OUr Mission

The U.S. has the largest incarcerated population in the world. Our criminal justice system has undergone increased scrutiny in recent years, and rightfully so. The main difference between jails and prisons are that detainees in jails are awaiting their trial, while inmates in prisons have already been tried and sentenced. People in jails are innocent until proven guilty, yet they remain detained until their trial, because bail is set beyond their means. The intended purpose of jails is to hold people until bail is made or to the completion of the trial. This model is expected to result in a constant turnover of the population. As a result, there is often little to no funding for programming for the detainees. The anxiety that comes from awaiting trial, often delayed due to backlogs, while having very little activity is palpable when you enter these facilities. It is a high-stress environment for anyone involved in the jails, whether they are healthcare providers, officers, counselors or detainees. This is where we come in. 

Our teaching artists bring a deep compassion for humanity that manifests through their music. Opera is a powerful art form that is inherently political, historical, cruel, kind and everything in between. We use the stories of our music, our journeys, and of the incarcerated people that we work with to break down walls. All of this is achieved through on-site singing, writing, discussion and listening. If we can help relieve some stress, facilitate healing, foster self-expression, or even just distract someone from the monotony of counting down to their trial, we are happy.

We are excited to announce our art song initiative! We are commissioning composers to set music to the texts that our students write in our classes. We are prioritizing Black and Brown composers for this project due to the fact that the majority of our incarcerated students are Black and Brown, but all are encouraged to apply. These songs will be performed inside the jails for our students, but will also be presented on the outside in intimate recitals. We are looking for composers who understand the voice. If you are interested in this project, please reach out to us via our contact page.

Your donations will also help to keep this project funded.