Murfreesboro, TN - The conference room at Rutherford County Correctional Work Center (RCCWC) wasn’t just filled with chairs and inmates—it was filled with something rarer inside those walls: beauty.

World-renowned pianist and composer Eric Genuis didn’t just perform; he transformed the space. He arrived with his ensemble—Jun Lee on cello, Seung-ah Kim on violin, Jaeyeon Kim with her soaring soprano, and his daughter, Anastasia Genuis—each carrying an instrument, but together carrying something more: dignity, humanity, hope.

Genuis’ concerts are not just performances; they are experiences. They are stories wrapped in melody, designed to reach the deepest parts of a person—the part that may have been buried under years of regret, isolation, or hardship.

"Prisons are void of beauty," Genuis said. "I'm a firm believer that beauty elevates people's humanity."

That belief is the foundation of his nonprofit, Concerts for Hope, which has brought world-class music to places most people ignore—prisons, VA hospitals, homeless shelters, inner-city schools. Anywhere the human spirit is struggling, he believes music can help it rise.

And here, in the heart of Tennessee, in a place where time can feel like it moves too slow or too fast, he played for two lock-down performances.

One of the most moving moments of the night came when his daughter, Anastasia, stepped forward to sing. The song was one her father had written for her—Here I Am—penned in a hospital waiting room during her heart surgery as an infant. Doctors told him she might not survive. Twenty years later, Anastasia, who was born with Down syndrome and faces challenges with speech, sang that song for the men and women before her. As she reached the final note, the room erupted into applause—an ovation that was less about the technical perfection of her voice and more about the sheer force of her presence.

Anastasia had faced struggles. She had faced odds. And here she was, standing and singing with all her might—a living testament to resilience.

One unit, so moved by the moment, immediately put together a thank-you card for her after the concert.

Genuis doesn’t just play music; he shares his story. He spoke openly about the loss of his son, who had Asperger’s syndrome and had seen Genuis as his only friend. The pain, the guilt, the drive home as he rushed to be with his family—it was raw and unfiltered. It was real.

Rutherford County Superintendent William C. Cope, CJM, has long advocated for correctional programming as a crucial factor in reducing recidivism and giving incarcerated individuals a chance to build a future beyond their past.

“Eric Genuis brought more than just music—he brought dignity, humanity, and a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of beauty and grace,” Cope said. “His performance will be remembered not just as an event but as a moment of true emotional and spiritual connection.”

Rutherford County Correctional Work Center has hosted many artists and speakers over the years, but that night was something different. It wasn’t just about art—it was about the reminder that even here, in a place people sometimes forget, beauty can break through.

For your inspiration, one of the few songs performed was"Here I Am," written for Genuis' daughter Anastasia. He wrote the song while in a hospital waiting room while his then 3-year-old daughter Anastasia was having heart surgery. The conference room at the local correctional center got so quiet that you could hear a pin drop as Anastasia stepped up to the microphone, now 20-plus years later, and sang the song that her dad wrote. 

She sang the special song with all of her might and ended the last note to receive thunderous applause and a standing ovation.  The lyrics portray the love and devotion of a father. 

Now be still
when you’re back’s against the wall,
Victory there seems no hope at all
I’ll be your wings that soar so high,
this side of paradise.
Now be still until you’re strong;

Here I am
I’m your fire when it’s cold;
Here I am
I’m your guide when you lost your road;
I’m your armor in the fields of war
when the enemy storms the door;
Here I am forevermore.

Take my hand
when shadows hide your way,
Take my hand
there’ll come a brighter day,
for the love of you and me
is for eternity
take my hand
close by I’ll stay;

Here I am,
I’m your fire when it’s cold;
Here I am
I’m your guide when you lost your road
I’m your bridge above the stormy sea
when earth’s shakes violently

Here I am, forevermore

Here I am
I’m your fire when its’ cold
Here I am
I’m guide when you lost your road
I’m you’re your shield when arrows fly
I’ll never leave your side

Here I am forevermore