ROC City Concerts brought performances to correctional facilities, recovery houses, and more this spring.
Spring 2024 marked the beginning of a new concert series to connect the Eastman School of Music, located near downtown Rochester, to the surrounding community. ROC City Concerts, funded by the John and Mary Celentano Chamber Music Fund, brought performances of live chamber music to underserved populations throughout the city. Elinor Freer, an associate professor of piano and chamber music at Eastman, part of the University of Rochester, coordinated the inaugural season.
“ROC City Concerts celebrates the power of live music to transcend racial, economic, ethnic, and societal barriers,” says Freer. “All people, regardless of their current life circumstances or the choices they have made, deserve the chance to feel human, and experiencing live music is one of the best ways to feel alive. We at ROC City Concerts look forward to bringing our music out into the community and to connecting with many different types of listeners.”
A special ensemble comprising Eastman students and faculty, plus members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, presented five concerts in April. A highlight was a performance at the Monroe County Jail. That event marked the first time Eastman musicians have held a concert in a correctional facility as well as the first time that music has ever been performed for members of Monroe County’s incarcerated population solely for the purpose of enjoyment.
ROC City Concerts also performed for unhoused veterans living at Richard’s House (part of the Veterans Outreach Center); residents and clients at East House (for substance abuse recovery); high school students at Villa of Hope School; and for those who benefit from Spiritus Christi Church’s Prison Outreach, Mental Health Center, and Grace of God Recovery House.
East House President and Chief Executive Officer Lindsay Gozzi-Theobald says, “Music is not just a melody; it’s a symphony of healing, capable of harmonizing emotions, fostering connection, and inspiring growth.” Gozzi-Theobald notes that East House is integrating “the transformative power of music” into its behavioral health programs and residential settings.
“Music connects us all through a shared experience where there are no barriers.”
At the time of the event, Gozzi-Theobald shared that it would “orchestrate a path towards holistic well-being, where every note resonates with purpose and every individual can find their unique rhythm of recovery. East House serves 1,250 people who are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders every year, many of whom live at or below the poverty level and do not have easy access to the arts. Together, we are making our community a healthier, more accessible place to live.”
ROC City Concerts is aligned with the University of Rochester’s Live the Six initiative, led by its Office of Equity and Inclusion to combat all forms of hatred and racism. Community engagement is a major component of “Live the Six” and the cornerstone of the concert series.
