[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 86 (Thursday, May 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E536-E537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAINT PAUL CIVIC SYMPHONY

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 19, 2022

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Saint 
Paul Civic Symphony as they celebrate their 75th anniversary of music-
making in Minnesota's capitol city. Founded in 1945, the Saint Paul 
Civic Symphony is St. Paul's oldest orchestra, and was created to 
provide World War II servicemen returning from war with a way to 
reenter into the music community.
  The symphony was established with four fundamental objectives--to 
provide the greater Saint Paul Community with free concerts with a wide 
range of symphonic literature, to provide musicians with an opportunity 
to perform in a high-quality symphony, to serve children in the 
community by offering interactive and imaginative performances to 
instill in them a love of music, and to deepen ties with their sister 
orchestra, the Nagasaki Symphony, and nurture cultural exchange between 
both cities.
  This year the symphony has commissioned a new piece of music by local 
composer Steve Heitzeg titled ``Green Hope after Black Rain (Symphony 
for the Survivors of Manzanar, Hiroshima and Nagasaki)'' which reflects 
upon and celebrates the unique relationship between the Saint Paul 
Civic Symphony and the Nagasaki Symphony. This relationship as sister 
symphonies was the first affiliation of its kind in the United States, 
and fosters a fruitful exchange of repertoire and musicians between the 
orchestras.
  The Saint Paul Civic Symphony has been a pillar of the arts in our 
community for many decades, and while this year actually marks their 
76th season of performances, delays from the coronavirus pandemic have 
postponed their anniversary celebration to this spring. Music, like all 
forms of art, enriches our culture and our community, especially during 
challenging times like these past few years. And I am grateful to the 
volunteers, board of directors, musicians and music director Jeffrey 
Stirling, who are all deeply committed to supporting the arts and the 
mission of the Saint Paul Civic Symphony. Madam Speaker, please join me 
in recognizing the Saint Paul Civic Symphony as they return to in-
person performances and celebrate their momentous 75th anniversary.

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