Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Overview
Location: Ossining, NY
Facility: maximum security facility for men
Since: 2014
Participants: 30
Time: 4.5 hours, biweekly, 9 months
Instructors: 2-5 per session
Partnership: Carnegie Hall Musical Connections
Teaching Artist Elliot Cole helps participant Anderson read guitar tablature. Photo by Shawn Jaeger.
Music Theory
Songwriting
Composition
Improvisation
Orchestration
Voice
Piano
Percussion
Violin
Topics & Instruments
Viola
Cello
Electric Bass
Guitar
Trumpet
Clarinet
Saxophone
Flute
Elliot Cole
Sing Sing Program Director
Guest Artist Residencies
Program
Inside the walls of Sing Sing Correctional Facility, instruments become tools of transformation, and music becomes a pathway to new possibilities.
Every other weekend from September through June, Musicambia creates a vibrant musical community among 30 incarcerated men at Sing Sing. Our world-class Teaching Artists don't just teach music—they ignite passion, build skills, and foster connections through a comprehensive curriculum spanning instrumental and vocal performance, music theory, composition, and collaborative ensemble work.
The journey looks different for each participant. Some have developed their talents through years in our program, others are reconnecting with instruments they once played in childhood, and many are discovering the joy of making music for the very first time. What unites them is a shared commitment to growth—not just as musicians, but as mentors and leaders. Our experienced students guide newcomers, building a culture of mutual support that strengthens both musical outcomes and essential life skills.
The highlight of our program year comes during our student concerts, where participants showcase their original compositions before audiences of up to 150 people—fellow residents, corrections officers, and facility administrators alike. These performances represent more than musical accomplishment; they're powerful moments of dignity, creativity, and shared humanity.
What sets Musicambia apart is our unwavering consistency. Despite the logistical challenges and costs of regular visits, our Teaching Artists return week after week, building the trust that makes transformation possible. This steadfast commitment sends a powerful message that resonates deeply with participants: you matter, your growth matters, and we believe in your potential.
Through Musicambia, music becomes more than notes on a page—it becomes a vehicle for developing discipline, teamwork, creative expression, and a renewed sense of purpose that extends far beyond the practice room.
Concerts
Twice a year, the Chapel at Sing Sing Correctional Facility transforms into a concert hall where originality, vulnerability, and artistic courage take center stage.
November 2024 marked the most recent milestone, as participants unveiled eight powerful original compositions to an attentive audience of fellow residents, staff, and administrators.
The concert revealed the profound emotional journeys unfolding through Musicambia's program. Paul quieted the room with his soul-stirring anthem "Unity," his voice rising with conviction as he delivered the poignant refrain: "One day our love will reach over the wall." The lyric hung in the air—both a personal plea and universal hope that resonated deeply with everyone present.
Joe's instrumental trio, The Price of Freedom, took listeners on an evocative musical narrative exploring the harrowing experiences of migrants. Without words, his composition spoke volumes about displacement, courage, and the universal human yearning for safety and belonging.
And Johnny honored a departed friend through "Relief in My Sorrow," transforming personal grief into a musical offering that provided catharsis not only for himself but for many in the audience who have experienced similar loss.
These original works represent far more than musical accomplishment—they are testimonies to the transformative power of creative expression in even the most challenging environments. Each composition offers a window into the composers' inner worlds while creating bridges of understanding and empathy that truly transcend walls.
Musicambia’s programs at Sing Sing are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Last updated: 5-13-25