EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Whereas, The Nevada Opera had its debut season in 1968 and since

1-2 that time has grown into a nationally recognized regional opera company;

1-3 and

1-4 Whereas, The founders of the Nevada Opera, Ted Puffer, Artistic

1-5 Director, and Deena Puffer, Associate Producer, had a vision in 1967 and,

1-6 with the help of a handful of volunteers, worked tirelessly over the years to

1-7 develop the company to the level of offering three professionally-produced

1-8 traditional operas each season, an annual performance of The Nutcracker

1-9 ballet, as well as the production of lighter and more contemporary works;

1-10 and

2-1 Whereas, The Nevada Opera has to its credit over 120 main-stage

2-2 productions, including presentations as diverse as Verdi’s Requiem and

2-3 Bizet’s Carmen to Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men, and summer

2-4 musicals starring such accomplished artists as Toni Tennille and Broadway

2-5 legend John Raitt; and

2-6 Whereas, The Nevada Opera has produced two acclaimed American

2-7 premieres, Busoni’s Doktor Faust and Tchaikovsky’s Joan of Arc; and

2-8 Whereas, In 1993 the team of Ted and Deena Puffer presented the

2-9 Nevada Opera’s first commissioned work, the 25th Anniversary of the

2-10 World Premiere of Bern Herbolsheimer’s Mark Me Twain; and

2-11 Whereas, Ted Puffer, known for his work as stage director, conductor,

2-12 concert pianist, accompanist, tenor soloist and, more recently, world-

2-13 renowned vocal coach, mentored Nevada Opera’s young artist graduates

2-14 who have gone on to make their European opera debuts, most notably the

2-15 internationally-famous mezzo soprano Dolora Zajick; and

2-16 Whereas, The Nevada Opera has an educational outreach mission

2-17 which led it to institute the Nevada Opera Youth Chorus in 1994, a formal

2-18 program that provides professional training in the arts of voice,

2-19 musicianship, theater and movement for talented youngsters ages 8 through

2-20 18 years; and

2-21 Whereas, The Nevada Opera has a new program called the Nevada

2-22 Opera Studio, which reaches into the local community with special

2-23 programs designed for elementary, middle and high school levels, and

2-24 which also tours the smaller outlying communities in Northern Nevada;

2-25 now, therefore, be it

2-26 Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-27 Concurring, That the Nevada Opera is hereby commended for its 30

2-28 years of first-class presentations to Northern Nevada audiences and

2-29 especially for its presentations to the children in the local community and

2-30 the rural areas; and be it further

2-31 Resolved, That Ted and Deena Puffer are hereby congratulated and

2-32 honored for their many years of dedication during which they shared their

2-33 vast knowledge and tremendous talents to make the Nevada Opera the first-

2-34 class company that it is today; and be it further

2-35 Resolved, That the members of the 70th session of the Nevada

2-36 Legislature urge the residents of Northern Nevada to attend the Nevada

2-37 Opera performances and show their support for its great contributions to

2-38 the arts and culture of this state; and be it further

2-39 Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

2-40 copies of this resolution to the Board of Directors of the Nevada Opera and

2-41 to Ted Puffer and Deena Puffer.