Honoring and Congratulating the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale on its 40th Anniversary Season.

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Boys Choir was founded by Dr. Robert G. Hamilton in 1968 and continued to grow steadily in size and quality during the 1970s and 1980s; and

WHEREAS, The Choir provides the finest musical training to talented boys and men from the greater Philadelphia area, regardless of their ethnic, religious or economic backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, The Choir strives to help each boy achieve artistic excellence, strength of character, self discipline and focus through the rehearsal and performance of music; and

WHEREAS, Past members of the Choir include KYW-3 TV anchorman Ukee Washington, Joe Bonsall of the country music group the

Oak Ridge Boys

and Shawn Stockman of the R&B group

Boyz II Men

; and

WHEREAS, The performing Choir numbers over 90 boys and 30 men; and

WHEREAS, The Choir represents the United States and Philadelphia throughout the world as

America's Ambassadors Of Song

; and

WHEREAS, The Choir's achievements include world tours with performances for heads of state, recordings with internationally renowned orchestras, and praise from critics and audiences worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Under the artistic direction of Jeffrey R. Smith and John B. Stroud, Jr., the Choir performs more than 60 concerts each year throughout the Philadelphia region including 25 performances of the Nutcracker with the Pennsylvania Ballet; now therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and Congratulates the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale on its 40th Anniversary Season; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Choir as a sincere expression of City Council's gratitude and appreciation for the Choir's many contributions to the City of Philadelphia.

End