[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8532-8533]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO MARIN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2006

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Marin Youth 
Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Over 
the past half century, the orchestra has provided the opportunity for 
over 3,000 talented young musicians to learn and perform classic 
symphonic orchestral music.
  This was made possible by brilliant conductors such as founder 
Maestro Hugo Rinaldi who led the MSYO from its inception in the fall of 
1954 until 1989 while the group enjoyed residence at Dominican College. 
Under his leadership the MSYO grew to become an integral part of the 
arts community in Marin County collaborating with the Marin Ballet, 
Marin Girl's Chorus, Marin Opera, Marin Theater Company, Marin Youth-
In-Arts and numerous other organizations. He also toured the MSYO to 
Italy, Austria, and Australia, a unique experience for the young 
musicians.
  Upon Hugo Rinaldi's retirement, Leslie Stewart led the group for 
seven seasons, adding scholarships and a chamber program. Dr. Anthony 
Adessa developed the orchestra further until 2001, when current 
conductor George Thomson took over the baton. Thompson moved MSYO to 
its current home with the College of Marin.
  Under Maestro Thomson's leadership the orchestra has developed an 
extraordinary opportunity for soloists, and ensemble players to 
experiment with innovative repertoire. He continues to provide gifted 
young people with an

[[Page 8533]]

opportunity to benefit from his professional coaching and intimate 
knowledge of classical literature, allowing for participation in 
performing rich and rewarding orchestral music.
  The MYSO has provided valuable training for a number of students who 
have continued their musical careers into the uppermost heights of 
musical accomplishment. Alumni include Joe Alessi, Principal Trombone 
of the New York Philharmonic; Mark Isham, Grammy, ASCAP, and Tony award 
winning film score composer; Tara Flandreau, Chair of the College of 
Marin Music Department; Dan Smiley, Second Violin; San Francisco 
Symphony; and numerous performers of the Marin Symphony Orchestra as 
well as music teachers who have continued to instruct successive 
generations.
  In the words of participant Lucy Williams (First Violin Section, 
2004), ``When I went to hear Jeremy Constant (Marin Symphony 
concertmaster) perform on his Stradivarius at Davies Symphony Hall I 
asked him what inspired him. He said that as a youth symphony musician 
he got to play Scheherazade, by Rimsky-Korsakov, and I realized that he 
was my age when he was playing it and we had just finished performing 
that same piece! I felt a rush of excitement, like I was walking a path 
of history and it might lead me onto that stage some day. I thought 
about George telling us about the ``giant nerf rocks'' in the shipwreck 
passage and it made me feel like the luckiest person there.''
  Mr. Speaker, the Marin Youth Symphony Orchestra will continue to 
develop musical talent and provide inspiration for young talented 
people in Marin County by making it possible for them to learn and 
share musical experiences of the highest possible level. The benefits 
of this cultural asset extend to the entire community, enriching our 
national musical heritage. I congratulate them on this 50th anniversary 
celebration.

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