ROCKLAND — “Songs From the Inside,” a musical performance presented by Unlocking Harmony, will take place Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m., at the Strand Theatre. “Songs From the Inside” will feature songs created with the nonprofit organization Unlocking Harmony, which brings the documentary songwriting method into prisons and jails to transform the personal stories and lived experiences of incarcerated people into songs. 

"Created at songwriting workshops led by four teaching artists in jails and prisons in Maine, Virginia, and Ohio, the songs are a testament to the power of music and story to inspire strength, empathy, and connection," said the Strand.

“Time and time again, workshop participants enter our sessions nervous and uncertain, and leave our workshops shining and proud of what they have accomplished,” said Mimi Bornstein, founder and president of Unlocking Harmony. “When you add into this mix the promise that their songs will be heard by others, it only deepens the experience of feeling seen and heard.  We all want to feel seen and heard.”  

The performance will be interspersed with excerpts from an in-progress documentary created by Luke Fatora and Sophie Davis. These excerpts will transport audiences to songwriting sessions at the Chesterfield County Jail in Richmond, Virginia, amplifying the healing power of the songwriting process and letting audiences hear directly from several of the incarcerated people who turned their stories into song. 

“Part of the healing process for incarcerated individuals is being able to tell their story,” said Sheriff Carl Leonard, of the Chesterfield County Jail. “If you don’t tell your story and address it head on, you’re never going to be able to recover from it. Being given the opportunity to have told their stories in a loving, non-judgemental atmosphere offers them an opportunity to create something beautiful and enduring out of their tragedy.”  

The program will feature vocalists and musicians Mimi Bornstein, Hazel Delehey, Anna Rich and Khalid Taylor, alongside instrumentalists Phil Clement and Rush DeNooyer from the Midcoast. A Q&A with the teaching artists and musicians from Unlocking Harmony will follow the performance.  

About Unlocking Harmony

Mimi Bornstein, Malcolm Brooks, Hazel Delehey, and Khalid Taylor are professional documentary songwriters who lead the Unlocking Harmony program to transform the stories of incarcerated people into songs to share with the wider world. Their works can be heard in live concerts inside and outside of prisons, and also on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube under the name Choir Without Borders. More information can be found at www.unlockingharmony.org. 

Age advisory: Since these are documentary songs and reflect the spoken words and actual experiences of people in prison, parental discretion is advised.

 Tickets: $20/General Admission, $12/Students. To buy tickets, or for more information, visit www.rocklandstrand.com. Tel: (207) 594-0070. 

The Strand Theatre is located at 345 Main St., Rockland.