentlessly gathering data to refine our approach and explore what’s next.
Beyond the walls of the prison, we’ve received positive communication from individuals who have been released, sharing how much the live music mattered to them during their time inside. Their stories affirm the deep and lasting impact of our work. Additionally, guests who attend these performances often leave with newfound empathy and a deeper understanding of the community, enriching the experience for everyone involved.
With every concert, we continue to honor the voices and creativity of the residents, ensuring that their insights shape the future of this transformative program.
String Classes
At Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison, our journey began with a simple yet profound comment on one of our concert surveys: “I’d like to learn violin.” This sparked an incredible transformation.
A Seed of Inspiration:
From that single comment, the idea of a string class took root. An initial donation of two violins laid the foundation, and thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, six more violins followed. Today, the program proudly boasts a total of ten violins and a cello.
Leadership and Learning:
The class is led by violinist Mary Margaret Neel, who specializes in a variety of teaching methods tailored to the diverse learning capabilities of the residents. Her inclusive approach ensures that each resident can thrive, regardless of their prior musical experience.
Performances and Special Events:
On occasion, the string class has the unique opportunity to perform side by side with professional musicians during concerts. Additionally, they play at special prison events, such as Veterans Day and Christmas celebrations, showcasing their progress and bringing joy to the community.
Building a Community:
With a long waiting list to join the class, Mary Margaret has cultivated a culture of teamwork and curiosity. Experienced residents teach newcomers, ensuring the class continues to grow and evolve. Most beginners progress through Suzuki Book 1 in an average of two months, after which they help guide new members in future semesters.
A Culture of Empathy and Growth:
The program not only enhances musical skills like intonation and ensemble playing but also fosters a sense of empathy and support among participants. The teamwork required to learn and teach string instruments creates bonds that extend beyond the music itself.
A Vision for the Future:
After the initial string class existed for two years with just violins, we are now adding a cello and viola to work towards creating a full string orchestra class. Inspired by the success of the program, Arts Capacity is committed to expanding the program to include these instruments, fulfilling the residents’ dream of a comprehensive string ensemble.
Expanding Horizons:
Offshoots of the class include a resident-led Music Theory class, and soon a conducting class, further enriching the educational opportunities available.
At Arts Capacity, we believe one of the strongest tools a person can have upon release is a sense and understanding of teamwork. Learning and playing music with a group is one of the best ways to achieve this, preparing residents for successful reintegration into society.
Arts Capacity Instructor
Cardboard Opera: “Waters Rising”
“Waters Rising” was a mini-opera produced in collaboration with Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison in Northwest Georgia and Chattanooga’s Hunter Museum of American Art. The performance at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre on January 10th, 2023 marked the opera’s first public showing, following its private world premiere inside the prison on January 9th, 2023.
Co-written with the men serving sentences at Walker, “Waters Rising” was brought to life by composer Tim Hinck and librettist Kendra Preston Leonard. Musical ideas were generated during an improv session with the Walker men and later crafted into melodies and songs by Hinck and Leonard. The story, based on ideas and feedback from the prisoners, depicted a journey of transformation from darkness to light.
“Waters Rising” featured the talents of professional musicians and vocalists from Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, and Colorado, including award-winning vocalists Del’Shawn Taylor from Denver and Chattanooga local Darrin James Hassevoort. These artists performed at both the Walker State Prison world premiere and the public performance.
Kris Bespalec, Manager of School and Community Programs at the Hunter Museum of American Art, collaborated with the men at Walker to design and build the set for the mini-opera, which was also referred to as a “cardboard opera.” This medium was intentionally chosen to symbolize the feelings of many inmates across the country, who often feel discarded and forgotten by society. Yet, what they created with cardboard was extraordinary. The transformation of ordinary materials into works of art mirrored their personal journeys from men without hope or purpose to men of vision.
The 2023 Cardboard Opera Team
- Tim Hinck, Composer
- Kendra Preston Leonard, Librettist
- Darrin James Hassevoort, Tenor
- Del’Shawn Taylor, Baritone
- Kelly Stultz, Music Director
- Kris Bespalec, Artist
Photo Gallery
For more information about this performance, please refer to the press release from Musical America.
Composer Collaborations
Arts Capacity programs showcase works by living American composers, offering contemporary musical experiences that inspire creativity. Arts Capacity is honored to have collaborated with the following living artists at Walker State Faith & Character Based Prison since 2016.
- Mary J. Blige
- Kenji Bunch
- Evan Chambers
- George S. Clinton
- Rob Deemer
- Stacy Garrop
- Peter Golub
- Anne Guzzo
- Jennifer Higdon
- Tim Hinck
- Kendra Preston Leonard
- Wang Jie
- John Kenny
- Quinn Mason
- Jonathan McNair
- Marc Mellits
- Lauren Spavelko
- James M. Stephenson
- Scott Stewart
- Del’Shawn Taylor
- Jack Wilds
- Shawna Wolf
- Mischa Zupko
Testimonials
This time I was overwhelmingly awed by the intensity, both physical and emotional, of the performance. The energy of these artists and the range they displayed was amazing from intense depth of passion to the energy of other sections of their performance. The intensity of the responses, esp the standing ovations, said it all. The audience was totally engaged and I have no doubt that some of them were amazed themselves at how deeply they were involved in the recital. After talking to Holly, and listening to her explain how that final piece all came together, I came to realize the magnitude of the degree of artistry in that room that night. It was clear that each, in her own right, was incredibly talented. But to see all that talent come together in that manner under those circumstance was mind=blowing. Words cannot describe how that conversation elevated my appreciation for being allowed to witness something so spectacular. Not only was being invited an honor but realizing the men, themselves, who we had met at our last meeting remembered and engaged with us in a truly personal manner. That was a totally and very welcoming surprise. I, for one, wish I lived closer so that I could join the volunteers to continue some of those conversations. Thank you, Arts Capacity, for allowing us to share this wonderful experience. The residents are not the only ones who experience a change in these moments.
