LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Common Time Choral Group of Elmi-
ra, New York, upon the occasion of celebrating its 25th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those illustrious musical organizations that have brought enter-
tainment and cultural enrichment to the citizens of the great State of
New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Common Time Choral Group of Elmira, New York, upon the occasion of cele-
brating its 25th Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, In honor of this most auspicious occasion, the Common Time
Choral Group will hold three spectacular Anniversary Performances at the
Clemens Center throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, The Anniversary Performances will include a 1950s Music
Concert on Saturday, March 27, 2010, which will be followed by a
Potpourri of Music to be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010, and the final
concert will be a Holiday Performance on Saturday, November 27, 2010;
and
WHEREAS, Common Time Choral Group was founded in 1985, when Karen
Rafferty and a friend decided that Elmira and its vicinity needed a
choral group to perform popular music; and
WHEREAS, Paul Holland was contacted to serve as the first director and
rehearsals began in January of 1985; the original group consisted of 37
people, and in April of 1985, the Common Time Choral Group held its
first concert at EFA; and
WHEREAS, Subsequent concerts were held in various high schools around
the area until November 1987, when the Common Time Choral Group moved to
Mandeville Hall in the Clemens Center; and
WHEREAS, In Mandeville, the group's audience quickly outgrew the space
and the group had to start holding additional concerts, one on Saturday
night and another on Sunday afternoon; concerts were held at Mandeville
Hall until March of 1990, when the Choral moved into its current home,
Powers Theater; and
WHEREAS, Today, Common Time Choral Group continues to sing under the
able leadership of Paul Holland and averages 70 to 80 singers; for most
concerts the Group draws 1000 - 1500 people in the audience and performs
all concerts free of charge as a gift to the community; and
WHEREAS, The group performs three major concerts a year, kicking off
with a holiday concert held the Saturday after Thanksgiving each Novem-
ber; the next concert is performed in March and always includes a
special theme; past concerts have featured country, jazz, patriotic and
Broadway songs, as well as popular music from TV and commercials; the
group's final concert is held the first weekend in June and always
includes a variety of musical selections; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the full concerts, Common Time Choral Group
performs at various events throughout the community; they sing for most
of the nursing homes in the area one or more times each year and have
sung for events such as the Arts in the Park, Corning Summer Song, the
Christmas Parade, Corning Museum events and private parties; and
WHEREAS, The success of the Common Time Choral Group is in direct
correlation to the efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and
always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled
enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeav-
ors on behalf of the Choral and the population it serves; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are

brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Common Time Choral Group of Elmira, New York, upon the occasion
of celebrating its 25th Anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Common Time Choral Group.