[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 72 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING THE DILLARD CENTER FOR THE ARTS JAZZ ENSEMBLE FOR 
  WINNING THE ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON JAZZ BAND COMPETITION AND FESTIVAL

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 18, 2012

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble of Fort Lauderdale, Florida 
for their continued achievements and excellence, in winning of the 
Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Competition and Festival, for two 
consecutive years.
  In addition to these back-to-back championships, the Jazz Ensemble in 
2012 also took second place in the ``Essentially Ellington'' 
competition. Furthermore, they won first place at the ``Swing Central'' 
jazz competition in Savannah, Georgia in both 2011 and 2010.
  Unlike many other programs which have ample resources and funding, 
private donations are scarce to Dillard's Jazz Ensemble. Therefore, 
these students' achievements go beyond their musical talent but also 
speak to their dedication to perform and compete through fundraising to 
support their own program.
  This resolve proves there are no limits to the creative spirit of 
Dillard's Jazz Ensemble and there are no limits to the success that 
these students can achieve. I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor the 26 members of the band as well as Jazz Ensemble director 
Christopher Dorsey, all of which have contributed to this program's 
continued successes. Members of Dillard's Jazz Ensemble are: Liza 
Honorat, Shanice Richards, Ben Stocker, Christian Cummings, Markus 
Howell, Demonn Sands, Johnathan Hainsworth, Kirby Fellis, Cameron 
Fegers, Jordan Davis, Sam Gellerstein, Max Boiko, Christian Dorsey, 
Anthony Hervey, Bryan McCall, Armando Zamora, Zach Auslander, Anthony 
Morrison, Zach McKinney, Charlie Steiner, Sydney Henry, Russell Hall, 
Sean Blair, Jake Ricke, Akeem Green, and Eric German.
  Dillard High School was founded in the early twentieth century with 
funds from noted philanthropist James Hardy Dillard. The music program 
at Dillard High School gained fame when the legendary Julian 
``Cannonball'' Adderley served as an instructor of applied music in the 
1940s. To this day, the school still focuses on the performing arts and 
music, serving as a Performing Arts and Technology magnet school in 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Both Mr. Dillard and Mr. Adderley would be 
very proud to see the accomplishments of the program today.
  Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud of these young musicians. I wish 
them all the best in their future endeavors, and wish Dillard's jazz 
program continued success. It is an honor to give the Dillard Center 
for the Arts Jazz Ensemble the recognition it rightly deserves.

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