[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16683]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NEVADA OPERA THEATRE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 25th 
anniversary and great impact of the Nevada Opera Theatre in Las Vegas, 
NV. A pillar in the arts, education and entertainment in southern 
Nevada, we are proud of the Nevada Theatre Opera and its many 
achievements since inception. It is my great pleasure to honor this 
fine institution along with its participants, patrons and volunteers 
here before the U.S. Senate today.
  Known as a global center of entertainment and the arts, Las Vegas, 
NV, enjoys an incredible atmosphere of music and theatre. Eileen Hayes 
desired to add the immense impact of opera to this reputation and 
realized her goal with the foundation of the Nevada Opera Theatre in 
October of 1985. She brought opera music and performance to southern 
Nevada. Her work has been instrumental, and since the first performance 
in August of 1986, audiences have been captivated by productions 
including: La Boheme, La Traviata, Tosca and Die Fledermaus, to name a 
few.
  The theatre continues on today as the major nonprofit opera company 
in southern Nevada. Comprised of Nevada Opera Theatre artists, chorus, 
and children's chorus and orchestra, membership surpasses 120. Many of 
the included artists are nationally and internationally recognized, 
while others are talented regional and local performers. All artists 
exude an excellent caliber or professionalism in the development of 
their craft.
  As I have previously mentioned, these citizen performers not only 
entertain. Opera Outreach has performed for over 115,000 Clark County 
School District and private students, touching a great many lives in 
the ongoing education of our youth. Everyone is invited to participate 
by either joining the theatre or becoming a patron, making the 
education all the more tangible. Outreach encompasses not only programs 
in the schools but additional programming in local malls, hospices, 
hospitals, and for civic and community organizations.
  I join with my fellow Nevadans in honoring the Nevada Opera Theatre 
for its 25 years of service. Now well into its third decade, this 
institution has worked to bring a knowledge and appreciation of music 
to the people of southern Nevada, and I have no doubt that it will 
continue to do so for years to come. I am grateful and honored to 
recognize the 25th anniversary of the Nevada Opera Theatre.

                          ____________________