SLS 23RS-815 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 35
BY SENATORS BERNARD AND LUNEAU AND REPRESENTATIVES COX AND
FIRMENT
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Northwestern State University Middle Lab School
Orchestra upon their outstanding performance at festival Disney in Orlando, Florida and for
their many musical accomplishments.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend the Northwestern State University (NSU) Middle Lab School Orchestra upon
3 their outstanding performance at Festival Disney and for their many musical
4 accomplishments.
5 WHEREAS, the vision and mission of the NSU Middle Lab School is, "Where future
6 leaders flourish and excellence thrives", and the students clearly represented the vision and
7 mission in their performance at the Festival Disney held March 31 through April 1, 2023,
8 in Orlando, Florida; and
9 WHEREAS, the prestigious music festival is a positive and educationally meaningful
10 event for talented middle and high school concert choirs, orchestras, and concert bands; this
11 year it was the premiere international music festival where 51 orchestras, bands, and choirs
12 performed with hopes of winning one of the coveted Mickey Mouse trophies; and
13 WHEREAS, at this year's competition, the NSU Middle Lab School Orchestra
14 consisted of 61 string orchestra members from sixth through eight grade accompanied by
15 174 supportive individuals including parents, siblings, and grandparents, under the
16 leadership of the Lab School Orchestra Director Katrice LaCour and Talent Instructor
17 Milovan Paz; and
18 WHEREAS, the group performed in the Ballroom of the Americas at the Disney's
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SLS 23RS-815 ORIGINAL
1 Contemporary Resort and were evaluated by three adjudicators who are distinguished
2 collegiate music educators including: Dr. Kenneth Dye, Director of Bands and Professor of
3 Music at the University of Notre Dame; Dr. Rick Good, Department Chair and Director of
4 Bands at Auburn University; and Professor Gary Langford, Professor Emeritus of Music at
5 the University of Florida; and
6 WHEREAS, three types of awards were presented at the award ceremony which took
7 place in the Indiana Jones Theater; the awards were presented to ensembles receiving a
8 superior rating (90-100%) or excellent rating (80-89%); and
9 WHEREAS, the Best in Class award was presented to the highest rated ensemble
10 within their division; and Festival Disney Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards were presented
11 to the three highest superior rated ensembles overall; and
12 WHEREAS, the NSU Middle Lab School Orchestra impressed judges and earned the
13 Festival Disney Superior Award with a score of 93.5% as well as the Best in Class for the
14 highest score in its division; and
15 WHEREAS, the group was also awarded the Gold Mickey Mouse Award for the
16 highest score overall; and
17 WHEREAS, the orchestra is a reflection of the cultural, social, and ethnic diversity
18 of its community achieving a harmony of interest by working towards a common goal.
19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
20 commend the Northwestern State University Middle Lab School Orchestra for its
21 magnificent performance at Festival Disney in Orlando; does hereby congratulate them on
22 an impressive 2023 performance season; and does hereby express sincere and best wishes
23 for continued individual and group success for band members, Orchestra Director Katrice
24 LaCour, and Talent Instructor Milovan Paz.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
26 Katrice LaCour, Northwestern State University Middle Lab School Orchestra director.
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SLS 23RS-815 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Kenyatta M. Honeycutt.
DIGEST
SCR 35 Original 2023 Regular Session Bernard
Commends the Northwestern State University Middle Lab School Orchestra upon their
outstanding performance at Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida, and for their many musical
accomplishments.
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