[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 166 (Friday, October 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOWNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND 
                      THE DOWNEY SYMPHONIC SOCIETY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 5, 2018

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Downey 
Symphony Orchestra and the Downey Symphonic Society on their six 
decades of broadening the cultural and educational horizons of the 
people of Downey, California, and beyond.
  On October 20, 2018, the Downey Symphony Orchestra (DSO), directed 
and conducted by Sharon Lavery, commences its 60th season of concerts. 
The DSO has moved and inspired generations of Downey residents, and 
many from surrounding communities, who would otherwise not have access 
to live symphonic music. The orchestra has fulfilled the hopes of its 
founders, a group of civic-minded citizens supported by civic and 
government leaders, who created the DSO in 1957 to help make Downey a 
more desirable place to live and to do business.
  Since 1958, the non-profit Downey Symphonic Society (DSS) has 
sponsored the DSO and its educational outreach programs. The society is 
governed by a volunteer board of directors, who organize and publicize 
the DSO concerts; seek support from foundations and government 
entities; solicit donations from individuals, businesses, and service 
organizations; and promote the symphony. The DSS also enjoys the 
support of a very enthusiastic and active guild of over 200 members.
  Each year, the DSO presents three subscription concerts in the Downey 
Theatre in the fall, winter, and spring. The orchestra reaches a larger 
audience in the summer at its annual free ``Concert in the Park'' in 
Furman Park. The summer concert emphasizes selections from musical 
theatre and films.
  DSO programs are designed to appeal to a broad audience in terms of 
age, musical sophistication and taste, and ethnic and cultural 
background. In addition to the standard repertoire, programs include 
works by Latino and Spanish composers and by contemporary composers. 
The symphony has premiered and commissioned major works, including 
Oscar Navarro's ``Downey Overture,'' which has been declared the city's 
``Official Symphonic Music''; Bryan Curt Kostors' ``To Dust''; and Lars 
Clutterham's ``Downey Celebration Suite.''
  The DSO and its members have also worked to promote music 
appreciation among our youth. In 1995, the previous DSO music director, 
Thomas Osborn, started the ``Music in the Schools'' program, which 
introduces students to all instruments and sections of the orchestra. 
Today, the program reaches almost 20,000 school children a year, 
including visits during winter and spring by a quintet of DSO musicians 
to the 13 public and four private elementary schools in Downey. 
Musicians present a sequential, multi-year curriculum on fundamentals 
of music, such as rhythm, melody, and style, and they perform specially 
arranged pieces. In addition, two full orchestral concerts are 
presented for school children at the Downey Theatre.
  Major funding comes from the City of Downey, the Los Angeles County 
Performing Arts Commission, the Music Performance Trust Fund of the 
Musicians Union, the Downey Kiwanis Foundation, and the Downey Unified 
School District. In addition, the society's noble mission has been 
recognized in recent years with two grants from the National Endowment 
for the Arts. Thanks to the efforts of these supporters and others, the 
DSO is able to make its ticket prices more affordable and accessible 
for local residents.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in saluting the 
Downey Symphony Orchestra and the Downey Symphonic Society for 
providing 60 years of musical enjoyment to communities in my 40th 
Congressional District of California. Thanks to the continued work of 
these organizations, the people of Downey and beyond can look forward 
to many more music-filled years to come.

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