Honoring Alan Harler, Music Director of the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia Chorus for his years of dedicated service to Philadelphia's music community.

WHEREAS,

Alan Harler is celebrating his twentieth year as the Music Director of the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia chorus, which was founded in 1874 and is one of the oldest choruses in the country; and

WHEREAS,

Maestro Harler serves as the Laura H. Carnell Professor and Chairman of Choral Music at Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance; and

WHEREAS,

Maestro Harler is a leading advocate of new American music and during his tenure with Mendelssohn Club, has commissioned forty-two new compositions; and

WHEREAS,

Maestro Harler also serves as a Conducting Mentor with the Conductors' Guild, making himself available for consultation with young conductors internationally; and

WHEREAS,

Maestro Harler is the recipient of numerous awards, both locally and nationally, bringing luster to the City of Philadelphia's reputation as a world-class center of extraordinary music and specifically recognizing Mendelssohn Club's role as a promoter of cross-cultural connection in musical performance; and

WHEREAS

, On March 29, 2009, Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia is celebrating Maestro Harler's Twentieth Anniversary as its Music Director with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's

Requiem

and a world premiere performance of a commissioned work created by Philadelphia's own Jennifer Higdon, an internationally renowned composer; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That Maestro Harler is to be honored and congratulated for the great credit his work has brought to the City of Philadelphia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED

, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Maestro Harler as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End