The Oakdale choir experience made me a changed man

Kenneth Bailey • Community Music • December 5, 2010

When I considered writing this article, I was unsure what to
write. Should I write about how the Oakdale Community Choir has
brought about a change in me, a convicted felon? I easily could
write a summary of the great opportunities I’ve had while with the
choir, but would you believe me if I did? Is it even right for an
incarcerated man to boast or show happiness? I’d like to think as a
human I’m allowed a little happiness and a smile.

Dr. Mary Cohen, assistant professor of music at the University
of Iowa, and I have collaborated on three songs during my chorale
experience with her as my director: “Crossroads,” “May the Stars
Remember Your Name” and “Whispers from the Dawn” (which is being
performed by the choir at our winter concert). From the small
gymnasium at Oakdale where “May the Stars Remember Your Name” first
debuted, it has made its way to China, where Cohen played a small
excerpt before an audience at an international music conference.
Through Meade Palidofsky, the song has journeyed to the Illinois
Youth Center-Warrenville, and from there into the hands of Ricardo
Muti and Yo-Yo Ma. The path from a prison into the hands of two
world-renowned musicians truly is a blessing.

The amount of creativity we are asked to explore is one of the
greatest concepts of this choir. Original songs have blossomed with
the compassion and musical knowledge of Cohen. She not only has
allowed our voices to blend but our experiences as well. We are
able to learn of life through one another’s words. I only have
spoken of songs I helped create, but I will say in my opinion,
fellow choir members have composed far greater works than I. To
those authors I say thank you.

Simply put, the Oakdale Community Choir has changed me inside
and out. I’ve developed a sense of community and society that I’m
sad to say I lacked before prison. It’s caused a return to values I
was taught as a child. Values, which I feel are unavailable for
partition to be bought and sold on the chopping block. I’ve opened
my eyes to the scenes around me, and I have witnessed true
generosity in the faces of those volunteers that choose to come
inside these fences and sing with us. It’s with their encouragement
that I continue to better myself, a process I seek to never
end.