Letters from the Northeastern Family Institute April 2003

(Dorchester, MA) -- a lockup facility for delinquent teenage girls

These letters were sent to Sarasa following a three-week residency at the Northeastern Family Institute where Sarasa performed and collaborated with the residents on Mondays from April 7-21, 2003.

To the Sarasa Ensemble,
I really enjoyed the one week I spent with you. Im upset because the other two times you came I was unable to join for various reasons. The last week was very exciting to me. I enjoyed the different kinds of music. I liked singing for you. I hope you continue to do this because it helped me. I've started writing more and I plan on publishing some of my pieces. Don't stop doing what you do best.
Love always.
P.S. The Show Must Go On!

Dear Sarasa,
Thank you for coming to NFI. I enjoyed your music group alot. I learned that I like different kinds of music and to respect all kinds of music. It was deeply appreciated.
Thanks again.

To Whom It May Concern...
The was I felt about the group the Sarasa Ensemble, was that it was something to keep me interested in something. It also served as a motivational tool for me, because its always boring around here, well most of the time. It also let me have a couple of laughs because it seems as if this place makes me feel down. But really it was a wonderful experience.

To The Musical Group OK.
Well I think the whole band group was very special and thanks for all the fun and musical things we did and I hope we can have it more often.
P.S. Page to Sarasa and Ensemble and da Group Band.
Sorry for the short note well thank you note I thought we had only a little time but I was wrong well Im saying Im kinda well I am wondering if yall were comeing back anytime soon. Were and I including myself is trying to play the piano the electrical one with the different sound waves and stuff. Im hopeing NFI can get an group song going on and yall record it and play it live on TR or channel 2, TBS, well as far as the musical group I thought yall did an good job teaching the Girls including myself how to sing and play the piano and how one of the ladies taught my hair doer and my friend also how to play the violin and I really hope yall can come back very soon and do an lot of other stuff and stay longer with the group.

Dear Sarasa Ensemble
I thought the group was good but we should have more time to make it better cuz I thought we could have done better but other than that I had fun

To.
I liked what u guys did with us. I wasn't here for the whole Three weeks but what I was here for was Fun and I liked it

I have to say that the music waz wonderful
And I liked It
And I Hope other
People will like
I enjoy everything
And you will learn
New things

What I liked about the musical is that you guys came all out of your way just to teach us music, and I was thankful for that. I also liked the little video that we made to go with it. The part that I didn't like was that you had to leave so soon. But thank-you anyway.

Dear, Sarasa Ensemble I really do thank you for coming and opening my mine, and also my peers mind to something new. I really did enjoy it. It's good to learn new things while your living. I just wanted to say thank you, and I hope you enjoy it as much as me, and my peers did

To whom it concerns,
I appreciate the fact that you came up here on yall time and played music for us and was very patient when we were disrespectful at times the last day was very fun I enjoyed it very much we made little videos. I didn't like the first day I thought it was boreing and no point but it got better and we had fun once again I thank yall and I also thank you for teaching some of us how to play certain instruments

TO: Sarasa Ensemble
I like the idea that the Group was willing to come and work with us, teach us, cooperate with us I thought i would never participate in such a thing but i liked it very much. I liked the things they played for us. It sounded Real Good. I would like for them to come back and teach us more.

Dear Sarasa Ensemble
I is writing you guy for coming to NFI to teach each other of my Peers. When you an your crew came you guys probably that these group of girls wasn't gonna like the music group exactly we love the group alot. You group help me love music even more than what I personally thought I was. Hopefully I can move

TO: Sarasa Ensemble
I very like the band. I learned alot from you guyz. I would like if yo came more or came again. I like the dude who sings well. I like all of you guyz. Can yo try to came again please. Yo a very good band.
Hope to came again. Yo try
PLEASE
Try hard
We love the band.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this letter in support of the Sarasa Ensemble and the fine work they do bringing music to incarcerated youth. Tim Merton and his fellow musicians have opened the eyes, ears and hearts of our residents and we couldn't be more grateful. This group has over the past two years taken the time to help our residents come to understand and appreciate classical music. They have done this by allowing them to write, sing, and dance and generally feel like part of a real musical production.

As the Program Director for NFI Girls' Assessment/Treatment Unit I would ask that you strongly consider any request for funding that will allow the ensemble's work to continue. I would like nothing better than to have this group in once or twice a month to work with our girls. This is the type of programming that enhance the self-esteem of our population and truly makes them believe that they can do anything.

If you require any further information or have any questions at all about the value of this program, please feel free to give me a call.

Sincerely,
Trudie Munroe-Signor
Program Director
Northeastern Family Institute