MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2006 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jordan, Jackson (11th), Thomas, Walls, Frazier, Butler, Turner, Mettetal, Tollison, Chaney, Wilemon, Clarke, Lee (35th), Nunnelee, Harden, Jackson (32nd), Simmons, Horhn
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR FOR ITS TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AND FOR REPRESENTING THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL VENUES.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Valley State University Concert Choir has enjoyed a high standard of choral excellence during the University's 52 years of existence; and
WHEREAS, the choir has always served as an Ambassador of the University and the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Orlando Moss, Composer and Voice Teacher began directing the choir during the Fall of 1993. Presently, he directs the choir for campus and community concerts. He conducted the choir for four years at the Annual George A. Johnson Choral Concert in Jackson, Mississippi, and he directed the choir at the American Negro Spiritual Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio, and won a prestigious award; and
WHEREAS, the choir, representing Mississippi, competed in the highest and most difficult Classical category at the 15th Concorso Internazionale Di Canto Corale in Verona, Italy, on April 14-18, 2004. Out of 33 choirs from different countries, the choir won the Silver Cup, making it one of the best choirs in the world. The choir also performed concerts at the Senior Center of Bardolino and at the church service of Saint Antonio in Costermo. Because the choir won in the competition in Verona, the choir was invited to perform at the National Association for the Study and Performance of African-American Music's 2005 Professional Music Conference; and
WHEREAS, the choir is especially famous for its interpretation of African-American music, but is equally famous for being able to perform in any musical genre; and
WHEREAS, many outstanding singers have entered the doors of the Mississippi Valley State University choral corridors and have left their footprints in the sands of excellence by helping the choir achieve vocal prominence. Many sang in Moss' The Mississippi Delta Saga during the 1997 Spring semester at Mississippi Valley State University; and
WHEREAS, presently, the choir has applied for a tour of 30 students to Brazil to learn about their culture, let them learn about the great State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Delta, and the United States of America, and, to continue extending our American values and dreams to a world that needs to better understand us. The choir promotes the belief that students must become knowledgeable about other world cultures in order to become fully educated; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Valley State University Concert Choir will continue to offer the very best in choral excellence to highlight the cultural, educational and musical values found in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this great artistic organization in the university system which brings honor to its community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the Mississippi Valley State University Concert Choir, under the direction of Orlando Moss, for its tradition of excellence and for its representation of the State of Mississippi at national and international venues and extend to them the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate in its future tours and activities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Orlando Moss and the Concert Choir, be forwarded to Dr. Lester Newman, President of Mississippi Valley State University, and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.