ONEONTA - The Catskill Symphony Orchestra (CSO) invites the community to its grand finale of the 2024-2025 season with “A Night at the Movies: Celebrating the Works of John Williams” on Saturday, May 10 at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta. This special evening serves as the annual Wendy Brown Memorial Fundraiser and hosts the annual Guest Conductor Competition.
The evening begins with a Gala Dinner and Silent Auction in the Atrium at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert in the Bettiol Theater at 7:30 p.m.. CSO Artistic Director Glen Cortese will lead the orchestra through iconic compositions from beloved films including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Superman, Lincoln, The Cowboys, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The concert honors Wendy McReynolds Brown, a dedicated CSO board member who passed away in November 2012. Wendy was passionate about making orchestral music accessible to all and was a strong advocate for the CSO’s financial stability through its Endowment Fund.
The annual fundraiser concert is sponsored by Erna Morgan McReynolds and Tom Morgan in Wendy’s memory, continuing her legacy of bringing orchestral music to the wider region.
A highlight of the evening will be the popular Guest Conductor Competition featuring three distinguished community leaders: Molly Hernandez, Co-Founder of Cooperstown Coworks; Sean Lewis, President and CEO of Otsego County Chamber of Commerce; and, Ray Pucci, President of Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, has spent over 30 years working with the region’s nonprofit, education, government, and business groups.
Each candidate will make a five-minute appeal from the stage, with audience members voting through donations ($1 equals one vote). The winner will conduct the orchestra in a performance of John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” to close the evening.
Doug Decker, a voice on Oneonta radio for over 30 years and an accomplished actor who has appeared in productions including HBO’s “Succession” and Showtime’s “Billions,” will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
The concert program includes beloved Williams compositions such as the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” March, the theme from “E.T.: The Extraterrestrial,” Harry Potter Symphonic Suite, “The Cowboys” Overture, the theme from “Superman,” music from “Lincoln,” and selections from the Star Wars franchise.
Students always attend free, and up to two accompanying parents or guardians pay only $10 each through the Wendy Brown Student Ticket Fund. This initiative continues Wendy’s mission of breaking economic barriers to experiencing orchestral music.
Less than 30% of the CSO’s operating budget comes from ticket sales, making community support absolutely crucial for the organization’s ability to entertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all ages. Donations help enable future concerts, employ talented local musicians, provide internship opportunities for college students, and support collaborations with local nonprofits.
For more information or tickets, email contact@catskillsymphony.org or call 607-269-7501. Guest Conductor votes may be cast at catskillsymphony.com/moviesgal
