[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO MADISON HIGH SCHOOL BEL CANTO CHOIR, REXBURG, IDAHO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 15, 2007

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an 
exceptional high school choir in my district, the Madison High School 
Bel Canto Choir of Rexburg, Idaho, which has been chosen to perform at 
New York City's legendary Carnegie Hall on March 19, 2007.
  The Bel Canto choir was selected out of dozens of high school choirs 
across the country for this performance. The concert will feature 200 
students from three states, and it is the capstone of Carnegie Hall's 
yearlong National High School Choral Festival. The concert will be 
conducted by Dr. Craig Jessop, esteemed Music Director of the Mormon 
Tabernacle Choir, who has been working with the choirs and their 
conductors throughout the year. Apart from their world-renowned 
performances, Carnegie Hall brings innovative music education programs 
to students across the nation. I am delighted that these young 
constituents have been given this opportunity.
  Led by David Hinck, the Madison High School Bel Canto Choir had its 
beginnings in the 1960s. The choir consistently receives high ratings 
at regional choral festivals and has been a featured ensemble at the 
Idaho Music Educators Conference, Northwest Music Educators Conference, 
and the Idaho ACDA Retreat. In 2005, the choir received top honors at 
the FAME festival in Branson, Missouri. The ensemble regularly joins 
with the MHS Orchestra and has performed several works with the 
orchestra and other choirs from the Eastern Idaho Area.
  I am honored to have one of the four schools in the nation chosen for 
the Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival residing in my 
Idaho district. They should be proud not only of their musical 
achievement, but their embodiment of the quality musical education the 
State of Idaho provides. I commend these students and their leaders for 
their success, and wish them the best of luck on March 19 when they 
perform at Carnegie Hall.

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