[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE STATE COLLEGE AREA HIGH SCHOOL MASTER SINGERS 
                      PERFORMANCE AT CARNEGIE HALL

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                         HON. JOHN E. PETERSON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2008

  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of 
a talented high school choir in my district, the State College Area 
High School Master Singers of State College, PA, which was chosen to 
perform at New York City's world-renowned Carnegie Hall on March 10, 
2008.
  The State College Area High School Master Singers were selected out 
of dozens of high schools across the country to perform in this 
concert. The event featured 200 students from four States, and was the 
capstone of Carnegie Hall's yearlong National High School Choral 
Festival. The concert was conducted by Dr. Craig Jessop, esteemed music 
director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who was working with the 
choirs and their conductors throughout the year. Known best for their 
legendary musical performances, Carnegie Hall is also a pioneer of 
music education, and I am thrilled that these students were given such 
a remarkable opportunity to showcase their talent.
  Led by Robert Drafall, the Master Singers is comprised of sophomores, 
juniors and seniors, and performs in a variety of venues as well as 
performing at the Heinz Chapel Chamber Choir Invitational, The Central 
Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and The Celebration of African 
American Spirituals. The Master Singers have distinguished themselves 
in earning superior ratings at adjudicated festivals in New York City, 
Toronto, Virginia Beach, and Chicago. They were invited to participate 
in a master class with the famed a cappella ensemble Chanticleer, and 
they have collaborated with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra 
and with the State College Choral Society and Orchestra in a 
performance featuring Metropolitan Opera Audition winners.
  I am privileged to have one of the four schools in the Nation chosen 
for the Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival residing in 
my Pennsylvania district. I commend these students and their leaders 
for their accomplishment, and congratulate them for representing the 
State of Pennsylvania in their performance at the famed Carnegie Hall 
on March 10th.




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