Gershwin, by George!

Artistic Director, CSO

Maestro Cortese will lead the audience through the magical world of cinema as the Catskill Symphony Orchestra performs iconic compositions from some of the most beloved films of all time, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Superman, Lincoln, The Cowboys, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and more!

A native of Oneonta and proud product of its public schools, David Rowley brings four decades of educational leadership and deep community roots to the Guest Conductor Competition. A graduate of Oneonta High School who attended both Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta, David built a forty-year career in public education across six school districts, serving as a High School Teacher, Coach, High School Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent — including nine years as Superintendent of Edmeston Central School District and stints at Stamford CSD and Oneonta CSD. Since retiring from education, he has channeled that same dedication into community service, currently holding leadership roles on numerous boards and foundations across Otsego County. David and his wife Gail are enthusiastic CSO supporters who see the orchestra as a cultural centerpiece for the entire region — and the Wendy Brown Cabaret Fundraiser as one of the year's most uplifting evenings. As for his qualifications on the podium? David is refreshingly candid: he has next to no musical experience and freely admits his "floundering should be entertaining." With nothing to lose and everything to gain, he may be the most dangerous competitor on the stage.

Romona N. Wenck is a lifelong educator, community builder, and — as it turns out — a natural fit for the conductor's podium. A long-time resident of Laurens, she served the Laurens Central School District for over four decades, first as a Physical Education and Health teacher and coach for nearly twenty years, then as Superintendent for twenty-three years before retiring in 2020. She has since served as Interim Superintendent for the Cooperstown, Milford, and Edmeston school districts — experiences she describes as deeply rewarding. Her coaching legacy is equally impressive, spanning Girls Varsity Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball, the Boys Modified Soccer team, the Laurens Youth Soccer Program, and nearly twenty years directing the nationally recognized Laurens Jaguars Drill Colorguard Program. But perhaps most relevant to the evening ahead: Romona grew up performing with the Mello-Dears All Girl Drum and Bugle Corps from age ten to twenty-one, learning baritone and mellophone bugles, mastering colorguard and marching skills, and ultimately earning the Drum Major position. She has stood at the front of a marching ensemble before — and she is ready to do it again. As she puts it, the "Three Retired Superintendents" competition is simply another opportunity to serve her community and support outstanding musical experiences across the greater Oneonta area. Cast your vote for Romona and help her relive her days on the field — this time, with a full symphony orchestra behind her.

A lifelong public servant and proud product of musical family roots, this candidate brings a remarkable depth of community experience to the Guest Conductor Competition. He spent thirty-three years in public education — seventeen as a School Psychologist and sixteen as a school administrator, retiring as Superintendent of Worcester CSD in 2012 — before leading the Clark Foundation Scholarship Program as its Director from 2013 until 2025. A man of extraordinary range, he also served for over twenty years as a firefighter, retiring as Fire Chief of the Cooperstown Fire Department, and spent fourteen years as a Judge for the Town of Otsego. He knows firsthand what it means to fight for arts funding in tight-budget times, and he believes the CSO is as essential to this region as any institution in it. Music has been woven into the fabric of his life since childhood — growing up in a family of trumpet, tuba, accordion, clarinet, saxophone, and flute players — and he remains a proud alumnus of school bands, the Cooperstown Community Band, and the legendary Fly Creek Philharmonic, where he performed on instruments ranging from kazoo to saw blade to wooden organ pipes. He can read a musical score — or, as he puts it, "fake it with the best of them."

Master of Ceremonies

Many know Doug as a familiar voice for over 30 years on Oneonta radio. As a fourth grader at OHS, he started his career as a trumpet player in a production of “The Music Man”. Since then, he’s opened for acts including George Jones, Vince Gill, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Darryl Worley, Ray Stevens, Confederate Railroad, and has even sung with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Also an actor, his first role was in “A League of Their Own”. He went on to appear in TV shows including Suddenly Susan with Brook Shields, The Norm Show with Norm Macdonald, According to Jim with Jim Belushi, HBO’s Succession, and Showtime’s Billions. Recently, he appeared in A Roadhouse Coup: The Eva Coo Story alongside longtime CSO supporter, Senator Jim Seward. Doug’s most recent movie, Popeye the Slayer Man is currently in theaters, and on AppleTV, Amazon Prime, and Fandango At Home. One of Doug’s life highlights was his own candidacy in the Guest Conductor Competition, competing against Jay Unger and Molly Mason.