By: Hernandez H.R. No. 129
73R3358 E
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes special
1-2 pride in honoring Dr. Bess Hieronymus for her lifetime of
1-3 outstanding achievements and contributions to the artistic
1-4 community as one of the world's foremost musicians; and
1-5 WHEREAS, After receiving a bachelor of music, a bachelor of
1-6 arts, and an artist's diploma in piano from the University of Mary
1-7 Hardin-Baylor, this talented student went on to pursue a master of
1-8 arts in music from Smith College where she wrote her thesis under
1-9 the direction of Dr. Alfred Einstein, a renowned authority on the
1-10 life and works of Mozart; in addition, Dr. Hieronymus' extensive
1-11 educational career included a diploma from the University of London
1-12 and the first doctorate of musical arts in organ performance and
1-13 musicology from The University of Texas at Austin; and
1-14 WHEREAS, Among her many distinguished appearances throughout
1-15 the United States and Europe, this inspiring musician has performed
1-16 at four regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and
1-17 has consistently mesmerized audiences in such notable settings as
1-18 Notre Dame Cathedral and La Madeleine in Paris, and Saint Martin in
1-19 Saint Remy de Provence, where she was the only American organist
1-20 invited to play at the 1990 Music Festival; and
1-21 WHEREAS, In October, Dr. Hieronymus played an organ recital
1-22 in Tchaikovsky Concert Hall at the Moscow Conservatory; the
1-23 following day the Russian Musical Society bestowed upon her a rare
1-24 honor; the Russian Musical Society, in its 131 years of existence,
2-1 has previously given only two memberships to non-Russian musicians;
2-2 Dr. Hieronymus, because of her artistry as a performer, becomes the
2-3 third recipient--the first American and the only woman to receive
2-4 membership in both the Russian Musical Society and the Union of
2-5 Soviet Composers; she joins the ranks of Russia's musical masters
2-6 such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofief, Stravinsky,
2-7 Rimsky-Korsakov and others; and
2-8 WHEREAS, In addition to her instrumental abilities, this
2-9 inspiring individual is a talented director who has conducted
2-10 various choral and instrumental groups, including San Antonio's
2-11 First Presbyterian Church choir; benefiting from Dr. Hieronymus'
2-12 expertise and leadership, this group, in December 1991, executed a
2-13 beautiful performance with the New York City Symphony Orchestra in
2-14 the famous Carnegie Hall; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Presently a Professor of music at The University of
2-16 Texas at San Antonio and Minister of Music at First Presbyterian
2-17 Church, Dr. Hieronymus continues to receive many awards for her
2-18 devotion to the world of music; she is named in two Halls of Fame
2-19 and is a recipient of the Headliner Award for her many
2-20 contributions to the arts in the Southwest; Dr. Hieronymus has been
2-21 invited to return to Russia in October 1993 for a concert tour,
2-22 sponsored by the Russian Musical Society; following the tour, Dr.
2-23 Hieronymus will perform with orchestra in Moscow, the premier of an
2-24 organ concerto dedicated to her to celebrate this award; and
2-25 WHEREAS, Dr. Hieronymus has met with worldwide acclaim for
2-26 her musical expertise, and her success stands as an example to all
2-27 of the possibilities awaiting anyone so passionately dedicated to
3-1 the perfection of artistic talent; now, therefore, be it
3-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-3 Legislature hereby honor Dr. Bess Hieronymus for her many musical
3-4 achievements as an outstanding organist, pianist, choral and
3-5 instrumental director, and for the prestige she has brought to her
3-6 state and country; and, be it further
3-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-8 prepared for Dr. Bess Hieronymus as an expression of high esteem by
3-9 the Texas House of Representatives.