Bill Text: NY J02129 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-20 - ADOPTED [J02129 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-J02129-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 2129 BY: Senator GAUGHRAN COMMEMORATING the 60th Anniversary of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival to be celebrated on July 7, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that music contributes significantly to the cultural enrichment and quality of life in the 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 commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival; the festival will celebrate 60 years of free concerts in the park with a Beatles Tribute performed by Strawberry Fields to be celebrated on Sunday, July 7, 2019; and WHEREAS, In 1959, Mayor Joseph A. Suozzi, Laura Parsons Pratt and others established the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival to present free concerts in the park on summer weekends; it has done so without interruption since its inception 60 years ago and is now one of the oldest continuously operated arts organizations on Long Island; and WHEREAS, Morgan Park was dedicated in 1932 to the City of Glen Cove and the Village of Locust Valley by Glen Cove resident J.P. Morgan, and on July 5, 1959, the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival held its first concert; and WHEREAS, In that concert, Glen Cove's Clara Burling Roesch conducted a program by The Little Orchestra Society; by 1982, the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival had grown to where it was able to sponsor a concert every summer weekend; and WHEREAS, Over the years, the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival brought to Glen Cove such stars as Dave Brubeck, Shirley Verrett, Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Maxine Sullivan, Virgil Fox and Marion McPartland, as well as the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy Concert Bands; and WHEREAS, As their success grew, so did the size of the performances, and it became evident that there was a need for a larger stage in the Park; led by the tireless efforts of Marguerite Suozzi and Nancy Epstein, the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival worked for five years to raise the funds necessary to construct a beautiful permanent stage in Morgan Park; and WHEREAS, The Morgan Park Summer Music Festival gave the stage to the City of Glen Cove so it could be used by many groups throughout the season to provide live entertainment to the public; and WHEREAS, Another important part of the Festival's ongoing mission is to support and encourage young musicians; for 45 years, the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival sponsored the Young Performers Competition, providing financial awards to audition winners and an opportunity to perform at their own summer concert; and WHEREAS, In 2019, in lieu of the competition, the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival collaborated with the Nassau Music Educators Association to provide a scholarship to a student who plans to further his/her musical studies; and WHEREAS, The Morgan Park Summer Music Festival is supported solely by donations from the community; the Board and volunteers have devoted countless hours of their time and talent to assure the continued success of the Festival for the past 60 years; and WHEREAS, More than 4,000 people each year enjoy the musical programs the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival brings to the Park; these programs consist of music of all artistic and cultural styles, representing the varied tastes and traditions of the uniquely diverse community; and WHEREAS, The success of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival is in direct correlation to the efforts of its Board President Thomas Suozzi, as well as its Executive Board and numerous volunteers, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the festival and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, The treasured values of family unity and wholesome entertainment for all ages are reflected in the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival, an event which helps to foster community spirit and cooperation and preserves the beliefs, ideals and values upon which this great State and Nation were founded; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Thomas Suozzi, Board President, Morgan Park Summer Music Festival.