“breathtaking effects, ravishing tunes and spinetingling ensembles by the massed choruses of local children and residents were impeccably marshalled by the conductor Gerry Cornelius”

“The cantata is a brilliant kaleidoscope of colour and mood and its exhilarating performance here a glowing tribute. With the conductor Gerry Cornelius solo singers  Mark Wilde and Mary Plazas as linchpins”

The 10 singers and 15 players conducted by Gerry Cornelius were excellent one and all.”

‘Conductors have been to the fore at all levels this week, starting with the very modest Opera Inside Out... It could have gone horribly wrong but didn’t - thanks largely to the calm, unruffled and extremely musical sang-froid of Gerry Cornelius, who strikes me as a newcomer of promise.  A good bet for something like Wexford, and in the future, for the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, whose fourth season culminated on Thursday with a glittering finals concert at the Barbican.’

‘The conductor of the Oxford Sinfonia’s concert at the University Church last Saturday was Gerry Cornelius, whose decisive style, which was bold without being flamboyant, inspired the orchestra to some memorable playing.’

‘This being only the second major concert with its new conductor, Gerry Cornelius, attractive, skilful and thematic programming looks set to be the order of the day.  It is clear that the Hertford Symphony Orchestra has come quickly to feel at home with its new mentor.  His knowledge of the score and technical clarity of his conducting were rewarded throughout the evening with purposeful, musically shaped and very precisely focused playing.’

‘The performance took fire under the purposeful direction of the orchestra’s new musical director, Gerry Cornelius, who is clearly set to build upon the tradition so ably set by his predecessor.  The choice of programme suggested an interesting era to come and also revealed a conductor who excelled as much in musical detail as in the ‘big sweep’’.