Senate Resolution No. 4783

BY: Senator SEWARD

COMMENDING Charles Schneider upon the occasion of
his retirement as music director after many years of
dedicated service to both the Catskill and
Schenectady Symphonies

WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form depicted, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be underestimated; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to call attention
to individuals that devote their time and energies to the cultural
enrichment of the Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Charles Schneider upon the occasion of his retirement as music
director after many years of dedicated service to both the Catskill and
Schenectady Symphonies; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of Cornell College in Iowa, Charles Schneider
attended the Juilliard School of music as a piano student; and

WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Charles Schneider began his long and
distinguished conducting career on Broadway; his credits include Your
Own Thing, Sweet Potato, and West Side Story at Lincoln Center; a decade
later, he relocated to Kansas where he held the title of associate
conductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic for one year; and

WHEREAS, Charles Schneider mastered his conducting skills studying
with greats such as Igor Markevitch of the National Orchestra of Monte
Carlo; Herbert Blomstedt, formerly of the San Francisco Symphony and the
Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, Germany; and Franco Ferrara of the St.
Cecilia Academy in Rome and Siena, Italy; he later served as the
assistant conductor for Herbert Blomstedt at the Aspen Music Festival;
and

WHEREAS, Charles Schneider was also the music director of the
American premiere of The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny with the
San Francisco Opera, and conducted the New York revivals of Trouble in
Tahiti and Down in the Valley, and the Glasnost Ballet during its first
American tour; and

WHEREAS, Since 1973, Charles Schneider has conducted the Catskill
Symphony and was the music director of the Utica Symphony from
1980-2011; he has also conducted the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra
since 1982; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Charles Schneider was co-founder of the
Catskill Conservatory of Music, music director of the Portland Chamber
Orchestra, and founding music director of Glimmerglass Opera, a position
he held for 12 years; and

WHEREAS, Charles Schneider also conducted five orchestra tours
throughout Europe with the Central New York Symphony Orchestra, with
concerts in Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, Athens,
Sparta, Patras, Paris, Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva, Lyon, Bordeaux, and
Crete; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his performance work, Charles Schneider has
served on the music faculties of San Diego State University, Hamilton
College, Colgate University, Hartwick College, SUNY-Oneonta, Mohawk
Valley Community College, and Skidmore College; and

WHEREAS, For his significant contributions to the music world,
Charles Schneider was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades
including three ASCAP Awards, an honorary doctorate from Hartwick
College in 1984, the 2000 Governor's Award for Musical Excellence, and a
Citation of Musical Excellence by the United States Congress; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, Rayna, who has shown
him love and support and rejoices in his many achievements; and

WHEREAS, It is most fitting that we take time to celebrate the arts
of our Nation, to honor our artists, and to express our appreciation to
everyone who patronizes the arts; and as we celebrate the arts, we
celebrate and give thanks to our American freedom, the only atmosphere
in which artists can truly create and in which art is truly the
expression of the soul; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Charles Schneider upon the occasion of his retirement as music
director after many years of dedicated service to both the Catskill and
Schenectady Symphonies, and to wish him continued success in all his
future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Charles Schneider.