[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1748-E1749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         VALLEJO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite 
my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra 
as it celebrates its 75th season, 2006-2007.
  The mission of the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, VSO, is to present 
performances of symphonic music of the highest possible artistic 
excellence for the citizens of Vallejo and all of Solano County; to 
cultivate and nurture the appreciation and enjoyment of classical music 
in people of all ages; and to serve and shape the musical, cultural, 
and educational interests of the people of Vallejo and Solano County. 
The VSO engages guest artists of national and international renown so 
Solano County residents can enjoy them in live performance. The VSO 
sends its musicians to perform in public schools so children may 
experience and learn about live classical music.
  The Vallejo Symphony, seventh oldest symphony orchestra in 
California, traces its roots to the early days of the Great Depression, 
when a small group of community leaders determined that local musicians 
needed a showcase for their talents and that other members of the 
community would be enriched by attending live performances of timeless 
music. On February 21, 1931, a 60-piece orchestra conducted by Julius 
Weyland made its debut in the auditorium of the city's newly dedicated 
Veterans Memorial Building. Concerts were presented throughout the 
decade with Mr. Weyland and George Trombley conducting the orchestra 
during these formative years.
  Activity lessened, then ceased during World War II until 1946, when 
the Vallejo Symphony was revitalized under the auspices of the Vallejo 
Recreation District and the Adult Education Department. Dr. Orley See 
became its conductor at that time. In 1951, Virl M. Swan took the 
conductor's baton to lead the orchestra until 1961, when Dr. George 
Wargo began his 21-year career as music director and conductor. The 
sixties saw the independence of the orchestra established, a 
subscription concert series launched, and supportive fundraising 
activities begun by the Symphony Association's board of directors. 
During the following decade, artistic goals for the orchestra were set, 
and an annual Major Gifts Campaign was established to support a 
professional orchestra and expand the concert season.
  The 1980s saw a dramatic improvement in the quality of the orchestra 
and programming

[[Page E1749]]

when David Ramadanoff, a former associate conductor of the San 
Francisco Symphony and winner of the 1980 Leopold Stokowski Conducting 
Award, accepted the position of music director and conductor. Under his 
dynamic leadership, the Vallejo Symphony has developed into an urban 
orchestra of regional importance, attracting some of the finest 
musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1983 the VSO became 
completely professional. In 1993 the orchestra visited Vallejo's sister 
city of Akashi, Japan. In 1997 the VSO hosted the West Coast premiere 
of Hannibal's concert opera ``African Portraits.'' Hannibal spent the 
week in Vallejo public schools with students.
  The Vallejo Symphony now performs a four-concert subscription season 
and an annual Summer Pops concert each Fourth of July. As part of its 
commitment to the musical experience of Solano County's children, the 
orchestra performs youth concerts for the elementary school children of 
Vallejo, and presents its popular series of intimate, entertaining and 
educational mini-concerts in elementary schools throughout the county.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we recognize the Vallejo Symphony 
Orchestra for its many contributions to the Vallejo community and wish 
its members many more years of outstanding performances.

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