[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOYCE KEIL

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2001

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in 
paying well-deserved tribute to Joyce Keil, the Founder and Artistic 
Director of the nationally acclaimed Ragazzi: The Peninsula Boys 
Chorus.
  Under Ms. Keil's leadership Ragazzi has grown since its inception in 
1987 into an internationally renowned chorus, successful in both live 
and recorded performance. Popular with audiences throughout the Bay 
Area and beyond, Ragazzi has its own concert series and also performs 
regularly with the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Symphony and 
numerous other outstanding musical groups. Ragazzi concerts are eagerly 
anticipated by its devoted and ever widening audience of music lovers, 
who are constantly thrilled by Ms. Keil's superb direction.
  Mr. Speaker, Joyce Keil's extraordinary musical artistry is evident 
in Ragazzi's repertoire of selections from a variety of different 
cultures sung in many different languages and dialects. Ragazzi is 
about to embark on a celebrated fifth international tour where the 
chorus will travel to the British Isles in order to perform in England 
and Wales. This tour will include the participation of the chorus in 
the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Festival in Wales.
  Ragazzi; The Peninsula Boys Chorus has also performed in Canada, 
Russia, Eastern Europe, Japan and in the Basilica of San Marco in 
Venice and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Joyce Keil has enriched the 
lives of over 450 boys and young men, who since the inception of this 
group have sung and been educated in vocal technique, music theory and 
performance skills in training for Ragazzi and it's laureate program, 
Ragazzi: Young Men's Ensemble.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Keil's preeminence in the music world is 
demonstrated in her numerous appearances as a guest conductor, 
adjudicator and panelist for choirs and music teachers throughout the 
Western United States. She has been nationally recognized for her music 
program at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. The Lick-
Wilmerding Choruses received the gold medal in the 1998 Heritage Music 
Festival and captured second place in the 1997 Prague International 
Choral Festival.
  Ms. Keil has served as Western Division Chair of the Boychoir 
Committee for the American Advanced Placement Music Exams. Formerly on 
the faculty of Holy Names College, Ms. Keil has also been a faculty 
member of the College of Notre Dame. Joyce Keil has often expressed her 
firm belief that choral music educates the whole person. She has made 
an outstanding contribution to the academic enrichment of hundreds of 
students fortunate enough to enjoy her tutelage.
  Mr. Speaker, the Hillbarn Theatre is honoring Joyce Keil with its 
prestigious 2001 BRAVO! Award. I join the Hillbarn Theatre and urge all 
of my colleagues to join me in commending Ms. Keil's exceptional 
talent, generosity and commitment to our community. I also want to wish 
Ragazzi: The Peninsula Boys Chorus and Ms. Keil many more years of 
richly deserved success and artistic fulfillment.

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