[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 81 (Monday, May 15, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DR. SUNGBAE JU

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 15, 2023

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Sungbae Ju 
in commendation of his time as the President and Founder of Bel Canto 
Opera, Inc., a United Nations non-profit that aspires to achieve 
international unity through music.
  On December 17, 1963, Dr. Ju was born in Busan, South Korea to Mr. 
Chang Ho Ju and Mrs. Hyo Won Park. While Ju and his four brothers grew 
up in Korea, Sungbae immigrated to the United States of America on 
January 17, 1990, pursuing an educational opportunity fitting for his 
musical aptitude.
  Dr. Sungbae Ju first attended the Manhattan School of Music and 
received a Master of Music. His educational journey, however, quickly 
combined with his international interests. Upon graduation, Dr. Ju 
pursued a higher level of education and received a Doctor of Literature 
from Canada Christian College and an Honorable Doctor of Music from the 
Universidad Cristiana de Bolivia.
  Dr. Ju quickly rose to prominence in the music community, both 
nationally and internationally. As a Classical Opera Singer, he 
performed in several renowned venues including Carnegie Hall and the 
Lincoln Center. While his career started in the Northeastern region of 
the United States of America, marked by performances with the New York 
Harmonic Orchestra and KBS String, Dr. Ju's talent warranted 
recognition from some of the industry's most famous judges. He was 
awarded 1st Prize at the Glenn Music Festival by legendary MET judges 
such as Virginia Zeani and Madam Licia Albanese.
  He later began performing for the public sector, winning not only an 
appreciation letter from the White House, but also the Presidential 
Lifetime Award for his achievements in both musical performances and 
the public sector.
  This unprecedented success served as a segway for Dr. Sungbae Ju's 
work on an international level. With over 200 performances for both 
state governments and the United Nations, Dr. Ju's international 
musical experience and outstanding public service record, he formed the 
Bel Canto International Society (also known as Bel Canto Opera, Inc.),
  Through his non-profit, Dr. Ju blended his musical talent with both 
his international pursuits and his public service record to aid 
individuals across the globe. Using music as his tool, he unified 
countless communities who lived without many of the luxuries that are 
often taken for granted. His work as the President of the Bel Canto 
International Society singlehandedly changed the lives of so many in 
under-privileged regions.
  Since 2019, Dr. Sungbae Ju stepped away from his non-profit and 
formed his own consulting agency, hoping to inspire and equip others 
with the means of making a global difference.
  The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is 
rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the 
efforts of individuals like Dr. Ju, who never fail to make the world a 
better place.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, friends, family, and 
the residents of New Jersey in recognizing Dr. Sungbae Ju for his 
outstanding work, as we celebrate his decades of distinguished service 
to the State of New Jersey. May Sungbae, his wife Hyo Im, and three 
daughters, Hannah, Sarah and Victoria stand proud.

                          ____________________