[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10437-10438]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF JOHN DROTLEFF, CONDUCTOR OF THE WEST SHORE CHORALE AND 
                               ORCHESTRA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 2004

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
John Drotleff--admired conductor, musician and friend, as he celebrates 
his Twentieth Anniversary of performing, leading and conducting the 
West Shore Chorale and Orchestra.
  Beyond his exemplary work with the West Shore Chorale, Mr. Drotleff 
has taught music at several local colleges, middle schools and high 
schools throughout Ohio--consistently inspiring our youth to attain 
their personal best and allow their natural musical talents to shine 
through. Mr. Drotleff was Chairman of Fine Arts at Lakewood High 
School, and has been a faculty member with Hiram College for the past 6 
years, where he conducts the Hiram College Choir and Hiram College 
Madrigal Singers. At Hiram, Mr. Drotleff teaches choral conducting, 
music theory and secondary choral methods.
  Mr. Drotleff's college ensembles have performed in New York, Boston, 
Chicago, and Detroit, and most notably, they have performed at the 
Kennedy Center and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Mr. 
Drotleff has also conducted the Youngstown Symphony Chorus and has 
served as a guest conductor for many musical groups throughout the 
northeastern United States.
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor, recognition and 
gratitude to Mr. John Drotleff as he celebrates 20 years of leadership, 
inspiration and guidance as conductor of

[[Page 10438]]

the West Shore Chorale and Orchestra. His remarkable ability to 
connect, inspire and uplift every member of his orchestra has 
significantly raised the level of musical offerings and has 
significantly increased public interest in every performance of the 
Chorale. An outstanding conductor, teacher and musical scholar, Mr. 
John Drotleff's love of music and strong confidence in his charges 
serves to draw the highest level of excellence from within the heart 
and soul of each performer. The lyrical and joyous concerto that 
personifies Mr. John Drotleff's life is a brilliant and treasured gift 
within our community that connects us through the universal language of 
music--uplifting our entire community on the wings of a song.

                          ____________________