As part of the Singing with Conviction pilot project being delivered at 5 prison sites throughout the country, earlier this year a small choir concert was performed at the Faith Based Unit at Rimutaka Prison.
People arrived slowly, looking for seats that would give them the best view of the choir that was about to perform for the first time in front of a live audience. An expectant buzz filled the air and apart from the ominous high fences topped with barbed wire outside the performance venue you would never have guess that this concert was taking place inside a prison. The choir for this very special performance was a group of nine prison inmates and the audience was made up of invited guests and fellow inmates from the Faith Based Unit.
Leading the group was Brenda Shearer (musical composer, singer and tutor) and followed by a brief introduction, the choir swung into action with a version of Jesus is alright with me, followed by the old favourite Lean on me, followed by a rendition of Amazing Grace in the Blind Boys of Alabama style.
The audience responded with great enthusiasm. Two soloists also performed, both accompanying themselves on an electric piano. One sang an Italian aria and the other performed his own original composition.
Three further songs were performed by the choir followed by a supper generously provided by Prison Fellowship. The Faith Based Unit choir will be recorded by an audio technician as a record of this highly successful arts based program for inmates, facilitated by Arts Access Aotearoa.
Article reprinted with kind permission of Inside Out, the Prison Fellowship magazine.
This 60-bed Faith Based Unit opened in October 2003 in partnership with the Prison Fellowship of New Zealand.
The unit provides a transformational community environment, characterized by Christian programmes, activities and daily prayer.
Weekend “retreats” within the prison are held every six months, engaging with volunteers from local churches. Worship, support and spiritual activity involving external church groups are also features of the unit.
Normal prison regulations apply to inmates in the Faith Based Unit.