[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 15479-15480] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN HONOR OF 16 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE BY THE NOVA-ANNANDALE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE 2010 AWARD RECIPIENTS ______ HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY of virginia in the house of representatives Tuesday, August 10, 2010 Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to thank the NOVA- Annandale Symphony Orchestra for providing our community with outstanding performances for the past 16 years and to recognize its 2010 Award Recipients. In 1994, Dr. Claiborne Richardson of the Reunion Music Society (RMS) and Dr. Gladys Watkins of the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Annandale Campus, formed a partnership between to create the NOVA-Annandale Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra combines the talents of local professional and amateur musicians and college students to develop their skills by performing the music of different cultures and heritages. On April 16, 2010, during the NOVA-Annandale Symphony Orchestra's ``Colors of Spring'' concert the RMS announced award recipients in two special categories: The Richardson-Watkins Founders Awards, which recognize persons or businesses from the community that have made significant contributions to the success of the RMS' programs, and The Orchestra/Players Awards, for which musicians are recognized by their peers for making significant contributions to the success and development of the symphony orchestra over several years. The 2010 recipients of The Richardson-Watkins Founders Awards are: Campbell & Ferrara Nurseries in Annandale, Va., and its Garden Manager, Karen Stay, for many years of providing complimentary flower arrangements displayed in the lobby of the NOVA Theater during the orchestra's concerts and for helping to promote concerts at its store. Ms. Stay always makes sure the floral arrangements are delivered on time. Mr. Steven Metzger, owner of ``Expert Software Design,'' who has hosted the RMS' website for many years, making timely changes, and absorbing all expenses. His diligence in maintaining the website is particularly [[Page 15480]] noteworthy since he commutes between his home in Fairfax, Va., and his full-time job in Frederick, Md. Mr. Metzger has been instrumental in converting the website (www.reunionmusic.org) to a new, exciting design. Dr. Barbara Saperstone, Provost of NOVA's Annandale Campus, who has supported RMS programs over a decade, including needed resources for the orchestra such as acoustical enhancements in the college theater. Through her leadership the college has provided at no cost to the orchestra or the RMS use of rehearsal rooms and the theater, purchase of music scores and printing of ``playbills'' for concerts. The recipients of The Orchestra/Players Awards are: Mrs. Nancy McKinless, who has served for many years as the orchestra's librarian and plays the violin at concerts. Mrs. McKinless ensures that the musicians have appropriate music scores for rehearsals and concerts. This involves dealing with music libraries for renting or purchasing music. Mr. Rolland (``Bucky'') Roup, who plays the violin. Mr. Roup devotes many hours to carefully coordinate logistical matters with the orchestra's music director and with the NOVA theater technical staff, and he has trained a cadre of other orchestra members to assist in stage management. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the NOVA-Annandale Symphony Orchestra for continuing to offer outstanding concerts in collaboration with the RMS and NOVA, and I also ask that we commend the 2010 recipients of The Richardson-Watkins Founders Awards and of The Orchestra/Players Choice Awards. ____________________