The volunteer musicians who perform in the aftermath of violence and tragedy

A volunteer organisation with a truly unique mission, the Black String Triage Ensemble arrives in the aftermath of violent and tragic events on the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to perform concerts for the community in an act of healing. In doing so, the group, which is composed of Black and Latinx performers, seeks to fight hopelessness and send the message that ‘a different reality is possible’ for residents of the city, which has one of the highest violent crime rates of any urban centre in the United States. The short documentary Black Strings follows the ensemble as they sit ‘on call’, monitoring police, ambulance and fire department radios, awaiting a situation they deem suitable for a performance. In his profile of the ensemble, the US director Marquise Mays captures how spirituality drives their work, as well as how their performances can be met with mixed reactions by the communities they’re attempting to heal and inspire.