“As fans of the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra know, there’s a new music director in town,” writes Geraldine Freedman in Thursday’s (1/23) Daily Gazette (Schenectady, N.Y.). “ ‘So far, so good,’ said Glen Cortese. “His first official concert was Oct. 13…. Besides continuing as artistic director for the Western New York Chamber Orchestra near Buffalo, he’s conducted a wide range of orchestras both nationally and internationally, including the New Jersey, North Carolina and Na-tional Romanian Radio Orchestra; several opera … and ballet orchestras…. Cortese has premiered new works or collaborated with composers such as John Corigliano, George Crumb, Elliott Carter and Lukas Foss, as well as composed his own works—one of which will be performed at SSO’s March 22 concert. As a conductor of student orchestras at the Manhattan School of Music, he also received eight ASCAP New and Adventurous Programming Awards. These credentials impressed SSO’s board as well as the orchestra’s musicians…. ‘It was clear to us that he was the complete package,’ [orchestra President Robert] Bour said…. In June, Cortese was offered the job. ‘I’m en-joying this very much,’ Cortese said. ‘The musicians have been flexible and very accommodating, and work very hard.’ ”
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