[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA PHILHARMONIC'S 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2022

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, today I honor the Northeastern 
Pennsylvania Philharmonic as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. 
Under the direction of Music Director Melisse Brunet and Executive 
Director Nancy Sanderson, the NEPA Philharmonic is a premier symphony 
orchestra bringing high caliber pops performances and classical music 
to Northeastern Pennsylvania.
  Until the late 1960s, Northeastern Pennsylvania was home to two 
independent orchestras in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. In early 1969, the 
boards of the two symphonies began to discuss the idea of increased 
cooperation between the two groups, and by October, a goal was set to 
have a joint orchestra give four performances in each city during the 
1970-71 season. In January of 1970, the joint venture announced: a two-
year trial period of a united symphony orchestra to be called the 
Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) Philharmonic.
  The new orchestra was under the direction of Scranton's, Beatrice 
Brown, then one of the few female conductors in the country, and 
Wilkes-Barre's Ferdinand Liva. After Brown's departure in 1971, 
conductor of the Pittsburg Symphony, Polish-born Thomas Michalak, was 
hired as the first official music director after the Philharmonic's 
historic incorporation. The first performances were held in October 
1972 at the Irem Temple in Wilkes-Barre and at the Masonic Temple in 
Scranton, featuring Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Schuman's Piano 
Concerto in A Minor.
  In 1979, Hugh Wolff, educated at Harvard University and the Peabody 
Institute, took over the baton. Under Wolff's direction, the orchestra 
soared to new heights and established its reputation as a prestigious 
symphony. In 1982, the Philharmonic gained statewide recognition during 
a televised performance of a work commissioned for the Commonwealth's 
tercentennial. During the early 1980s, the Philharmonic also began to 
attract world renown guest artists.
  In 1986, Wolff left the symphony, and the board appointed London-Born 
and Cambridge-educated Hugh Keegan to the podium. Over 14 seasons, he 
grew the orchestra into one of the country's best regional orchestras 
with an impressively broad repertoire. Following Keegan's tenure, the 
orchestra continued to thrive under the tutelage of Clyde Mitchell and 
later Lawrence Loh.
  Today, the orchestra continues to strive for and deliver the highest 
level of musical excellence and remains the only fully professional 
symphony in the region. The Philharmonic also provides arts outreach 
and education to foster the next generation of musical talent.
  I am honored to join with the NEPA Philharmonic to celebrate 50 years 
of making music in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I look forward to seeing 
their future musical accomplishments, and I wish them great success as 
they continue to bring exceptional performances to our theaters and 
concert halls.

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