PRINTER'S NO. 3700
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
982
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY DeLISSIO, WHITE, HENNESSEY, DONATUCCI, BIZZARRO,
READSHAW, DiGIROLAMO, SCHLEGEL CULVER, NEILSON, THOMAS,
DAVIS, KINSEY, J. HARRIS, MILLARD, GODSHALL, J. McNEILL,
WARD, SOLOMON, HILL-EVANS, HELM, MARSICO, YOUNGBLOOD, KORTZ,
DRISCOLL, SIMS AND M. QUINN, JUNE 18, 2018
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 18, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale on the occasion
of its 50th anniversary.
WHEREAS, Robert G. Hamilton established the Philadelphia Boys
Choir and Chorale in 1968; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey R. Smith has directed the choir since 2004;
and
WHEREAS, Members of the Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated
choir are recognized for their musicianship, intelligence and
interpretive abilities; and
WHEREAS, Shawn Stockman, Ukee Washington, Justin Hopkins, Joe
Bonsall and John Stroud are choir alumni; and
WHEREAS, The choir has cultivated a devoted following
worldwide as America's Ambassadors of Song, having traveled to
Argentina, China, Egypt, Russia and Spain; and
WHEREAS, As the first American performing arts group to
perform on Cuban soil in the decades following the revolution,
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the choir has traveled to Cuba four times; and
WHEREAS, The illustrious international touring program has
featured an extended tour in China as well as engagements in
France at the D-Day beaches in Normandy and Notre-Dame de Paris
and in Great Britain at King's College and the Millennium
Centre; and
WHEREAS, The choir is set to travel to Singapore and Vietnam
later this year; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the Papal Mass in Philadelphia in 2015, the
choir presented a unique arrangement of a popular hymn, a moving
spiritual written by a Philadelphia composer and a
classical/sacred piece specially selected for His Holiness; and
WHEREAS, The choir has participated in Philadelphia Phillies
home openers and Pennsylvania Ballet productions of The
Nutcracker; and
WHEREAS, The choir has performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln
Center for the Performing Arts, the Kimmel Center for the
Performing Arts, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts and the
Academy of Music; and
WHEREAS, The choir has recorded with Opera Philadelphia and
internationally renowned orchestras as well as Luciano Pavarotti
and other vocal soloists; and
WHEREAS, The choir has appeared on Good Morning America, The
Today Show and Saturday Night Live; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philly Pops, Curtis
Institute, the Mendelssohn Club, Vox Ama Deus and The Chamber
Orchestra of Philadelphia have collaborated with the choir;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the
Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale on the occasion of its 50th
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anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives extend best
wishes for the choir's continued commitment to breaking through
social, political and cultural barriers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives invite young men
in the Philadelphia region to join in the choir's journey of
musical education and discovery.
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