MCALESTER, OK -- It's not the not but the richness and depth of tone that separates beginner from master on the violin. If life gives us any clue then Micheal Ginsburg's 34 years on earth offer that depth, the kinds of highs and lows drew experience in a whole lifetime. "You know, I'm a person and my past will always be with me," he confesses. Consider first where he is; the Narconon Drug Treatment Center in Oklahoma where he spent a full year of his life.
Consider him again as he plays so sweetly having spent 15 years of his life using and dealing drugs.
He once sold his violin for a cheap high and was convicted of causing two overdose deaths.
"I'm still an addict," says Ginsburg, "But I'm an addict that's able to focus on life today, not on what life used to be."
This was Micheal when we first met him in 2007.
After drug treatment, he taught violin in McAlester.
He played in church.
We saw him again just before Christmas in 2007 ready to report to prison in Pennsylvania.
A 4-year sentence beckoned as the ghost of Christmases past.
"It wasn't a date camp," he recalls. "I stayed out of trouble and the amazing thing to me really was the sense of community that I had formed here before I left Oklahoma."
He served his time.
During his sentence, Ginsburg was the only fiddle player in the Pennsylvania prison system.
He lost more than 100 pounds and came back to McAlester determined to thank this city for extending its open arms.
"To have a whole community open up their arms to me is one of the most precious gifts that I could ever have," Ginsburg said.
His playing partner is McAlester Mayor Kevin Priddy.
The "Pride in McAlester Program" gave him a small storefront next to the old theater so he could teach.
Both Micheal and the mayor believe Micheal's story could serve as an example to others here; second chances in life do exist.
Mayor Priddy insists Ginsburg's talents can be useful, "It's a tremendous ability to influence people and that happens through his music."
Ginsburg himself says, "I'm here to show people that hope is available. It's possible to overcome problems and get out ahead."
It's been a long time coming; a hard road, but consider again what you hear and what you know now.
That richness of tone comes from way down deep; it comes with such meaning.
Consider him again as he plays so sweetly having spent 15 years of his life using and dealing drugs.
He once sold his violin for a cheap high and was convicted of causing two overdose deaths.
"I'm still an addict," says Ginsburg, "But I'm an addict that's able to focus on life today, not on what life used to be."
This was Micheal when we first met him in 2007.
After drug treatment, he taught violin in McAlester.
He played in church.
We saw him again just before Christmas in 2007 ready to report to prison in Pennsylvania.
A 4-year sentence beckoned as the ghost of Christmases past.
"It wasn't a date camp," he recalls. "I stayed out of trouble and the amazing thing to me really was the sense of community that I had formed here before I left Oklahoma."
He served his time.
During his sentence, Ginsburg was the only fiddle player in the Pennsylvania prison system.
He lost more than 100 pounds and came back to McAlester determined to thank this city for extending its open arms.
"To have a whole community open up their arms to me is one of the most precious gifts that I could ever have," Ginsburg said.
His playing partner is McAlester Mayor Kevin Priddy.
The "Pride in McAlester Program" gave him a small storefront next to the old theater so he could teach.
Both Micheal and the mayor believe Micheal's story could serve as an example to others here; second chances in life do exist.
Mayor Priddy insists Ginsburg's talents can be useful, "It's a tremendous ability to influence people and that happens through his music."
Ginsburg himself says, "I'm here to show people that hope is available. It's possible to overcome problems and get out ahead."
It's been a long time coming; a hard road, but consider again what you hear and what you know now.
That richness of tone comes from way down deep; it comes with such meaning.
