[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 148 (Monday, November 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1893-E1894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING MR. ROMAN TOTENBERG'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2010

  Mr. MARKEY of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
celebrate Mr. Roman Totenberg's 100th birthday. Mr. Totenberg is a 
world-class violinist and a beloved educator. January 1, 2011, will 
mark the 100th birthday of this gifted musician, whose talents on stage 
and in the classroom have enriched the lives of many people.
  Mr. Totenberg was born in Lodz, Poland. He says he ``accidentally'' 
started playing the violin when he was a little boy because a neighbor 
who babysat him played the instrument. By the age of six, he was 
playing consistently and has practiced the violin everyday since.

[[Page E1894]]

By the age of 11, Mr. Totenberg was playing professionally. He debuted 
as a soloist for the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.
  Since his debut at such a young age, Mr. Totenberg was considered a 
prodigy. In 1931 he was awarded the Mendelssohn prize, a distinguished 
international award given to promising young musicians. He played with 
the Boston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin 
Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic and countless other world-class 
orchestras.
  Madam Speaker, as a young man at the age of 24, Mr. Totenberg 
performed at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
  He was married to the late Melanie Totenberg for over fifty years. 
Together they had one daughter, Nina Totenberg. Nina is a respected and 
well-known journalist.
  Mr. Totenberg joined Boston University as a Professor in the string 
department in 1961 and remains a professor there to this day. He was 
the head of Boston University's string department from 1965-1978. From 
1978-1985 he was director of The Longy School of Music in Cambridge, 
Massachusetts.
  Madam Speaker, for all that he has accomplished and all that he has 
contributed, I would like to honor the 100th birthday of Mr. Roman 
Totenberg.

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