[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE CHOPIN SINGING SOCIETY

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                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2010

  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention 
the work of an accomplished choral group, The Chopin Singing Society, 
that is celebrating its 100th anniversary of creating beautiful music 
and inspiring the Polish community of New Jersey and the surrounding 
area.
  It is only fitting that The Chopin Singing Society be honored in 
this, the permanent record of the greatest democracy ever known, for 
the artistic musical group has done much to help Polish-Americans and 
the community at large understand the rich tradition of Polish music 
while also celebrating American classics. The deep reverence of the 
Society's members for their heritage helps to enrich the multicultural 
tapestry of the District I represent.
  The Chopin Singing Society #182 Polish Singers Alliance of America of 
Passaic, NJ, is one of the oldest independent male choral groups active 
in the United States. The Society was officially organized on March 10, 
1910, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin's birth. The 
choral group's first Musical Director was Edmund A. Sennert.
  The Society's first performance was a commemorative program honoring 
Polish patriots who fought and died in the 1830 revolt against Russian 
occupation. When World War I began, 75 percent of the chorus joined the 
newly organized American Legion of the Polish Army. After the 
Armistice, the chorus reorganized and one of its first accomplishments 
was to appear in the American performance of Giuseppe Verdi's opera, 
eleven Trovatore, starring Giovanni Martinelli.
  In 1997 and 1998 the Society was the featured choir with the Jimmy 
Sturr Christmas Show tour appearing at Felician College, Lodi, New 
Jersey, and in theaters in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Middletown, New 
York, Springfield, Massachusetts, Easton, Pennsylvania, and the Taj 
Mahal in Atlantic City. The choir has achieved the highest score at 
international choral competitions of the Polish Singers Alliance of 
America, PSAA. In doing so, the choir has been awarded the traveling 
Cardinal Hlond Trophy and maintains the distinction of being the only 
chorus to win the trophy three times, twice in succession.
  The choir prides itself in having in its repertoire the ability to 
sing Polish, classical, folk and patriotic songs, a complete Latin 
Mass, as well as American classic and barber shop songs. The Society's 
busiest time of the year is the Christmas season, fulfilling requests 
to present its time-honored Polish Christmas concert and to appear as 
guest choir during the celebration of Mass at many churches throughout 
the Metropolitan area. The current musical director is Alicja Rusewicz-
Pagorek.
  The chorus has two recordings to its credit: Polskie koledy (Polish 
Christmas Carols) and Songs of Poland, a mix of traditional Polish 
songs. This album (Songs of Poland) was remastered on to CD this year 
and is currently available. Also, this year, the chorus will introduce 
a new CD of traditional Polish Christmas carols. The success of the 
Chopin Singing Society stems from its members' dedication and desire to 
promote and maintain Polish culture through song.
  The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is 
rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and recognizing the 
efforts of wonderful, thriving cultural groups such as The Chopin 
Singing Society.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you join the members of The Chopin Singing 
Society, all those whose lives have been culturally enriched throughout 
the years, and me in recognizing the outstanding contributions of The 
Chopin Singing Society to New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District 
community and beyond.

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