Artistic Director

Dear Music Lovers,

It is an honor for me to begin my fourth season as Artistic Director of the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra. The past few seasons have flown by, and during the course of them, I have become more a part of this wonderful community and gotten to know many of you in the process. Your enthusiasm combined with the hard work of our board members has expanded our audience and strengthened our orchestra. On behalf of the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, myself, and based on your incredible support and interest in the organization, we are proud to be able to bring you our 2022-23 season, “The Musical Time Machine”.

This season’s program is designed to transport you in time and focus on specific musical eras. We will present new works, traditional favorites, works rarely heard as well as new ways to listen to favorite familiar pieces. I anticipate that you will be inspired by the performances of the exceptional soloists that will be appearing with the orchestra, as well as the virtuosity of our own incredible players.

We are continuing the new tradition that started two seasons ago, our Poinsettia Pops concert to kick off the holiday season as well as another operatic collaboration with Skidmore. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patronage. The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra is proud to have served the community for 85 years and we are grateful to all of you who will make it possible to continue doing so for the next century!

Yours truly,

Glen Cortese, Artistic Director

Glen Cortese

Glen Cortese was named Artistic Director of the Schenectady Symphony beginning with the 2019-2020 season. He has been music director of the Western NY Chamber Orchestra since 2005 and was music director of the Greeley Philharmonic for 12 season and the Oregon Mozart Players for 9 seasons. He has appeared as guest conductor both in the United States and abroad with the Symphonies of New Jersey, Florida Philharmonic, Austin, Mexico City Philharmonic, North Carolina, Colorado Springs, Bangor, Meridian, Queens, New Amsterdam, The New Orleans Philharmonic, the International Chamber Orchestra, the Belarus Sate Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic National Romanian Radio Orchestra, Noorhollands Philharmonisch, Orquesta Sinfonica Carlos Chavez, San Francisco Conservatory, Cleveland Institute, and the Altenburg Landeskappele Orchestra. Mr. Cortese covered as assistant conductor to the New York Philharmonic in 1990–92 for Zubin Mehta.