[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16545]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING WILSON BATISTA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sorrow at the 
passing of one of the Dominican commmunity's most beloved young 
musicians, Wilson Batista.
  On June 18, the world lost 29-year-old classical pianist Wilson 
Batista to a sudden brain aneurism. At the time of his death, he was 
attending the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied under with 
internationally recognized pianist Philip Kawin.
  Born in the Dominican Republic, but raised in Washington Heights, 
Wilson came from a family that worked hard to fund his early music 
education. Those efforts and Wilson's inherent talents helped turn the 
child prodigy into an internationally renowned classical pianist.
  Eager to listen to the youngster in concert, the excitement over 
Wilson's early success opened the world of classical music to new fans 
of all ages and classes. He would go on to amass numerous distinctions, 
including winning the top prize at the Luis Ferre International 
Concerto Competition and earning performances at places like New York's 
Carnegie Hall, Puerto Rico's Centro de Bellas Artes, and el Gran Teatro 
del Cibao in the Dominican Republic.
  While he performed around the world, Wilson was never too far away 
from New York and his Dominican traditions. He was a shining example of 
the best that our community can produce and an example to our youth 
that any dream is possible, in any field or industry.
  My heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues. 
Though saddened by not being able to see this young man reach his full 
potential, we are all blessed to have enjoyed his talent during his 
brief time here on earth.

                          ____________________