Fifty members of an Ohio orchestra recently performed a “Patriotic Pops” program for an unexpected audience: inmates at a local prison.
The performance of June 30 was actually several years in the making, Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, executive director of the Lima Symphony Orchestra, told Fox News Digital in an email.
“The Lima Symphony Orchestra began our Healing Through Music program in 2018,” she said. “The original goal was to bring the healing power of music to people struggling with addiction and mental health.”
‘SANDFISHING’ SOCIAL MEDIA TREND COULD BE ‘SYMPTOMATIC’ OF ‘CONCERNING’ ISSUES, SAYS PSYCHOLOGIST
The June 30 performance marked the first time a full orchestra was permitted to perform at an Ohio prison, and possibly the first time anywhere in the U.S., Brown-Ellis said.
Advertisement
The orchestra originally played at area hospitals and shelters. It is based in Lima, Ohio.
Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, standing at right, told Fox News Digital the orchestra’s performance at the prison was many years in the making. (Modo Media)
Shortly after the Healing Through Music program began, a chaplain at the Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution (AOCI) contacted Brown-Ellis, asking that the program come to the prison as well.
The Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution is a mixed-security prison located in Lima with about 1,400 male inmates. The prison complex is “essentially two different facilities with one campus,” she said.
OHIO REPRESENTATIVES MAKING WAVES TO NAME AN OFFICIAL STATE FISH
Advertisement
Since 2018, members of the orchestra, though not the entire orchestra, “have performed dozens of times” at the facility, Brown-Ellis said.
“We started with a string quartet, but now we have hosted cello soloists, brass ensembles for the holiday and woodwind groups,” she said. “We purchased a 40-piece drum set and regularly host drumming circles in both facilities, bringing the inmates into the creative process.”
PRISON SHIP MARTYRS MONUMENT IS AMERICA’S ‘ORIGINAL’ TOMB OF UNKNOWN WAR HEROES
Shortly after the Lima Symphony Orchestra began these visits to the prison, “we dreamed about bringing the entire orchestra to AOCI,” she said.
In Feb. 2020, plans were beginning to take shape for a “full-orchestra ‘Patriotic Pops’ performance” that July — but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed that.
Advertisement
Ambitious plan is reignited
Finally, over three years later, in Oct. 2023, the Lima Symphony Orchestra and the AOCI began to discuss a performance once again. The plan was to bring 50 musicians to perform a one-hour concert, she said.
“Our sound man used equipment the prison already had, and two of the inmates ran sound with him,” she said.
While the Lima Symphony Orchestra has been doing smaller performances at the Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution, the June 30 event was the first time a full orchestra was present at the prison. (Modo Media)
“The performance was largely a repeat of our other two ‘Patriotic Pops’ programs that weekend with some notable exceptions,” she said.
The first of these was a piece of music called “Halls of Justice,” composed by a musician named Kevin Kohler, a former inmate at AOCI.
Advertisement
Kohler was paroled in 2021 after serving an 18-year sentence.
3 GREAT AMERICAN CITIES FOR HISTORY BUFFS AND PATRIOTIC TRAVELERS THIS SUMMER
“On the third anniversary of Kevin’s parole, he was able to return to AOCI as a guest to hear the premiere of his piece,” Brown-Ellis said.
The second difference was the choral accompaniment at the end of the program, she said.
The Lima Symphony Orchestra was “joined by a 100-member men’s chorus from AOCI, who sang ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’ as our orchestral musicians played.”
Advertisement
“We want people on the outside to see us as people, too. We love music like they do. It moves us. It lifts us up.”
One of those singers, Jeff Hawkins, reflected on the experience in a statement provided by the Lima Symphony Orchestra.
“We want people on the outside to see us as people, too. We love music like they do. It moves us. It lifts us up,” he said.
Making the concert happen “was not an easy feat,” Brown-Ellis said. It required “many layers of approval” from officials at the prison and with the Ohio Department of Corrections.
A chorus of 100 men from the prison joined the Lima Symphony Orchestra for a performance of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” at the end of the “Patriotic Pops” program. (Modo Media)
Advertisement
“Each person had to have a background check and sign a media release form” and more, Brown-Ellis said.
“We also had to provide an inventory of everything that would enter the prison – every piece of music, every instrument and case, etc. All of this was pre-approved.”
Additionally, there were “numerous meetings to discuss rules and protocols” around the performance, and the Lima Symphony Orchestra had to comply with “very strict guidelines” regarding what could be filmed or recorded from the performance.
“It was a lot of work on our end, but I know the true efforts were with the Ohio Department of Corrections (ODC) to allow this historical event to happen,” Brown-Ellis said.
Advertisement
Brown-Ellis said she hopes that the Lima Symphony Orchestra will be able to return to AOCI – but that it is not up to her. “We have already begun discussing plans for next year, but the decision will be made by ODC personnel,” she said.
