Bringing hope and healing through music.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Cleveland, Ohio, Renovare Music is a dynamic chamber ensemble that bridges divided communities and creates restorative experiences through music, storytelling, and relationships.
Program Areas
Renovare currently pursues its vision of bringing hope and healing through music in three ways:
Renovare has performed and led worship 250 times since its inception in 2018. While some of these performances have happened as far away as California and Austria, Renovare maintains a focus on their local Northeast Ohio community. Renovare has a heart for people in marginalized spaces (ex. prisons, homeless shelters, hospitals, disinvested neighborhoods), which is where 75% of their performances occur. The remainder of their performances occur in venues ranging from the Maltz Performing Arts Center to community gardens, with an emphasis on connecting communities that are siloed from one another. The same high quality performances are offered in every setting, creating shared experiences for people from all walks of life. Renovare’s fresh, creative performances span multiple artistic genres and invite audiences everywhere into meaningful connection through interactive musical experiences.
Renovare’s trained Teaching Artists use Documentary Songwriting to support and empower individuals whose voices often go unheard. This highly collaborative approach to songwriting demystifies creativity and allows someone with no musical background to express themselves through high-quality songs. (To learn more about documentary songwriting, visit www.docsong.org ) The original Documentary Songs (DocSongs) that result from this unique process are included in some of Renovare’s concerts, in an effort to increase understanding and inspire action in the broader community.
Renovare leads weekly classes at two prisons, offering men and women behind bars the opportunity to learn to play violin, viola, or cello in a supportive group setting. Renovare’s “Unmuted” class at the Grafton Correctional Institution began in 2018, and provides an opportunity for undergraduate students at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music an opportunity to serve as assistant teachers. Renovare’s “Music for the Soul” class at the Northeast Reintegration Center began in March 2022. Both groups give public performances twice each year, allowing family, friends, and community members an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of these musicians.
Renovare does this work because we believe there is a God who is restoring every part of this world. We want to use our unique artistic gifts in that process as we love our neighbor, affirm the value of all people, and cultivate reconciled communities.
Our Core Values
Creativity
We celebrate the rich history of classical music while incorporating innovative ideas to meet needs in our community and world.
Respect
We honor all those we work with – constituents, volunteers, donors, community partners, and colleagues – as we humbly learn from them and grow together.
Generosity
We eagerly bring all of ourselves to this work, trusting that God will multiply what we offer and provide all that is needed to do the work of Christ’s Kingdom.
2023 in Review
This was a year of growth for Renovare Music, some of which is visible in the numbers below. Other aspects of that growth were behind the scenes, as we worked toward developing our team and processes to sustain and expand Renovare’s work for years to come.
100 Weekly Strings Classes in Prison with 47 participants
Renovare continued teaching ‘Unmuted’ and ‘Music for the Soul,’ our weekly strings classes for men at the Grafton Correctional Institution and women at the Northeast Reintegration Center, respectively.
81 Concerts and Chapel Services for over 4,700 attendees
Renovare shared music, stories, and led worship in a wide variety of venues across Northeast Ohio. From the Maltz Performing Arts Center to prisons to hospitals, Renovare built bridges between communities through interactive musical experiences.
11 Original Documentary Songs with 15 community members
This year we wrote songs with elders who were part of the Great Migration, resident leaders from Cleveland's west side, and people whose lives have been impacted by the health crisis facing black moms and babies in our city.
Thank you to everyone in our Renovare community who helped make all of this possible!
Visit our News Page to read more stories about Renovare’s work!
Community Partners
We are grateful for the organizations that partner with Renovare Music to make our work possible. Our current partners include:
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
Documentary Songwriters
Supporters
In addition to individual givers, Renovare is grateful to the following foundations and organizations that support our work in various ways.
Renovare Music is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Join Us
Renovare’s work is made possible thanks to many people who are eager to help bring hope and healing through music. Click below to learn how you can join our growing team of supporters!
