Programs

  • A man in a red shirt and green pants plays violin in a school classroom with open windows behind.

    Sing Sing Correctional Facility

    Ossining, New York

  • A man in a green shirt plays a drum set in front of a storage cage.

    The Jeptha Program at Sing Sing

    Ossining, New York

  • A woman in a red shirt playing a guitar in front of green chalkboard, while woman in purple shirt sits behind and listens.

    Bedford Hills Correctional Facility

    Bedford Hills, New York

  • Two vocalists stand on stage in front of a pianist, violinist, and seated bassoon player.

    Alumni Program

    National

  • A man in a white shirt sings into a held vocal mic with a man playing bass behind him and further back, a woman in a red sweater playing guitar and a young man in a black shirt playing violin.

    Lansing Correctional Facility

    Lansing, Kansas

  • A group of people sit in a circle, many wearing prison uniform of blue pants and shirts, some holding instruments, including a guitar, trumpet, violin, and cello.

    San Quentin Rehabilitation Center

    San Quentin, California

  • A seated man with guitar and another with loose leaf papers converse across a table with a teacher holding a viola.

    Allendale Correctional Institution

    Fairfax, South Carolina

Past Programs

  • A close up of sheet music.

    Columbia Girls Secure Center

    Claverack, New York

  • A close up of a cello with writing on it.

    Brooklyn Detention Center

    Brooklyn, New York

  • A group of people stand in a room with their arms raised up.

    Rikers Island

    New York, New York

  • A close up of two people in light yellow shirts and green pants holding cellos.

    Pitchess Detention Center

    Castaic, California

  • A close up of a person in a yellow shirt and green pants playing cello and a person with tattoos on their arms playing violin.

    Putnamville Correctional Facility

    Greencastle, Indiana

FAQ

  • No, all Musicambia programs are offered completely free of charge to participants.

  • Yes, we provide each participant with a musical instrument of their choice for their personal use during their time in our programs in New York State. Participants are able to keep these instruments with them outside of our workshop sessions, enabling them to practice in their cells or other spaces within the facility.

    In addition, there are shared instruments and equipment—drum sets, amplifiers, etc.—available for particpants’ use during workshop sessions.

    For Musicambia’s programs in Kansas and California, shared instruments and equipment are available.

  • No! We work with students who have a range of musical experience and ability—from total beginners who have never played an instrument before, to students who are re-learning musical skills they first developed as young people, to students who have substantial musical experience. We foster a “community of practice” where more experienced students mentor and guide less-experienced ones.

  • Musicambia participants have written music in almost every conceivable genre—pop ballads, punk, rap, rock, metal, country, gospel, sacred hymns, jazz, funk, and beyond. Musicambia participants also write classical music for instruments, including string quartets, woodwind quintets, full orchestral scores, and even operas.

Musicambia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status in admission or access to, or employment in, its programs and activities.