Bill Text: NY K00203 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Peyton M. Hibbitt, renowned conductor and co-Founder of Tri-Cities Opera

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-25 - adopted [K00203 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00203-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 203

BY: M. of A. Lupardo

        CELEBRATING   the   life  of  Peyton  M.  Hibbitt,
        renowned  conductor  and  co-Founder  of  Tri-Cities
        Opera

  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  profound  sorrow that this Legislative Body,
representing the people of the State of New York, is moved this  day  to
pay  tribute to an eminent man of indomitable dedication whose countless
accomplishments will forever stand as a  paradigm  and  inspiration  for
others; and

  WHEREAS,  Peyton M. Hibbitt of Binghamton, New York, died on Friday,
March 1, 2019, at the age of 93; and

  WHEREAS, Born on August 27, 1925, in Los Angeles, Peyton M.  Hibbitt
and  his  family  later  relocated  to Michigan, where he graduated from
Kalamazoo High School; and

  WHEREAS, After valiantly  serving  his  country  as  a  Naval  Sonar
Technician   during  World  War  II,  Peyton  M.  Hibbitt  attended  the
Philadelphia Conservatory and the Philadelphia Music  Academy;  while  a
student,  he  served as Assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Oratorio
Society; and

  WHEREAS, Peyton M. Hibbitt and Carmen  Savoca  performed  a  musical
miracle  in 1949, when they founded Tri-Cities Opera; the company, which
began with modest productions sung by regional talent, evolved into  one
of the preeminent opera training companies in the United States; and

  WHEREAS,  A  true  titan  in  the  local  music community, Peyton M.
Hibbitt served as Music Director, Principal Conductor and Vocal Coach of
the Resident Artist Training  Program  during  the  company's  first  50
seasons;  in  this  capacity, he trained numerous opera singers, some of
whom went on to national and international stages; and

  WHEREAS, For 20 years, Peyton M.  Hibbitt  also  served  as  Adjunct
Professor  and  co-Director of the Master of Music with a specialization
in  opera  program  at  Binghamton  University,  in   conjunction   with
Tri-Cities  Opera; he subsequently received the University Medal, one of
the highest honors the university can bestow; and

  WHEREAS, As a guest conductor, Peyton M. Hibbitt made  his  European
debut  at  the  Teatro  Regio  in  Parma,  Italy,  conducting the Arturo
Toscanini Symphony Orchestra; he also led  performances  at  the  Bilbao
Opera Festival in Spain; and

  WHEREAS,  In  the  United States, Peyton M. Hibbitt held the post of
Music Director of the Elmira Symphony from 1960 to  1966;  his  American
guest  conducting  credits  include  the  Chautauqua  Opera Association,
Arizona Opera, Wichita Opera, Fort Worth Opera,  Syracuse  Opera,  Opera
Theatre  of  Greater  Lansing,  Cincinnati  Opera, Rochester Opera and a
critically acclaimed New York City debut with the Chamber Opera  Theatre
of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Peyton  M.  Hibbitt  was the founder of the New York State
Opera League, was  appointed  by  Governor  Nelson  Rockefeller  to  the
advisory  panel  of  the  New York State Arts Council, and served in the
U.S.  Delegation to the International Conference on the Education of the
Young Singer in Sofia, Bulgaria; and

  WHEREAS,   In   recognition   of   his  significant  impact  on  and
contributions to the arts in Broome County, Peyton M.  Hibbitt  was  the
proud  recipient  of Broome County Arts Council's prestigious 2008 Heart
of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award; and

  WHEREAS, Predeceased by  his  parents,  Ralph  and  Mildred  (Plumb)
Hibbitt,  and  his  siblings,  Ralph  and  Annie,  Peyton  M. Hibbitt is
survived by his former student and lifelong  friend,  Paul  Arnold;  his
dear friend, Shelley Washington; and his many devoted students; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Peyton M. Hibbitt leaves behind a  legacy  which  will  long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate  the  life  of  Peyton  M.  Hibbitt,  renowned  conductor  and
co-Founder of Tri-Cities Opera; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Peyton M. Hibbitt.