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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Victoria Bach Festival is presenting its 40th |
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anniversary season in June 2015, and this milestone provides a |
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welcome opportunity to pay tribute to this unique musical event; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The first Victoria Bach Festival was presented in |
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1976 under the direction of Dr. David Urness, and over the years, |
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this regional classical musical festival has drawn thousands of |
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music lovers from across the state; the first season was sponsored |
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by the University of Houston-Victoria, which has since been joined |
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in its support by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the City of |
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Victoria, the National Endowment for the Arts, and a host of |
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individuals and businesses from the community; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1992, the Victoria Bach Festival has been led |
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by Grammy-nominated artistic director Craig Hella Johnson, and |
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today his creative team also includes New Young Artist coordinator |
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Faith DeBow and chamber music director Michelle Schumann; the |
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festival features principal players from the nation's leading |
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orchestras, and the festival's lineup has been expanded beyond the |
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works of Johann Sebastian Bach to include composers from the entire |
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history of classical music; performances in recent years have |
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featured compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven, Charles Ives, George |
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Gershwin, Arvo Pärt, and Roberto Sierra; and |
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WHEREAS, During festival week, audiences are treated to |
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large-scale performances of symphonies and oratorios as well as |
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more intimate performances by vocal artists and chamber ensembles |
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at various venues in Victoria; concerts are broadcast on South |
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Texas Public Radio, reaching 100,000 listeners in 15 Texas |
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counties; and |
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WHEREAS, The festival's education and outreach programs |
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include the New Young Artists Program, master classes with |
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professional musicians, children's concerts, preconcert talks, and |
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dress rehearsals that are open to the public; the work of the |
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festival continues in the off-season with an annual holiday concert |
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by the vocal ensemble Conspirare, performances of silent films with |
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live musical accompaniment, and appearances by guest artists; and |
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WHEREAS, For four decades, the Victoria Bach Festival has |
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brought the gift of some of the most inspiring music in the world to |
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the residents of Victoria and South Texas, and this remarkable |
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cultural event is truly deserving of special recognition; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 40th anniversary season of the |
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Victoria Bach Festival and extend to the festival's staff and |
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guests sincere best wishes for a glorious week of wonderful music; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Victoria Bach Festival as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |