Senator Richard Blumenthal

Congratulations, Frederic! 

Frederic was honored to receive a Senatorial Commendation from Senator Blumenthal on  Saturday December 5 for his on-going efforts over many years to use music as a bridge to foster cross-cultural communication, unity and peace, particularly in the current environment of terrorism in France, the US and around the world and its profound effect on so many countries and communities. 

Frederic has always followed the example of Leonard Bernstein who once said “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.”

For the ceremony we hung 3 works behind the piano to represent both the trauma of the world today and the healing and unity that is its antidote. In the photo above, on the right is “House” by Vince Calenzo representing displacement and the responsibility of needing to care for one’s family in the face of it. On the far left, Mindy Green’s “Who Do You Hate More, Me or You?” hangs next to its opposite “A Healing Presence”. 

After the presentation, Frederic played Debussy’s “Clair De Lune” in honor of France followed by Chopin’s “Revolutionary Etude” written when Chopin was himself a refugee fleeing Poland to arrive in Paris.

The Certificate of Special Recognition was presented to Frederic “In honor of your extraordinary artistic talent and vision and dedication to achieving peace and goodwill through classical music.”

First Selectman, Jim Marpe and his wife Mary Ellen joined us and several guests for the ceremony and, not for the first time, the First Selectman welcomed Senator Blumenthal to Westport. Our sincerest thanks to all who attended for joining us on this auspicious occasion.

Photos by Elisa Keogh, Helen During and Phyllis Groner