Gershwin, by George!
Celebrating the works of George Gershwin - an American original
The Wendy Brown Memorial Fundraiser benefitting the Catskill Symphony Orchestra
and the 2026 Guest Conductor Competition
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Hunt Union Ballroom at SUNY Oneonta’s Hunt Union
Reception with Silent Auction in the Ballroom at 6:00 PM
Concert in the Ballroom at 7:30 PM
Remember: Students always free and up to two (2) accompanying parents or guardians only $10!
An evening celebrating the Catskill Symphony Orchestra through the works of George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898–1937) was one of America's most extraordinary musical talents — a Brooklyn-born son of Russian-Jewish immigrants who transformed the landscape of both popular and classical music in just under four decades of life. Rising from a Tin Pan Alley song plugger to a celebrated concert composer, Gershwin possessed a rare gift for fusing the vernacular rhythms of jazz, blues, and ragtime with the formal structures of European classical tradition. His 1924 premiere of Rhapsody in Blue — written in a matter of weeks and performed with Paul Whiteman's orchestra at Carnegie Hall — stunned audiences and critics alike, announcing that American music had found its own distinct and confident voice. He followed that triumph with works like the Piano Concerto in F, An American in Paris, and the groundbreaking folk opera Porgy and Bess (1935), which wove African American musical storytelling into an operatic form with tenderness, complexity, and deep humanity. Tragically, he died at just 38 from a brain tumor, leaving the world to wonder what more he might have created.
His influence reaches into jazz, Broadway, film scoring, and classical composition, and composers from Leonard Bernstein to John Adams have cited him as a foundational figure.
Gershwin's legacy is immeasurable. He essentially invented a new genre — the American orchestral art song — and his melodies remain among the most instantly recognizable in the Western canon. Attending a concert of Gershwin's music is a singular experience precisely because his work occupies a space no one else does — it is at once sophisticated and swinging, emotionally direct and harmonically rich, deeply American yet universally felt. To hear Rhapsody in Blue performed live is to witness the moment a young nation found its musical soul, and that electricity never dims.
Thank you to our sponsors!
A Night at the Movies celebrates Wendy McReynolds Brown — forever at the heart of the CSO
The world tragically lost Wendy McReynolds Brown in November 2012. The CSO dedicates the annual fundraiser concert to the memory of Wendy. On the Governing Board of the CSO, she inspired fellow members with her love of the Symphony and her labors on its behalf, as well as with her joie de vivre. Whatever activity she took on for the Symphony, she filled with enthusiasm and persistence. Many were touched by her passion to explore orchestral music. She introduced her sons to concerts given by the CSO and encouraged other parents to bring their children to the concerts.
Wendy was also a passionate advocate of balanced budgets for the CSO. To that end, she urged supporters, and would urge them today, to be generous with their contributions to the CSO — especially to its Endowment Fund.
As a youngster in Gilbertsville, New York, Wendy’s family lived on the tightest of budgets. There were no funds to attend concerts and there were few opportunities to experience a symphony concert in a remote and tiny village. Reflecting on her youth, Wendy considered the chance to attend concerts given by the CSO as an absolute luxury.
Wendy took particular interest in the CSO’s annual fundraiser and for that reason, Erna Morgan McReynolds and Tom Morgan continue to sponsor this annual concert, a beloved CSO tradition, in Wendy’s name. Wendy Brown loved this Symphony, loved its music and loved life. And we loved her.
The CSO cherishes our memories of her and thanks her for her service to our mission.
Meet the evening’s stars!
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Glen Cortese
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!
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Guest Conductor Candidate #1
To be announced soon!
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Guest Conductor Candidate #2
To be announced soon!
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Guest Conductor Candidate #3
To be announced soon!
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Doug Decker
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.
About the Guest Conductor Competition
A decades-long CSO tradition, the Guest Conductor Competition brings three local leaders together on stage for an evening of music, laughs, community, and supporting live orchestral music.
Like the CSO’s 72 seasons, each Guest Conductor brings a different message, has a different strategy to win, and every competition is truly original and unpredictable!
