Diversity Experience
JRCC Prison Choir
I co-directed a choir consisting of male inmates at the Jamestown Regional Correctional Center over the summer of 2016. Having never been inside a prison before, This was an exceptionally eye-opening experience for me. The choir was started by Drew Topp, an officer at the prison and a personal friend of mine, and sanctioned by Deputy Warden Connie Hackman during the month of April. I started volunteering as director for the choir in May; Drew gave me a tour of all units of the prison, including the max-security ward and the disciplinary detainment cells, before I started. Drew and I had many responsibilities as directors. There is not much music that lends itself to a mature group of grown men with little choral experience. For this reason, Drew and I had to arrange our own music to fit the choir. Drew had already arranged a few tunes before I joined; I arranged two songs that were requested by inmates. My arrangement of "Amazing Grace" can be viewed by clicking the pdf file on this page. I believe that directing the JRCC Prison Choir was beneficial to my career as a teacher. Not only were the members of the choir of different races and religions, but every inmate had a unique story of his life outside of prison. I heard stories about living in poverty, coping with divorce and child-custody, the attitudes of people from all parts of the United States, the harsh realities of prison life, and wishes for the future. To learn more about my experiences, please read my journal, lesson plans, and arrangements by clicking on the pdf files on this page. |
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