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DRAPER — As planning for Fourth of July and Pioneer Day celebrations are underway, one choir kicked off the festivities early, performing in a place you may not expect: the Utah State Prison.
“A lot of what I was involved with, I was very selfish,” said Michael Bronson of his conviction. He’s been an inmate and Oquirrh Facility Choir member for about a year now. “It’s a great opportunity for us,” he said about the choir.
Monday’s concert performance was made up of patriotic and pioneer tunes.
The audience was made up mostly of volunteers at the prison.
“This is the seventh one that we’ve enjoyed because we’ve been volunteering at the prison a long time. It is the highlight of our Fourth of July, patriotic celebration,” said volunteer Marsha Green.
“The possibility of the hard feelings they may have towards the government and towards the justice system or whatever, here they are being patriotic,” added her husband Bruce Green, a former LDS bishop at the prison.
The concert gives purpose to those convicted of a crime.
“We sing songs that give them something to think about besides what’s going on,” said Tamie Foote, choir director for more than four years now.
And, it gives them a chance thank those who have faith in their future.
“We kind of find the chapel is an oasis for us. They help us. They give us a lot of hope,” said Bronson, of the volunteers.
Audience members said it’s also a chance to thank the inmates they say have impacted them so much.
“The biggest thing I have learned is to take nothing for granted,” said Foote.
Bruce Green asked inmates who were service members to stand up for a round of applause, after the inmates asked for veteran audience members to do the same.
The music brought people of all backgrounds together at a concert showcasing the spirit of America.