GO Sounds have worked alongside the youth who have been touched by the courts since 2004. One of the very exciting events happened in 2013 at SMYC. GO Sounds believes that each youth has a grand potential, so we asked if anyone would like to participate in forming a band. This had never happened in the history of the camp. GO Sounds was given permission to move forward, we brought up keyboards, string instruments and percussions. We needed portable up to date drum sounds and CSG provided electric drums for us. Practice after practice brought about a recognizable tune. So recognizable they felt proud to perform in front of their peers and staff on July 4th, 2013.

In 2014, a second band was developed. This time there were youth who had played wind instruments prior to going to camp. Unfortunately, wind instruments were unavailable. WE talked to the CSG board about it, and they made it happen for us by purchasing 2 trumpets, tenor, alto saxophone, and a trombone.

Band practice occurred twice a week for the youth. GO Sounds staff would go to each dorm to gather band members. Seeing their faces were priceless; it was like children on a Christmas morning waiting to rip into wrapped gifts. When the young men gathered in that small room, the evidence of them making a mistake in life was not noticeable. It was all teamwork, even though at the beginning neither knew how to really play.

Everyone knows music is a universal language and it reaches the heart and soul of us all. Thanks to CSG for their love and support for the youth. This was a memorable time for the camp. Happy 50th Birthday!!!

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” – Maya Angelou

Blessings,

Willie and Althea Jones,
GO Sounds PAA