inTUNE: Stories of Connection through Music

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of inTUNE: Stories of Connection Through Music, Dr. Melissa Martiros sits down with Maggie Wheeler — actress, singer-songwriter, and community choir director — for a conversation about music as a lifelong practice of finding your voice, building community, and showing up for people who need it most. Maggie is known to millions as Janice from Friends, but for decade...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of inTUNE: Stories of Connection Through Music, Dr. Melissa Martiros sits down with John Wayne Cormier Jr., a Worcester County House of Correction alumnus and opporTUNEity participant, for an honest conversation about gang life, addiction, incarceration, and the music program that changed the direction of his life. John Wayne shares a story that starts early — a ro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of inTUNE: Stories of Connection Through Music, Dr. Melissa Martiros sits down with Dr. Mary Cohen, Professor of Music Education at the University of Iowa and co-leader of IMAJIN, for a wide-ranging conversation about what music makes possible when it's built on genuine relationship. Mary's signature project was the Oakdale Community Choir, which she led...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of inTUNE: Stories of Connection Through Music, Dr. Melissa Martiros sits down with John Edward Keough — poet, essayist, and founder of Hollywoot Film Group — for an honest conversation about creativity, incarceration, and what it takes to build a life from scratch. John's story begins at age six, when he was placed into DYS custody for truancy while homeless...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of inTUNE, Dr. Melissa Martiros sits down with Paul Boisvert, a former student and long-time teaching artist with opporTUNEity, for a candid conversation about music education, identity, and what happens when classroom learning meets real-world engagement inside a correctional facility. Paul shares a journey that began with teaching himself Nirvana songs at 13, wou...

Send us Fan Mail IIn this episode of inTUNE: Stories of Connection Through Music, Dr. Melissa Martiros sits down with Marc Recor, a Worcester County House of Correction alumnus and opporTUNEity participant, for a conversation about transformation, resilience, and the power of music during incarceration. Marc shares his lifelong connection to music — from being the family DJ at age seven to teachin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of inTUNE: Stories of Connection Through Music , Dr. Melissa Martiros sits down with Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis for a wide-ranging conversation about music, rehabilitation, leadership, and humanity inside the correctional system. Sheriff Evangelidis reflects on his lifelong relationship with music, his 15-year tenure as sheriff, and his belief that in...

Send us Fan Mail In our debut episode, Melissa shares the foundational stories that shaped her approach to inclusive music education. Through early teaching challenges, work inside correctional facilities, and years of building opporTUNEity, she explores what inclusion truly means—and how music helps every individual find their voice. Welcome to the first episode of inTUNE: Stories of Connection T...