[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE CADDO MAGNET ORCHESTRA

 Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exceptional group of students from my hometown of Shreveport, LA. The 
Caddo Magnet Orchestra, combined of 103 high school and middle school 
students from Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana, has for years 
been recognized as one of the most outstanding student orchestras in 
our State. Since its inception in 1980, the orchestra has consistently 
received superior performance ratings in all regional and State 
competitions and has won several prestigious awards from music 
festivals around the Nation. In light of its impressive reputation, 
this year the orchestra was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, a rare 
privilege offered to very few young performers.
  After many months of intensive rehearsal and fundraising, the Caddo 
Magnet Orchestra traveled to New York City last month for its March 24 
Carnegie Hall debut, where its performance was met by a standing 
ovation from the 1,000 audience members in attendance. The evening's 
performance, consisting of pieces by English composers Gustav Holst, 
John Ireland, Edward Elgar and John Rutter, was flawless and has earned 
this orchestra national recognition.
  Louisiana is enormously proud of these outstanding young people, not 
only for their individual talents, but also for their overall 
commitment to excellence and their spirit of community. The students 
worked together to make beautiful music, and the harmony they created 
represents all that can be achieved when we put forth our best efforts 
to reach a common goal. This is citizenship at its finest.
  The members of the orchestra have represented the State of Louisiana 
with great distinction. I congratulate these musicians and their 
director, Ms. Johnette Parker, as well as the parents and faculty of 
Caddo Magnet High School and Caddo Middle Magnet School for their 
marvelous collective effort in reaching this pinnacle and for setting 
an example of excellence from which we all can benefit.

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