[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6156]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF DR. MARK P. THOMAS FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE 
                       SCHUYLKILL CHORAL SOCIETY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 1, 2015

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Mark P. 
Thomas, who will be honored for his service to the Schuylkill Choral 
Society on May 9. Dr. Thomas has served as the music director and 
conductor of the Schuylkill Choral Society for three decades.
  Under his leadership, the Schuylkill County Choral Society has gained 
worldwide recognition. Dr. Thomas has been recognized in the United 
States and Europe for his contribution to the performing arts. In 
addition to his duties with the Choral Society, Dr. Thomas is a founder 
of both the Anthracite Philharmonic and Schuylkill County's first 
children's chorus, Minor Notes Chorale.
  Dr. Thomas has been a guest artist and conductor for many 
organizations including the Prague Radio Symphony, the New York Pops, 
and the Schuylkill Symphony Orchestra. He has made multiple tours 
throughout Europe and North America which have included multiple 
performances at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the Riverside 
Cathedral in New York, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, the State Opera House 
and the Cathedral of St. Mary and Paul in Prague, and the Cathedral of 
St. Stephen in Vienna. Thomas has served as a guest conductor with the 
Ocean Grove Choral Festival Choir, at Reading's Music-fest, and for 
PMEA choral festivals throughout Pennsylvania. He has also toured and 
conducted in Russia, Finland, and Estonia with members of the State 
Orchestra of St. Petersburg and members of the Eastern Pennsylvania 
Choral Society. In 2016, he will be leading the Schuylkill Choral 
Society on a tour to Italy and France which will include performances 
in Rome, Florence, Paris, and Normandy. Dr. Thomas has appeared 
nationally on the NPR and PBS as well as local appearances on Comcast 
Tonight and Comcast Newsmakers. He has served as a music consultant for 
Maryland Educational Television and as an adjunct professor at Alvernia 
University, Penn State University, and Bucks County Community College. 
Thomas and his choirs are also featured performers of the National 
Anthem for the Philadelphia sports community, including regular 
performances for the Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers.
  Dr. Thomas is deservedly listed in the Who's Who in the World, Who's 
Who in America, Who's Who in Education, and Who's Who among American 
Teachers. He has received recognition from former President Bill 
Clinton on behalf of a music program he designed honoring World War II 
veterans. He has also received recognition from the U.S. House of 
Representatives, the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the Schuylkill 
County Board of Commissioners, and the Austrian and German governments. 
Thomas was named by Philadelphia Magazine as ``Best Choral Director'' 
in the Philadelphia region. He has also been recognized by the St. 
David's Society as a ``Citizen of the Year,'' was Pennsylvania finalist 
for ``Teacher of the Year,'' and was the first musician inducted into 
the Upper Perkiomen Valley Academic Hall of Fame.
  It is an honor to recognize Dr. Mark Thomas for his work in the 
musical arts. His passion for music is evident in his impressive body 
of work, which has touched countless individuals over the years. I 
applaud him for his service to the greater artistic good, and I wish 
him continued success in the future.

                          ____________________