October 2022
The Hershey Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of three new staff members to replace longtime executive director Paul Metzger, who recently moved out of the area.
Susan Cort has been named executive director of the Symphony. In her role, she will manage day-to-day operations of the organization including working with conductors and the board to establish the concert season. Cort will also continue to manage the Symphony’s fundraising efforts, a role she held as its development director since 2017. She also helped lead the Symphony’s marketing, advertising, and public relations over the last several years.
Prior to holding the position of development director, Cort served as a board member for several years and helped lead the board as vice-chairperson. She has also performed as a vocalist with the Hershey Symphony and Hershey Big Band since 2010.
Cort brings more than 35 years of communications and leadership experience to her new position with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra. She is director of communications for JPL, the region’s leading marketing and advertising company, and has served on many boards in the Hershey area, including being a founding board member and longtime chairperson of the Hershey Area Playhouse.
Taylor DeLong will serve as the Symphony’s new customer service manager. She is a former office manager and research assistant. She has been a registered nurse for the past seven years, first in oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and currently at Penn State Health where she worked on a Covid unit during the height of the pandemic and now practices procedural nursing. She also volunteers nursing care at the Bethesda Mission Men’s Shelter.
Jennifer Hackett joins the organization as its new marketing/public relations manager. Hackett also serves as the business manager for the Lebanon County Choral Society, where she oversees all non-artistic aspects of the operation. In addition, she is a freelance editor and writer. She has volunteered for a number of non-profit organizations to provide layout and editing services and social media assistance.
“I’m pleased to have such a strong team in place to help lead the Hershey Symphony Orchestra into this new chapter and look forward to working with them to continue to provide outstanding musical experiences for our audiences,” said board president Ann Ouyang.
For more information about the Hershey Symphony Orchestra and its 2022-23 season, visit HersheySymphony.org.