Stories of Impact
“A chance encounter with Holly after one of her concerts in Chattanooga opened so many doors for us. Being invited to attend a performance at Walker State Prison through Arts Capacity has been rewarding and informative. Not only has Arts Capacity opened doors to inmates but has taught us the overwhelming power that music has on listeners. It was a joy to listen to the inmates comments after the performance and realize the depth to which they were moved by being given the opportunity to attend and discuss a classical venue. It was an attitude changer for both inmates and guests and their comments were deeply insightful on a level that many of them probably had never dealt with before but will surely remember forever.”
“The South Carolina Philharmonic is excited to partner with Arts Capacity to bring this outreach program to the Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution.We believe live music performances in prison leverage the power of music to provide various benefits to inmates and the broader community.”
“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!”
“This was new to me. I’ve never payed attention to this type of instrument and honestly it was very interesting and seemed to clear my mind and set a chill, positive, vibe somewhat relaxing. I really did enjoy it.”
“Performance made me feel relaxed and made me have a feeling of nostalgia. Made me think about family childhood. And made me feel somthing [sic] in the soul.”
“Grin, It brought a sense of peace and calm. It took me outside the gates of my own mine. It felt trusting. In memory, It gave me the sense of a gentale [sic] touch, on ease to open up and be at peace with loss. Lockdown, gave the strongest feeling of spirit, a silent expression, a connection to self.”
“I Enjoyed the music very much, it helped me open up to ASK QUESTIONS. Although I didn’t ask or comment on how the music made me feel, Live and in person the violin sounded amazing and was so curious how the violinist brought my curiousity [sic] out on how it made me feel if it makes any sense.”
“I believe music is a connector to other around the world. A mother’s cry gave me feelings of a worried mother, a mother who loved yet lost their child. It was a moving piece.”
“I greatly appreciated the moments in the music where there was tension between the instruments because you could see the beauty in those moments. You could almost see the chaos in the darkness and the clarity that comes in the light. It was a nice reminder that something may seem foreign or new at first but that it can bring about growth. Thank you!”
“This was such a wonderful experience. For the first time in the six years in this prison I saw a collection of guys across many demographics intently and attentively participating in an experience unlike most had probably ever encountered. The journey with the musicians in dialogue and explanations helped me “lean in” to the music more because I wanted to hear meaning and intent while also let down my own guard enough to allow feeling and emotion. In prison, vulnerability can be perceived as weakness. Today, that was not the case. Thank you so much!”
“A harmonious sound can relieve the stresses of knowing even though there is no sign of escape, there’s still a chance at forgiveness.”
“Music is a good way to release anger.”
“I was struggling mentally and emotional for the last couple of weeks but this opportunity to hear classical music helped me a lot to carry on and make it through another day. Thank you all and have safe and blessed day.”
“Thank you for letting us know we still matter + are still part of the normal world + capable of enjoying something from the world outside of here!”
“I would like to experience more of these types of events. I have come to appreciate classical music more. I actually like it. Never really listened to it much.”
“I’m glad to have been apart of all this music, it took me back to my childhood watching and listening to classical with my Uncle Butch.”
“Mere words cannot express the magnitude of this impactful performance and the realm of possibilities. This is a definite step in the right direction for all of us. Inside and out irrespective of the uniforms we wear. Collaboration. Thank you. Sincerely. “
“This was something new to me, but it was a beautiful experience that gave me the ability to search a part of my mind that I wasn’t use to. It really opened me up and gave me goose bumps. Thank you for the experience.”
“The symphony pieces had a calming affect on me. They made me feel peaceful.”
“Music is really healthy in this place, please keep coming back, thanks for your time”
“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.”
“It was the most rewarding experience I’ve had as a musician (I can say that unequivocally). I absolutely loved this trip; playing for the inmates really warmed my heart not to mention meeting you and learning about your family and what you’ve been through as a person. The mission of Arts Capacity is so innovative, unique, and impactful. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Holly and Tim and interact with them musically and personally.It is my hope that this form of outreach continues. Thank you for all of your support and planning for this. My colleagues and friends are in for an earful of the experience I had doing this.”