East Hill Singers – Inmates and Community Singing Together

The East Hill Singers is a unique, internationally know prison chorus located at Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, KS.  Founded in 1995, the chorus has grown in size and prominence to include up to 50 inmate singers.  The unique aspect of the chorus is the addition of volunteer singers from the surrounding community who are also chorus members.  Normally, the chorus is comprised of about 50% inmates and 50% volunteers.

Typically, the chorus comes outside the prison walls to present four public performances per year.  Performances are held in various locations in the state of Kansas, most often churches.  The chorus members gain important skills in collaboration, respect of others’ abilities and efforts, accepting responsibility to the group and honoring commitments to the group’s goal.  The volunteer singers serve as informal role models and mentors.  The appreciation of the audience for a job well done is an experience most of the singers have never had.  It makes a life-long memory of successful effort – working toward a goal of creating excellence and beauty and of being honored for that.

The experience of singing in the chorus has an impact for individual inmates far beyond gaining the ability to match pitches and follow a conductor.  When asked what the East Hill Singers meant to him, one inmate replied, “Hope.  Hope that I can do something good when I get out.  Hope that I can be accepted back into society.”

Leigh Lynch, Executive Director, joins host Teresa Wilke in the KKFI studio.  The East Hill Singers were taped by KKFI at a Conceived in Liberty concert and portions of the concert will be aired.

Arts in Prison

Webpage – http://www.artsinprison.org/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Arts-in-Prison-Inc-131439540370162/

The JoJR Calendar for the week of January 14th

Corey’s Network invites survivors of murder to their weekly workshops to learn how to deal with grief, the media, investigation, court, and moving forward after a homicide has occurred. The next workshop, How Do I Move Forward, will be held Monday, January 14th, 6 to 8 PM at the Church of the Four Corners, 14300 E. US HWY 40, KCMO. The church is located East of the HyVee at 40 Hwy and Noland Rd. For more information and listing of future workshops call 816.834.9161 or email [email protected]
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The KC chapter of Mothers in Charge, Healing Support Group will be meeting Thursday, January 17th from 5-7 PM at the Robert J Mohart Multipurpose Center, Suite 124 W, 3200 Wayne Ave, KCMO. This group is for people who have lost loved ones to murder and violence. The first hour will be sharing of experiences and in the second hour therapists and others who can who can help navigate the emotional and legal terrain will be available. For more information you can find them on the web at kcmothersincharge.org or call them at 816-912-2601.


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