Article by Deborah Buchanan

It’s one thing to go through entrance security to a correctional facility as a single visitor. It is another to go through as a group of two string quartets and an additional cellist! There were four music stands, three cellos, four violins and two violas, all in cases with rosin and bows and mutes and sheet music—everything noted and accounted for as were the musicians themselves. This was in preparation for an afternoon concert at the Arts in Prison group at Columbia River CI on Thursday, December 5th. The well-known cellist, Hamilton Cheifetz and two student string quartets from Portland State University came to share their music with the men in the group.

The musicians and their instruments, a few OHOM volunteers, and about 30 of the men from CRCI crowded into the small chapel room. Hamilton began with a short introduction and played three solo pieces, a J. S. Bach and two by Spanish composer Gaspar Cassado. Already the air, warm and somewhat stuffy, became electric from the virtuoso playing. Then the two quartets followed. The students playing were Amy Hakanson, Amanda Smith, Isaiah Zacharia, Jonah Thomas, Lauren Grant, John Hongel, Keely McMurry, and Ben Batten. The first one played a piece by the Russian composer Borodin, and then the second quartet played a piece by the young Mendelssohn. The audience burst into applause and bravos.

Johnny Stallings, founder and former OHOM executive director, lead a discussion between the men and the musicians. He asked if anyone had any response they would like to share with the players. Many men noted how the musicians showed their involvement with the music by facial expressions and how even those not playing showed support and caring. One person remarked that the sharing of music and love in the room was a reminder of what humans can do, what we are capable of, and the expertise of the players was impressive to everyone. We found out that most of the players began playing early and were deeply committed. One woman said that she demanded to play a fiddle at the age of two and thus began—though her first “instrument” was a cereal box. Another talked about how the discipline of music has given her a way to both model and understand all aspects of her life. One of the violinist said he received his first violin when his grandfather bought himself one and that now he is playing his grandfather’s instrument.

At the end of the discussion, one of the men recited an original poem and another rapped a personal song. That lead a violinist to say, I think I have a beat for that, and up she jumped and started playing as his backup. So much enthusiasm, so much appreciation—music the medium of shared understanding. Plans are afoot for more of “non-stop love-in” at both Columbia River and Coffee Creek. Our deep thanks to Hamilton Cheifetz for being the key to all of this.