Bill Text: VA HJR717 | 2015 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Andrew Charles Koebler.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-02-06 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ717ER) [HJR717 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2015-HJR717-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, Andrew Charles Koebler has excelled in his position as organist and choirmaster at All Saints Episcopal Church in Richmond for the past 26 years; and WHEREAS, Andrew "Andy" Charles Koebler, who was reared in Philadelphia and received his first musical training from his father at the age of nine, began his career singing under the choirmaster at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church and continued his musical training at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey; and WHEREAS, Andy Koebler received a master's degree from the College of New Jersey and held positions as organist-choirmaster in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois prior to arriving at All Saints Episcopal Church; and WHEREAS, Andy Koebler began his tenure at All Saints Episcopal Church on January 1, 1989, and has served under three rectors and two interim rectors; and WHEREAS, Andy Koebler sang with both the Richmond Symphony Chorus and the Richmond Concert Chorale for several years; he has also served as an adjunct professor of music history and appreciation at the University of Richmond for 15 years and has taught piano and organ as a private instructor; and WHEREAS, under Andy Koebler's guidance, the All Saints Choir of Men and Boys has made six trips to England and one to Austria, visiting sites where the celebrated music of the church was written and first performed and gaining new appreciation for the historical aspects of the music; the choir has appeared at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., five times and has performed up and down the East Coast; and WHEREAS, Andy Koebler is one of many organists and choirmasters who have mentored an untold number of men and boys throughout the Commonwealth and the United States; many of the boys who graduate from the All Saints Choir return to sing in the choir while in high school or as adults to be a part of one of the few such choirs in the United States; and WHEREAS, on December 24, 2014, Andy Koebler's last Christmas Eve service, over 40 former members of the Choir of Men and Boys returned to sing and be part of this service; and WHEREAS, Andy Koebler retired on December 31, 2014, after 26 years of playing and singing sacred and classical music by the greatest composers, as well as modern traditional and nontraditional music; he was instrumental in guiding, leading, and teaching a generation of boys, young men, and adults throughout his career; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Andrew Charles Koebler for his distinguished service as organist and choirmaster of All Saints Episcopal Church on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Andrew Charles Koebler as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his many years of service and for his valuable contributions to the music ministry of All Saints Episcopal Church, the Commonwealth, and the United States. |
