[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING CHRISTINA SCHEPPELMANN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARTS

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                          HON. PRAMILA JAYAPAL

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2024

  Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Christina 
Scheppelmann, who is stepping down after five years of service as the 
General Director of Seattle Opera.
  Seattle Opera thrived under Christina's leadership. Her passion for 
the performing arts will undoubtedly leave a mark on the City of 
Seattle for years to come. In the process of navigating a global 
pandemic that halted over two years of in-house performances, Christina 
led Seattle Opera to be able to deliver the entirety of its programming 
during the 2020-2021 season by recording performances for patrons to 
stream online. She helped hire artists to present free, online 
performances and expand virtual educational programming for youth and 
Veterans. When pandemic restrictions began to partially lift in 2021, 
Christina committed to offering Seattle Opera's first celebratory 
outdoor rendition of ``Die Walkure'' by Richard Wagner.
  Throughout her tenure, Christina forged a deep commitment to 
community engagement as well as diversity, equity and inclusion. Under 
her leadership, the Seattle Opera presented a number of works by and 
about people of color. The productions included ``Blue'', a story about 
a Black family that draws strength from their community in the face of 
a police killing and ``Bound'', a story about a daughter of Vietnamese 
immigrants, as well as A Thousand Splendid Suns and X: The Life and 
Times of Malcolm X. In all of these productions, she engaged the 
community through Advisory Boards, outreach to the specific communities 
represented in the productions, and nonprofit organizations working on 
the issues. Her goal, in her words to me, was that these productions 
``showcase how Seattle Opera is keeping relevant stories centered on-
stage.''
  In 2020, she led Seattle Opera to launch its Racial Equity and Social 
Impact plan. The effort contributed toward hiring a diverse staff and 
brought over 100 new artists from around the world to debut 
performances. Her addition of community programs such as the Jane Lang 
Davis Creation Lab and the Seattle Arts Fellowship--will serve as 
trademark opportunities for underrepresented communities to build 
careers in the arts.
  Christina's leadership at the Seattle Opera exemplifies the need for 
all of us in the United States to ensure we support the arts and the 
unique ability arts have to add positively to our society. As Christina 
moves on from her role at the end of the 2023-24 season to lead La 
Monnaie De Munt in Brussels, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating her many accomplishments and contributions to Seattle 
Opera. On behalf of Washington's 7th Congressional District, I thank 
Christina for her service to the people of the Pacific Northwest and 
dedication to the performing arts.

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