Inmate Orchestra Alaska

The first lesson was how to open a violin case. That was in 2003, when eight inmates of the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, a women's prison in Alaska, had their first musical training, with the goal of starting a string orchestra. Most of them did not read music and had never held a music instrument in their hands. But soon, weekly rehearsals began, and the newly-minded musicians were encouraged to practice their instrument every day. By now, the orchestra has grown in size and in quality. So far, the orchestra in Alaska is the only prison orchestra in the United States. Georg Hirsch visited the Hiland Mountain Women's String Orchestra to watch them rehearse and see them in concert.

Listen (in German)

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