“The whole experience gives myself and others a sense of self-worth.”
“It was a blessing to get my mind out of prison for a few hours. I really enjoyed the music, and the fact that y’all cared enough to come perform is amazing!”
“A chance to experience the outside world in a place where culture lacks. I thank all involved for the opportunity to be a part of this, your dime and time away from your families for us. Thank you.”
“The violin recital gives me peace, it helps me cope with everyday life.”
“I particularly enjoyed hearing from the composers. We rarely get an opportunity to know the music from the composer’s perspective”
“I was nervous and excited about the opportunity to observe the violin and piano recital at Walters State Prison on June 23, 2017. I’ve heard great things about the work Holly and her colleagues are doing in this faith and character based prison, so I was eager to see it for myself. What I saw that day far exceed my expectations. Was I impressed with the work my colleagues and friends were doing at the prison? Yes, more than I can say, but that is not what impacted me the most. The way the inmates and prison staff listened and responded to the music being performed was completely unexpected. I heard an inmate express how the music reminded him of a conversation he recently had with his estranged daughter. He commented, “the silence in the music was just like the silence that took place during a face-to-face conversation with her.” He related the fact that just as the silence in the music had a purpose, so the silence in their conversation had a purpose. Another man reflected on how one piece felt like his personal journey of finding purpose and meaning in life. As I listened to these beautiful reflections, I realized something. I went to be part of a group that brought beautiful music to broken people, but instead, I was the recipient that day. The inmates reminded me that we are all broken people and that music can help heal our fractured spirits if we learn to truly listen.”
“As a classical musician, I tend to listen to music as a synthesis of forms, harmonies, textures, and styles. I frequently find myself focusing on the details in music, rather than stepping back and losing myself in a work. I have long held this to be a strength, a mark of “musical aptitude,” but our visit to Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison made me realize that I have a handicap. The music performed during our visit truly spoke to the men at Walker: when asked about their impressions after each piece, they spoke of complex emotions, of memories, and of vivid imagery evoked by the music. I was dumbfounded hearing the beautiful and articulate responses to works like Wang Jie’s “The Yearning”; I can’t remember the last time that music “spoke” to me. The men at Walker made me re-evaluate my relationship with music. On the ride back from the performance, I searched Mischa Zupko’s “Rising” on Spotify and let it play on repeat. I thought of my first experience with the composition—Holly and Mischa’s performance just a few hours before—and laughed to myself for my initial thoughts of harmony and form. It took the men at Walker to make me hear “someone running through a long hallway of doors, searching for someone they had lost; opening each door and seeing them from a distance, from across a field, each time getting farther and farther.”
“I had learned from the coordinator of this special program, Alan Bonderurd, that these men had gone through a thorough application procedure before being transferred to this particular prison. However, I also knew that this was no country-club, low-security facility. And, this was quickly borne out during the process of entering the prison, past barbed wire fences and through sequentially accessed security chambers. There were men who were convicted for serious, sometimes violent offenses. I had, of course, expected that the prisoners would be respectful and attentive to the performer and the music. But, I was frankly unprepared for the degree of focus, concentration and response – both emotional and intellectual – to these recently composed, truly wonderful, but sometimes challenging musical compositions. Upon entering the large open hall with about 150 folding chairs lined up, Holly asked me if I would be willing to turn pages for composer/pianist Mischa Zupko during two of the pieces they performed on the program, I was happy to assist in any way that may be helpful. But, what I could not know until I was actually on the platform/make-shift stage, was the unique perspective being a page-turner would give me to observe the facial expressions and body language of the seated prisoners as the music was being performed. There was little or no observable body movements from the prisoners while the music was being performed. Were they just behaving as they thought they were expected to, or was it something deeper, much more sincere than that? As the performance progressed, and as the prisoners offered verbal comments about the music following each piece, it became apparent that many of these prisoners were profoundly and genuinely affected by the music and that it was somehow filling a need in their lives. I could only hope that they would take that experience and use it to help them improve their lives in the future.”
“To some, prisoners are animals behind locked bars. To me, they are fellow humans having locked their hearts behind a rib cage and lost the key. The guard wears pieces of metal keys. They unlock the bars of prison cells. I make keys too. They are invisible keys I call music. I remember the labor that went into every piece. I know the love and hope each key required of me. Thanks to the beautiful playing of Holly, my music went on a mission, unlocking the rib cage of men behind bars. And for a moment, love and hope set them free! Sharing freedom with men who have lost it has given me much to contemplate. Having heard some of their reflections, I am more certain than ever that I am only at the gate of something important. I need to get back to work and make many, many more keys.”
- April 4, 2016
- November 19, 2016
- April 23, 2017
- September 23, 2017
- March 25, 2018
- October 20, 2018
- February 10, 2019
- May 5, 2019
- August 18, 2019
- November 16, 2021
- April 25, 2022
- January 9, 2023
- June 12, 2023