In the meantime, the Lima Symphony Orchestra will keep doing its smaller ensemble performances, she said.
There are hopes the orchestra will be permitted to return to the prison for another performance in the future. (Modo Media)
“People often comment [on how] fortunate the inmates are that we bring music into the prison,” Brown-Ellis said.
She said she disagrees with this — saying instead, “We are the lucky ones.”
Advertisement
“Every single musician who has performed at AOCI, whether as part of the full-orchestra performance or the ensemble groups, has told me how this experience transformed them. It is the most meaningful and important work we have ever done,” she said.
“The musicians,” Brown-Ellis continued, “are so respectful and listen so attentively,” and the inmates “invite us into their home, they share their stories and they open their hearts to us.”
The rare performance at the prison required special permission from the Ohio Department of Corrections.(Modo Media)
During performances, “I often look out to see the men close their eyes and allow the music to transport them to another place and time,” she said.
Advertisement
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
“We have brought them hope and peace, and they have given us even more.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution for additional comment about the performance and any future performances.
Christine Rousselle is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
The Detroit Fire Department said no injuries have been reported
DETROIT – Firefighters are battling a large fire at a vacant apartment complex on Detroit’s west side.
The fire was reported on Fenton Street, just off Grand River Avenue near Telegraph Road on Tuesday (July 7).
The Detroit Fire Department said no injuries have been reported.
Advertisement
Officials also said the fire appears to be under control.
The cause of the fire has not been released, and it was not immediately clear how long crews expect to remain at the scene.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
About the Author
Brandon Carr headshot
Brandon Carr
Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.
by Henry Tyson, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service July 7, 2026
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service invites community members to submit opinion pieces of 500-800 words on topics of interest to central city Milwaukee. To send a submission for consideration, please email info@milwaukeenns.org. The views expressed are solely those of the authors.
A few years ago, I had a conversation with one of our first-grade teachers that stayed with me.
We were talking about an idea she had for improving reading instruction. She wasn’t looking for recognition. She simply saw an opportunity to help students through a project that could benefit not only her own classroom, but classrooms across our school.
Advertisement
Then she told me what she was doing that summer; she was taking on a side gig at a local business. Here was a brilliant educator who had more to give, yet there was no meaningful way for her to spend part of her summer strengthening her classroom or our school.
Shortly after, I had a similar conversation with one of our second-grade teachers. She had just spent the summer developing research-based spelling resources. The following school year, a new teacher used those materials consistently, and the results were clear. One student began the year unable to spell a simple word like “cat.” By the end of the year, that student was spelling words like “train” and “stream.”
Those two moments stayed with me—one showing what’s lost when ideas stall, the other what’s possible when teachers have the time to bring them to life and share with their colleagues. It reinforced a simple truth: meaningful outcomes at St. Marcus are driven by educators who invest in their students every day.
Henry Tyson (Photo provided by Henry Tyson)
However, it also highlights the reality we are living in: the ideas don’t run out. The time does.
Creating dedicated time
During the school year, for instance, teachers are planning, grading, communicating with families, and responding to countless needs. There simply aren’t enough hours.
That’s why creating dedicated time for this work matters so much. It’s also where partnerships with organizations like the Northwestern Mutual Foundation are helping make a difference—giving educators the opportunity to bring those ideas to life through funding that provides time, resources and support to develop and strengthen their work.
Advertisement
We have exceptional educators, but until recently, many haven’t had the time or support to bring those ideas forward. That’s a gap we’re beginning to close. Since 2022, the Northwestern Mutual Summer Teacher Grants have supported nearly 200 teacher-led projects, including 11 at St. Marcus, with more than $925,000 in funding—expanding what’s possible for educators across schools like ours.
Across our school, these projects have ranged from curriculum development to hands-on STEM and student support initiatives. These efforts are shaped by school leaders and educators who identify and prioritize the needs of their students, with support from partners helping bring as many of those ideas to life as possible.
I’ve spent the past 24 years at St. Marcus, and in that time, I’ve seen our school grow from about 100 students to nearly 1,300 across three campuses—growth driven by one constant: our teachers.
Priorities
When I became superintendent in 2010, I focused on two priorities: building an exceptional school and expanding access for more students.
We serve a diverse community of students and families, and understand the educational challenges across Milwaukee, but we’ve never believed those challenges define our students. Our goal has always been clear: create a school where children thrive academically, feel safe, and grow in character while building confidence to succeed.
Advertisement
As a Lutheran school, we also believe that every child is created by God with immeasurable worth and potential, and that belief shapes how we invest in both our students and the educators who serve them. We also measure ourselves against the statewide average because we believe our students deserve the same opportunities and outcomes as any child in Wisconsin.Today, our eighth-grade math proficiency exceeds the statewide average, while our eighth-grade reading performance continues to narrow the gap with the state.
