Honor Peyton M. Hibbitt

March 1, 2019, at the age of 93; and WHEREAS, Born on August 27, 1925, in Los Angeles, Peyton M. Hibbitt and his family later relocated to Michigan, where he graduated from Kalamazoo High School; and WHEREAS, After valiantly serving his country as a Naval Sonar Technician during World War II, Peyton M. Hibbitt attended the Philadelphia Conservatory and the Philadelphia Music Academy; while a student, he served as Assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Oratorio Society; and WHEREAS, Peyton M. Hibbitt and Carmen Savoca performed a musical miracle in 1949, when they founded Tri-Cities Opera; the company, which began with modest productions sung by regional talent, evolved into one of the preeminent opera training companies in the United States; and WHEREAS, A true titan in the local music community, Peyton M. Hibbitt served as Music Director, Principal Conductor and Vocal Coach of the Resident Artist Training Program during the company's first 50 seasons; in this capacity, he trained numerous opera singers, some of whom went on to national and international stages; and WHEREAS, For 20 years, Peyton M. Hibbitt also served as Adjunct Professor and co-Director of the Master of Music with a specialization in opera program at Binghamton University, in conjunction with Tri-Cities Opera; he subsequently received the University Medal, one of the highest honors the university can bestow; and WHEREAS, As a guest conductor, Peyton M. Hibbitt made his European debut at the Teatro Regio in Parma, Italy, conducting the Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra; he also led performances at the Bilbao Opera Festival in Spain; and WHEREAS, In the United States, Peyton M. Hibbitt held the post of Music Director of the Elmira Symphony from 1960 to 1966; his American guest conducting credits include the Chautauqua Opera Association, Arizona Opera, Wichita Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Syracuse Opera, Opera Theatre of Greater Lansing, Cincinnati Opera, Rochester Opera and a critically acclaimed New York City debut with the Chamber Opera Theatre of New York; and WHEREAS, Peyton M. Hibbitt was the founder of the New York State Opera League, was appointed by Governor Nelson Rockefeller to the advisory panel of the New York State Arts Council, and served in the U.S. Delegation to the International Conference on the Education of the Young Singer in Sofia, Bulgaria; and WHEREAS, In recognition of his significant impact on and contributions to the arts in Broome County, Peyton M. Hibbitt was the proud recipient of Broome County Arts Council's prestigious 2008 Heart of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award; and WHEREAS, Predeceased by his parents, Ralph and Mildred (Plumb) Hibbitt, and his siblings, Ralph and Annie, Peyton M. Hibbitt is survived by his former student and lifelong friend, Paul Arnold; his dear friend, Shelley Washington; and his many devoted students; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Peyton M. Hibbitt leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate the life of Peyton M. Hibbitt, renowned conductor and co-Founder of Tri-Cities Opera; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Peyton M. Hibbitt.