[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING KEITA AND HAYATO ISHIBASHI

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize 2 young men whose 
musical talents are exceeded only by their commitment and dedication. 
As a former high school teacher and coach, I know how important it is 
to recognize the achievements of our youth. Keita and Hayato Ishibashi 
are role models for all who believe that creativity and hard work lead 
to the American dream of success. Both are students at Rancho Bernardo 
High School, and both are violinists of the highest caliber.
  Only 16 years old, Keita has appeared several times with the San 
Diego Symphony. In fact, he made his career debut with the San Diego 
Symphony at the age of 13. Keita performed for the last five summers at 
the Viana do Castelo International Music Festival in Portugal, and he 
performed in the summer of 2000 at an international music festival in 
Saluzzo, Italy. He has a resume that any musical prodigy would be proud 
of. The high school junior began playing the violin in Tokyo, Japan, at 
the age of three on a 1/16th size instrument. At the age of four, Keita 
performed publicly at a concert hall in Japan shortly before coming to 
the United States with his family. It was not long before he began 
attending international music festivals in cities that included 
Seattle, Washington; Santa Rosa, California; and Aspen, Colorado.
  Meanwhile, Keita's younger brother Hayato was also starting to get 
his musical legs. Hayato began taking violin lessons in the United 
States at the age of four. Soon, he, too, began participating in the 
same music festivals as his older brother. The purpose of the festivals 
is to help young artists develop their musicianship through an 
extensive curriculum that includes experience with master classes, 
chamber groups, and orchestras.
  The sons of Shinji and Akemi Ishibashi have enjoyed many high notes 
in their young musical careers, and they include numerous prestigious 
competitions. Earlier this year Keita won the First Place Award in the 
San Diego Symphony's Young Artist Competition, and he received an 
Honorable Mention Award at the La Jolla Symphony's Young Artist 
Competition. At the La Jolla Symphony competition, Keita was 
the youngest participant in a field of 25-to-30 young musicians. The 
oldest was about 23. Last year, Keita won the blue ribbon at the San 
Diego Youth Symphony's Concerto Competition, and in 1999 another First 
Place at the EI Camino Youth Symphony's Concerto Competition.

  Like his older brother, 14-year-old high school freshman Hayato has 
an affinity for high notes of his own. Hayato's 2005 First Place finish 
at the Young Musicians Foundation's 50th Annual National Debut 
Competition resulted in an invitation to play with the foundation's 
symphony orchestra in Los Angeles, California, in October of this year 
and again in January of 2006. Hayato tied for Second Place at the 
California International Young Artist Competition last April. He won a 
Third Place Award in the San Diego Youth Symphony's 2004 Concerto 
Competition, and he was declared a national semi-finalist at the 
American String Teachers Association's 2003 Competition in Sacramento, 
California. During the latter competition, Hayato performed Concerto 
No.1 by Niccolo Paganini and Concerto No.1 by Max Bruch. Both were 
recorded on CD and are available through recorded music sources.
  Currently, Keita is concertmaster and first chair of the chamber and 
symphony orchestras at Rancho Bernardo High School, and Hayato is a new 
and welcome addition to the school's music department. Each of them is 
pursuing his dream, and in so doing each of them is setting an example 
for all of us. My sincere congratulations go to Keita and Hayato, and I 
wish you both continued success throughout your academic and musical 
careers.

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