Ms. Gloria Denard

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Ms. Gloria Denard

TRIBUTE TO MS. GLORIA DENARD

______

HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

of new york

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise during this month dedicated to the celebration of African Americans who have made great contributions to the world, to pay tribute to Ms. Gloria Denard, an accomplished musician who has helped to improve the quality of life for the people of her community.

Born into a family of musicians and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, Gloria was destined to be a great musician herself. Under the tutelage of her mother, she began her musical training at the tender age of three. Later in life, she studied at Julliard where she concentrated on classical music and majored in voice with a piano minor.

After Julliard, Gloria married and moved to East Harlem. She performed nationally and internationally, including stints in Italy, Bermuda, Greenland and Canada.

Although she enjoyed great success as a musician, Gloria was consumed by the desire to improve the quality of life of the people in her community. To that end, she established Manna House Workshops to serve the social and cultural needs of her talented neighbors. Gloria, who by this time had two children, worked without salary and maintained a staff of six teachers. In 1970 she decided to purchase a five story building and establish the current home of Manna House Workshops. After 38 years of service, Manna House Workshops continues to serve as a bright beacon of hope in its community, providing training in music and dance to all who enter their doors.

In 1980, Gloria conceived Music for Entertainment Education and Enlightenment (MEEE), a jazz concert series featuring emerging and professional artists presented in the Manna Mini Theatre. In addition, she has maintained her own vocal career and has released two CDs including ``Come Feel the Things You Cannot Touch'' and ``Two for Jazz''. An additional CD will be released in March of this year. She also produces and hosts a cable show every month entitled ``The Best Kept Secret'' on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network.

Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to discuss the contributions of African Americans to the history of the world and not mention the great influence they have had upon music. Often great beauty comes from great pain and suffering. It was this sacred art that helped so many find light in times of darkness and peace in times of stifling oppression. From gospel to blues to jazz, and most recently, hip hop, African Americans have not only provided the world with new forms of entertainment, but have found a way to provide insight into their struggles and aspirations. A student of this art, Gloria teaches music to the next generation, hoping to instill in them a sense of self confidence and pride so that they may one day share their gifts with the world.

For her beautiful voice and spirit, and her willingness to help others find their own voice, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Ms. Gloria Denard, and the countless African Americans who came before her and enabled her to find her own voice.