Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2012

SCHUMER INVITES UNIV. OF ROCHESTER’S EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC TO SEND STRING QUARTET TO PERFORM AT 57th PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

Schumer, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Cmt. on Inaugural Ceremonies, Announced His Invitation for The University of Rochester’s Eastman School to Perform During Presidential Inaugural Luncheon on January 21, 2013

Eastman School Would Perform Immediately Following Swearing-In Ceremony -- As Chairman, Schumer Is Responsible For Arranging Congressional Ceremonies For 57th Presidential Inauguration

Schumer: I Hope This Invitation is Music to the Eastman School’s Ears & They’ll Send Talented Musicians to Represent Rochester in Washington

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer invited the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music to send a string quartet to perform at the 57^th Presidential Inauguration in the U.S. Capitol in January 2013. Schumer was recently elected the Chairman of the 2013 Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Schumer has invited University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music to perform during the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, which will be held immediately following the Presidential swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 21, 2013.

“I am honored to have been selected to plan the festivities at the Presidential Inauguration, and today I’m pleased to invite the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of music to perform at the 57^th Inauguration in January. I hope that this invitation is music to the Eastman School’s ears, and they will send their most talented string musicians to perform before the newly inaugurated President to represent Rochester in the nation’s capital. I look forward to the University of Rochester President Seligman’s decision as I know the string quartet will showcase the best that New York has to offer in January.”

If the Eastman School’s Quartet can attend, they will perform before a distinguished audience that includes the newly inaugurated President of the United States, former Presidents, Senators, Representatives, and Cabinet Officials in Statuary Hall – the original home of the House of Representatives and the scene of numerous historic debates that helped shape our Nation. The Quartet would play for approximately one hour from a balcony overlooking Statuary Hall.

The Joint Committee was authorized by S. Con. Res. 35, which passed the Senate on March 1, 2012, and the House on March 5^th. Members of JCCIC are appointed by the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. In accordance with tradition, the Senate representatives on JCCIC are Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rules Committee Chairman Schumer, and Rules Committee Ranking Member Lamar Alexander. The House members of JCCIC are Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

S. Con. Res. 35 established the date of the 2013 inauguration as Monday, January 21, 2013, since January 20, 2013 is a Sunday. This is the seventh time in U.S. history that the constitutionally mandated inauguration date has fallen on a Sunday. The last time was for President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985. When this occurs, the public ceremonies traditionally are held on Monday.

In addition, January 21, 2013 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It will be the second time that this federal holiday has coincided with a Presidential inauguration. The first was President Bill Clinton’s second inauguration on Monday, January 20, 1997.

A copy of Senator Schumer’s invitation appears below:

June 26, 2012

President Joel Seligman

240 Wallis Hall

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY 14627

Dear President Seligman:

I am writing to you as the Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to extend an invitation to the Eastman School of Music to send a String Quartet to perform during the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. The luncheon, immediately following the 57^th Presidential swearing-in ceremony, will be held on Monday, January 21, 2013.

The Quartet will perform before a distinguished audience that includes the newly inaugurated President of the United States, former Presidents, Senators, Representatives, and Cabinet Officials in Statuary Hall – the original home of the House of Representatives and the scene of numerous historic debates that helped shape our Nation. The Quartet would play for approximately one hour from a balcony overlooking Statuary Hall.

I truly hope that the Eastman School will be able to send a String Quartet to participate in this historic day as our nation joins together and celebrates the inauguration of our President.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

Chairman

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