[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 64 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING SHULAMIT HOFFMANN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 20, 2007

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Shulamit Hoffman, a 
remarkable woman who has enriched my district as the founder and 
artistic director of Viva la Musica!, a 70-voice community choir. Since 
its inception in December 2001, this Bay Area based choir has performed 
a major work from the choral-orchestral repertoire each season, as well 
as traditional and multi-cultural choral selections. The choir has 
performed throughout the country and undertook its first European tour 
in December 2006 in illustrious venues in Vienna and Salzburg.
  Ms. Hoffmann has held a litany of prestigious posts, most recently 
she was appointed as the conductor of Los Altos United Methodist 
Chancel Choir in 2002. In addition to singing regularly for Sunday 
services, LAUMC Choir has performed several major works in concert and 
has undertaken two tours to the 2004 Kathaumixw in Canada, the 2005 
Vermont International Choral Festival and, in 2006, an Alaskan singing 
cruise with Sir David Willcocks and Duaine Wolf.
  As a music educator, Ms. Hoffmann has served as an adjunct faculty 
member of the College of San Mateo since 2002. She has been a member of 
the music faculties of the University of Notre Dame de Namur University 
in California, Idaho State University, Brigham Young University 
Extension in Idaho and University of Cape Town and University of the 
Witwatersrand in South Africa. Several of her students are pursuing 
careers in music. Ms. Hoffmann holds a Master of Arts in Conducting and 
a Master of Music in Piano Performance. She has earned Licentiate 
Diplomas in Music from the University of South Africa and from the 
Royal Schools of Music in London.
  She has served as president of branches of the Music Teachers' 
Association of California and of the National Federation of Music Clubs 
and she is a frequently invited competition judge and guest clinician.
  Madam Speaker, the concerts Shulamit Hoffmann presents are generally 
sold out and appreciative audience members are enthralled with the 
musical quality of Viva la Musica! President and Mrs. John Oblak, of 
Notre Dame de Namur University, praised the excellence of the concerts 
when they were quoted as saying, ``Viva performances exceed all 
expectations of choral music--they are creative, professional, 
stimulating and magical--and an absolute treat. We enjoy them 
personally and we are very proud to introduce friends of the University 
to this outstanding group.''
  Ms. Hoffmann's performances--as pianist and conductor--span a broad 
repertoire from Mozart to multi-cultural music, from the Renaissance to 
Prepared Piano. A particular interest of Ms. Hoffmann's is multi-media 
presentations of art, music and poetry. She is known for the skill, 
authority, imagination, daring, dazzle, and that dash of irresistible 
playfulness she brings to her musical endeavors. In her hands the 
conductor's baton becomes a magic wand, coaxing, coaching, and 
demanding the best of singers and orchestra alike.