[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE YPSILANTI COMMUNITY CHOIR'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2023

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Ypsilanti 
Community Choir on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of their 
founding. The contributions they have made to the culture of the city 
of Ypsilanti is worthy of commendation.
  The Ypsilanti Community Choir was founded in 1983 by Denise Rae 
Zellner, who originally needed a small choral group for her acting 
group, the Ypsilanti Players. The Choir quickly outgrew that supporting 
roll, and by March of 1984 nearly 60 musicians stood on the stage at 
Holy Trinity Chapel for their first official performance.
  For the last 40 years, the Ypsilanti Community Choir has participated 
in special events in and around the city, like the Harvest Festival and 
sidewalk caroling during the holiday season. Residents of the local 
Senior Living Communities have been blessed with countless 
performances, drastically improving their quality of life. The Choir 
also sings the national anthem at basketball games for Eastern Michigan 
University, as well as Memorial Day ceremonies at the local Washtenaw 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  All of these events, large and small, help foster a sense of 
community in the city of Ypsilanti. Dozens of different voices, working 
together for a singular purpose, and the end result being more 
beautiful than any one of them could accomplish alone. The Choir is an 
excellent example of what we need to do on the local, state, and 
national level, and what we can accomplish if we work together with a 
common goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 
founding of the Ypsilanti Community Choir. For 40 years, they have been 
making the city of Ypsilanti a more vibrant and welcoming place for all 
residents. We thank them for their contributions to this great city, 
and I cannot wait till the next time I get to hear those voices ring.