To vote, $1 equals 1 vote for the Guest Conductor of your choice. All proceeds support the CSO. Each competitor has a five-minute appeal from the stage during the concert and the winner closes the evening conducting the full Catskill Symphony Orchestra in a performance of John Philip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever.
Concert Program
Glen Cortese, Conductor
Michael Emery, Concertmaster
Doug Decker, Master of Ceremonies
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Gershwin, by George! (a George Gershwin melody) (George Gershwin, arr. Jerry Brubaker)
Someone to Watch Over Me (George and Ira Gershwin; Casey Gray, vocalist; arr. Glen Cortese)
Fascinatin’ Rhythm (George and Ira Gershwin; Casey Gray, vocalist; arr. Glen Cortese)
Rialto Ripples Rag (George Gershwin, arr. Glen Cortese)
Embraceable You (George and Ira Gershwin; Casey Gray, vocalist; arr. Glen Cortese)
Selections from Porgy and Bess (George Gershwin, arr. John Whitney)
Appeals from the Guest Conductor Competitors
INTERMISSION (Guest Conductor voting and Silent Auction close at end of Intermission)
Puttin’ on the Ritz (Irving Berlin; Casey Gray, vocalist; arr. Glen Cortese)
Minnie the Moocher (Cab Calloway; Casey Gray, vocalist; arr. Glen Cortese)
Rhapsody in Blue (George Gershwin; John Musto, pianist)
Guest Conductor Competition: Winner Announced
Stars and Stripes Forever (John Philip Sousa; conducted by the Guest Conductor)
Closing Remarks
Orchestra performing in “Gershwin, by George!”
(P) denotes section Principal
Violin I
Michael Emery (P)
Taras Bohach
Nathan Lawrence
Ubaldo Valli
Olga Megedyn
Herbert Poetzl
Andrew Frech
Violin II
Debrah Devine (P)
Raymond Zoeckler
Melanie Evans
Teresa Gatta-Norton
Viola
Megan Dyer (P)
Stephani Emery
TJ McAvaney
Beth Moll
Michelle Wilcox
Celli
Janet Nepkie (P)
Ruth Berry
Michael Gasparovic
Double Bass
David Irvin (P)
Roy Stock
Rich Mollin
Keyboard
Daniel Chien
Harp
Karlinda Caldicott
Flute
Elizabeth Kitson (P)
Elizabeth Evans
Ana Laura Gonzalez
Oboe
Cathryn Jones (P)
Victoria Rickard
Maureen Haehnel
Clarinet
Richard MacDowell (P)
Kelly Kristin
Bassoon
Susan Daves (P)
Judy Marchione
French Horn
Victor Sungarian (P)
Tyler Ogilvie
Claire McKenny
Stephanie Hollander
Trumpet
Ralph Dudgeon (P)
Matt Oram
Alan Howell
Trombone
Paul Blake (P)
Jim D’Addario
Frank Meredith
Tuba
Mike DePauw (P)
Timpani
Jeffrey Grubbs (P)
Percussion
Michael Cirmo (P)
How does your support help the CSO?
Less than 30 percent of the CSO’s operating budget is covered by ticket sales.
The CSO is an integral part of the Catskill and Leatherstocking region’s arts and culture landscape, as one of the oldest continually-operating performing arts organizations in the area (72 seasons strong!)
Your support has an immediate impact:
Enables future concerts (for the public and for local schools)
Employing the talented musicians of the CSO (many are our friends, family members, teachers, and neighbors — let’s keep them performing here at home!)
Breaks economic barriers to access concerts for school and college-aged students, and up to two accompanying parents or guardians, through our Wendy Brown Student Ticket Fund, fully covering student ticket costs and reducing parent/guardian tickets to only $10
Provides hands-on internship opportunities for college students, keeping them involved in local events and the community
Supports CSO’s ability to collaborate with local nonprofits to deliver educational and entertaining programming, raising quality of life
Donating to the CSO ensures this important work continues and makes an impact. Giving today to helps continue to deliver on our mission toentertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all ages.
Join us on May 9th!
Students always free, up to two accompanying parents or guardians only $10 each. Questions may be emailed to our Box Office at contact@catskillsymphony.org or by calling 607-269-7501 (if busy, please allow us to return your call by leaving your name, number, and inquiry in a voicemail).