Prison choirs help redeem inmates

LAWRENCE, Kan., Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A doctoral student in music education at the University of Kansas says working with a prison choir has convinced her of music education's value.

Mary Cohen, a former elementary school music teacher, is coordinator for special projects for Arts in Prison, a group that sponsors the choirs at Kansas State prisons in Lansing and Osawatomie. Her job includes recruiting volunteers to sing with inmates in the choirs.

"Inmates tend to view performing in the choir as learning something about themselves -- developing musical and social skills, and expanding their musical tastes -- while volunteers who sang with the inmates reported that they have learned to view inmates as individuals," Cohen said.

The choir at Lansing -- known as the East Hill Singers -- was founded by Elvera Voth, who said the goal was "to make better neighbors" of the inmates.

The choir is scheduled to perform Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence. The program includes works by Beethoven, Verdi and Strauss as well as "Rap of Redemption: I Wish I Never Hurt You," an inmate's work combining rap lyrics with Gregorian chant.