This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

                                                                                



                                                                  H.R. No. 813



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, David Gockley is stepping down as general director 
of Houston Grand Opera, ending a remarkable tenure that began in 
1972 when he was 27 years old and has resulted in the development of 
one of the nation's premiere opera companies; this occasion offers 
a truly fitting opportunity to sing the praises of this talented 
visionary; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Gockley joined the staff of HGO in 1970 as 
business manager; two years later, he accepted the post of general 
director and began the challenging, but rewarding, task of 
elevating HGO from a relatively unknown regional opera company to 
one of the country's most prestigious and progressive companies; 
and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Gockley came to Houston after pursuing vocal 
studies at the renowned New England Conservatory; he studied 
conducting and composition at Brown University, and went on to earn 
a master's degree from Columbia University Business School, which 
presented him with the first Dean's Award for Distinguished 
Professional Achievement; he has since received an honorary 
doctorate of humane letters from the University of Houston and an 
honorary doctorate of fine arts from Brown University, as well as 
Brown University's William Rogers Award for professional 
achievement and extraordinary service to humanity; and
	WHEREAS, Since he assumed its directorship, HGO has become 
the nation's leading commissioner and producer of new works, 
staging 30 world premieres and six American premieres; the company 
has garnered numerous accolades during his tenure, including a Tony 
Award, two Emmy Awards, and two Grammy Awards, and radio broadcasts 
of HGO performances are heard by more than five million listeners 
each year; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Gockley has dedicated himself to broadening the 
market for opera in the greater Houston area, leading him to launch 
the Community Connections Initiative and to develop an array of 
innovations, such as OperaVision and the Multimedia Modular Stage; 
he is also the co-founder of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, a 
training program that has fostered the careers of several renowned 
and beloved opera stars; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to accepting the myriad challenges that 
come with the directorship, Mr. Gockley has found time to serve as 
president of OPERA America and as chairman of Houston's Theater 
District; he was also instrumental in the 1987 opening of the 
Wortham Theater Center, the $72 million state-of-the-art 
performing arts center that is home to Houston Grand Opera; and
	WHEREAS, By combining his love of music, his keen business 
acumen, and his infectious enthusiasm, David Gockley has created a 
legacy of achievement of which he can be proud, and we wish him well 
in his new role as general director of San Francisco Opera; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend David Gockley for his distinguished 
tenure as general director of Houston Grand Opera and extend to him 
best wishes for the future; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Mr. Gockley as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                            Wong

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 813 was adopted by the House on April 
7, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House