LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Skaneateles High School Orchestra on
placing first at the Presidential Inaugural Heritage Music Festival

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
organizations within our midst, which have demonstrated consistent
excellence while bringing great pride and enjoyment to the citizens of
our great State; and
WHEREAS, One such organization is the Skaneateles High School Orches-
tra, whose members traveled to the invitation-only Presidential Inaugur-
al Heritage Music Festival in Fairfax, Virginia, with one goal in mind,
to represent themselves, their school and their community by performing
with the highest standard of excellence; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Skaneateles High School Orchestra include:
Marika Klosowski, Sarah Main, Gaelyn Price, Jeff Baldetti, Eric Murray,
Olivia Hamlin, Elizabeth Shoenfelt, Joe Duggan, Liam Edwards, Chelsea
White, Dan Lemp, Josh Prickel, Jenny Coye, Amanda Dart, Jennifer Rich-
ardson, Jared Mulcahy, Ben Weirich, Brigid Judge, Kathleen Bitter,
Danielle Mazzeo, Jessica Tidd, AJ Richichi, Trevor Hinman, Diane Temple,
Cassie Berg, Xander Edwards, Reid Swartz, Daniel Kringer, and Nick
Simmons; and
WHEREAS, It is an honor simply to attend such a prestigious festival,
which brings together the most gifted musicians and musical groups to
compete and perform; Heritage Festivals was established in 1980 by a
group of music educators and educational tour professionals to do just
that; and
WHEREAS, At the Presidential Inaugural Heritage Music Festival, the
Skaneateles High School Orchestra performed before a panel of nationally
renowned adjudicators, and beat out 110 choral and orchestra groups from
around the Nation to take top honors; and
WHEREAS, The Skaneateles High School Orchestra received the Outstand-
ing Orchestra Award by having the highest overall score in the competi-
tion at George Mason University, which was held on Monday, January 19,
2009; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the award comes with a special invitation to
perform at a later date in either New York City's Kennedy Center, or
sites in Chicago or Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, At the festival, the 29 students in the Skaneateles High
School Orchestra also received the Adjudicator's Award, a prize given
for scoring 92 or higher of 100 possible points given by the judges; and
WHEREAS, These honors were especially significant being that it was
the very first time the Skaneateles High School Orchestra had ever
competed in the Presidential Inaugural Heritage Music Festival; and
WHEREAS, By virtue of their performance, the Skaneateles High School
Orchestra returned to Skaneateles and Skaneateles High School in
triumph; and
WHEREAS, The group will fondly remember their trip as the experience
of a lifetime; not only did they place first at the festival, but they
also had the opportunity to attend inauguration ceremonies for President
Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, In addition to this fine accomplishment, the Skaneateles High
School Orchestra has a distinguished history of achievement, including
being selected to perform in Rochester, New York, at the 71st Annual
NYSSMA Winter Conference in 2006; and
WHEREAS, It should be further noted that excellence in orchestra is
possible only through vigorous practice and discipline, habits that will
guide these young musicians to a lifetime of success in the musical
field or whatever career field they may decide upon; and

WHEREAS, The extremely high level of musical talent, spirit and team-
work displayed by the members of the 2008-2009 Skaneateles High School
Orchestra is due in great part to the enthusiasm and guidance of their
dedicated Director, Karen Veverka; and
WHEREAS, It is well understood that no orchestra can attain success
without a very large supporting cast that receives little recognition,
but does enjoy great pride and satisfaction in the successes of its
orchestra; this includes parents, siblings, teachers, instrumental
instructors, drivers, fundraisers, and other unsung heroes and heroines;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
take this opportunity to honor the members of the Skaneateles High
School Orchestra, who are credits to their school, role models to their
classmates, and exceptionally talented musicians; together with Director
Karen Veverka and the orchestra's loyal and generous supporters in the
Skaneateles High School community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Karen Veverka, Director, Skaneateles High School Orchestra.