Different Stories, One Sound by Arun Ranchod

On April 18th, I was fortunate enough to attend the Music for the Soul concert at the Northeast Reintegration Center. On this slightly rainy Saturday afternoon, 15 women, inmates at NERC, waited nervously and expectantly to play seven carefully chosen pieces for violin, viola and cello for friends, family and fellow inmates. Their teachers, the professional musicians who comprise Renovare, were equally excited.

I have been blessed to work with a subset of these women weekly as a tutor for music theory and guitar. As a retired business executive and an amateur musician, I’ve been attracted to Renovare’s mission. I’ve enjoyed my time with these women. I’m quite sure that I get far more than I give.

After clearing security at the NERC main gate, our group of friends and family were escorted to the commons area for the concert. The ensemble opened with the challenging and fast-paced “Viking”, before playing works by Suzuki, Mozart, Bach, Newbold and a Welsh folk song. The group closed with the “Ode to Joy” theme from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. With an air of calm reverence, the players launched into the classic theme. You could see the sense of awe grow in the audience as the piece developed. Imagine - - a piece of music written over 200 years ago still affecting people today! After the last note was played, followed by the slightest moment of silence, an explosion of applause confirmed that the women had delivered something remarkable.

My hope is that everyone gets to experience what I did at the Music for the Soul concert. Fifteen women, each with different life experiences, different musical backgrounds, different stories, joining their diverse talents to create one sound. I saw a group of women discovering that using their hands, hearts, souls and determination, they had the power to create something beautiful to share with others. It was a much-needed reminder that music transcends words and reaffirms our common humanity.

Music For The Soul spring 2026 concert