Demand has steadily grown, with families seeking schools where their children are known, supported and challenged. Each time we’ve been able to welcome more students, we have done so with purpose, knowing there are more children who deserve that opportunity.
But neither priority becomes reality without outstanding teachers. That’s why I have grown increasingly convinced that one of the most underused resources in education is not a new curriculum or initiative, but the expertise our teachers already bring to the work.
Every educator I know is constantly thinking about how to improve—whether supporting a struggling student or making lessons more engaging. Years ago, before formal programs existed to support this kind of work, we began creating those opportunities at St. Marcus. If a teacher wanted to spend the summer developing a third-grade reading intervention or creating instructional materials that could be shared across classrooms, we sought out donors to help make it possible.
The goal was never just to complete another project. It was to create a pathway for teachers to extend their impact beyond their own classroom.
Advertisement
As support from community partners expanded these efforts, more teachers gained the time and opportunity to develop curriculum, strengthen intervention strategies, and create resources to share across classrooms.
That shift mattered. Strong ideas no longer stayed within a single classroom—they could be shared across grade levels and campuses, strengthening instruction and reaching hundreds of students.
The impact extends beyond individual projects. Today, St. Marcus serves nearly 1,300 students across three campuses and earned the state’s highest 5-star accountability rating. Our students consistently outperform schools serving similar populations. Investing in teachers has become one of the most important drivers of that progress.
The precious gift of time
Partners did not provide our teachers with the ideas; they already had them. They helped create the time and financial support to bring more of those ideas to life.
Take the second-grade teacher. Her initiative and dedication represent far more than spelling. Rather, it shows what is possible when teachers have the time to research, refine, and build with intention, instead of squeezing that work into evenings and weekends. When educators are given the opportunity to go above and beyond, students benefit most.
Advertisement
I have seen something else happen, too. Teachers feel seen and valued. Many would do this regardless because they care about their students and take pride in their profession. But it matters to say, “We see your expertise. We believe your ideas matter. We want to invest in them.” It reinforces that their leadership extends beyond the four walls of their classroom.
As Milwaukee works to improve educational outcomes, we should continue conversations about funding, curriculum, and accountability. Those efforts matter. But we should also ask: Are we fully leveraging the talent already inside our schools? In my experience, the answer is no.
Milwaukee is filled with educators who have more to give. They have ideas worth sharing, solutions worth testing, and expertise that can strengthen instruction for hundreds of students, not just those in front of them each day. Often, they simply need the opportunity.
We have been fortunate to partner with families who believe in our mission, leaders who make thoughtful decisions and organizations that are committed to Milwaukee’s children. But it always comes back to the teachers.
I still think about the educator who planned to spend her summer waiting tables instead of building something that could help students learn. She is not the exception—she is the rule. Milwaukee is full of educators just like her: talented, passionate, and ready to do more. If we want better outcomes for students, we cannot keep asking teachers to do this work on the margins. We need to create the time, support and trust for them to lead, share their expertise and expand their impact.
Advertisement
Henry Tyson is the superintendent of St. Marcus Lutheran School in Milwaukee, where he has served for more than two decades. During his tenure, he has helped grow the school into a nationally recognized leader in urban education while advocating for innovative approaches that expand opportunities for students and strengthen the teaching profession.
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://milwaukeenns.org/2026/07/07/opinion-milwaukee-teachers-have-more-to-give-lets-give-them-the-chance/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://milwaukeenns.org”>Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-NNS-Favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
A 26-year-old man was sentenced this week to 2 ½ years in federal prison for robbing a Walgreens in Minneapolis, then a St. Paul bank the next day.
Korey Maurese Hale (Courtesy of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office)
Korey Maurese Hale of Minneapolis pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court of Minnesota to one count of armed bank robbery in connection with the June 2024 hold ups.
Hale used the same .22-caliber Mossberg rifle in both robberies, making off with about $200 from Walgreens at Chicago Avenue and 43rd Street and approximately $1,833 from BMO Bank at Snelling and Randolph avenues, according to his January plea agreement. St. Paul police arrested Hale near the bank shortly after the heist.
In an interview with a St. Paul police investigator, Hale said people were trying to kill him and voices in his head made him rob the bank, according to initial charges filed in Ramsey County District Court.
Advertisement
Hale was civilly committed as mentally ill and chemically dependent in September 2024. Eight months later, he was ordered to undergo a federal psychiatric and psychological examination, which found his medication treatment was effective and he was competent to stand trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Forbes wrote in a presentencing memo.
Hale’s sentencing Monday at the federal courthouse in St. Paul includes five years of supervised release following incarceration.
“Once released, if Hale continues to take his medications, continues to receive mental health treatment, and stays away from controlled substances, he will dramatically reduce his risk of recidivism,” Forbes wrote in the memo. “A five-year term of supervision will best ensure that the federal crimes in this case are Hale’s last.”
