Catskill Symphony Orchestra announces full, in-person 2021-2022 Season

ONEONTA, NY, August 3, 2021—The Catskill Symphony Orchestra (CSO) announces its 2021-2022 Season after a nearly two-year hiatus. The CSO, a full-scale professional orchestra based in Central New York that was founded in 1953, will offer two fall concerts and two spring concerts at various venues in Oneonta.

2021-2022 Season

Concert I: Archissimo, Saturday, October 23, at 7 p.m.

at Foothills Performing Arts Center

Concert II: Wind Serenades, Saturday, November 20, at 7 p.m.

at Foothills Performing Arts Center

Concert III: Cabaret Fundraiser, Saturday, March 26, at 7 p.m.

at SUNY Oneonta (tentative location)

Concert IV: American Heritage, Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m.

at SUNY Oneonta (tentative location)

In October, Archissimo will feature evergreens of string orchestra repertoire, including the witty Serenata Notturna by Mozart, and virtuosic pieces composed by Edvard Grieg and Béla Bartók. The November concert will include a range of classical and romantic wind serenades by Mozart, Strauss, and Dvořák. March’s annual Cabaret fundraiser will highlight renowned jazz vocalist and America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer winner Mandy Harvey, who was originally scheduled to perform at the March 2020 Cabaret, postponed due to Covid. The May 2022 season finale American Heritage concert will present a celebration of American compositions, including works by Amy Beach, the first successful American female composer of large-scale art music; George W. Chadwick, a prominent New England Classicist of the late 19th century; and Black American Florence Price, whose Violin Concerto No. 1 was among piles of her musical manuscripts discovered in 2009. Violinist Er-Gene Kahng, who recorded concertos by Price for the first time in history, will be the featured soloist of the May concert.

“The CSO has presented symphonic music of the highest caliber in the heart of upstate New York for nearly seven decades. We are excited to continue that role and usher in a new paradigm,” said CSO Chair Sarah Patterson, a longtime member of the Board, having first joined in 2003. “We have fresh energy in our organization and enthusiastic individuals who want to see the CSO thrive and embrace its mission of making symphonic music more accessible to a range of audiences. We are committed to maintaining and expanding CSO’s role as the premier source of professional-level classical music in the region--from Oneonta to Cooperstown and Norwich to Delhi.”

Cassandra Miller, who recently became the executive director of the CSO after serving in an interim role, agreed the CSO is focusing on engaging both community members and visitors.

“Oneonta is the second-smallest city in America to maintain a professional orchestra, and the CSO is a gem that contributes to the rich artistic character of our area, making it such a great place to live and visit. I’m blown away by the caliber of musicians in the CSO and their loyalty to the organization. Many of the orchestra members have performed with the CSO for years.”

The CSO will follow New York State public health guidelines at concerts. More information will be shared closer to the beginning of the season, including policies on masking, vaccinations, and social distancing. 

For more information and tickets, visit www.catskillsymphony.org.

About the Catskill Symphony Orchestra

The Catskill Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded in 1953 for the purpose of providing access to live symphonic music to area residents, who otherwise would have to travel great distances in order to enjoy such performances. In 1974, the committee filed for articles of incorporation, applied for tax-exempt status, and oversaw the transition from a volunteer community orchestra to a professional organization that has grown steadily in the quality of its musicians and programming. Maestro Charles Schneider served as the orchestra's conductor from 1973 until 2017. After an international search, Maciej Zoltowski became the new conductor, and 2021-2022 will be his first season with the orchestra. The CSO is an unparalleled resource to entertain, educate, and inspire  audiences of all ages in upstate New York—by presenting an ensemble of the highest artistic quality performing the full range of symphonic literature. The CSO typically holds five concerts per season to an audience of over 3,500 patrons offering a diverse repertoire.