[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 87 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE WEST MONROE HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 2010

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with tremendous pride and 
pleasure to pay tribute to the achievements of the West Monroe High 
School Choral program.
  Through the years, they have held numerous concerts at Carnegie Hall, 
performed Mozart's Coronation Mass in Salzburg and Vienna, Austria, and 
sang the mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy. The many 
recognitions they have received are the result of long hours of 
practice, and dedication to excellence by the students, faculty and 
their families.
  The West Monroe High School Choir has once again been honored as they 
have been asked to represent Louisiana at the 2010 American Celebration 
of Music in France and Great Britain. This tour will provide an once-
in-a-lifetime opportunity for our young students to perform at various 
venues throughout Europe. The trip's highlights include performances at 
The Jesuit Church in Lucerne, Switzerland, Notre Dame Cathedral in 
Paris, France, The American Cemetery in Normandy Beach, France, and St. 
Paul's Cathedral in London, England.
  The European concert tour will take place from May 30, 2010 to June 
10, 2010, and will include 82 singers and 40 chaperones. Under the 
leadership of Greg A. Oden, Director, and Vickie Freeman, Assistant 
Director, the students have passionately worked through the entire year 
to raise the necessary funds to achieve this aspiration.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 
wonderful achievements of the West Monroe High School Choir. The many 
honors they have received are the result of long hours of practice, and 
dedication to excellence by the students, faculty and their families. 
They have truly made me and their community proud.

                          ____________________