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.
