Cortland Country Music Park Announces Change in Leadership
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The Cortland Country Music Park has announced a change in leadership and a new board of directors. The announcement comes after the organization held their meeting Tuesday evening at the music park. In a release, the Statewide Country Music Association (SCMA) of New York elected Ty Marshal as their new President. The organization says this is a major step towards revitalization, transparency and a renewed commitment to the preservation and promotion of country and heritage music.
Marshal currently serves the role as Executive Director of the Homer Center for the Arts, where he oversaw the expansion of the organization. With Marshal’s leadership, the SCMA says he has a proven track record in nonprofit leadership, public programming, and institutional reform.
“The Statewide Country Music Association, and Country Music Park holds an important place in the cultural landscape of New York,” Marshal said. “I’m honored to serve the association — now in its 41st year as a not-for-profit organization — in its next chapter – one that will honor its roots while embracing the future. I’m especially proud to work alongside an extraordinary board of experienced professionals and talented musicians, and with dedicated association members who bring passion, integrity, and deep knowledge to everything we do.”
The new board of directors for the Country Music Park are:
Patrick Fitzgerald – Vice President
Sheila Ryan – Recording Secretary
Mary Lynn – Treasurer
William “Skip” Schell – Managing Director
David Lee – Membership Director
Gerrod Darling – Planning & Development
Matthew Fendya – By-Laws Advocate
Ken Whitney – Hall of Fame Director
Marshal has served as Membership Director of the Association since February 2025, where he led efforts to digitize systems, improve community engagement, and secured grant funding to restore the outdoor amphitheater at Cortland Country Music Park — the Association’s flagship location (1824 NY 13, Cortland, NY) and home of the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame.
With the new change of leadership, an open house will be held this Saturday, May 17th from 5pm to 9pm and is open to the public. Admission is free for the open house, but donations will be accepted. The open house will also have the Hall of Fame and Museum open until 7pm and live music at the Opry Barn from 6 to 9pm with the Dean Goble Band. More information may be found at CortlandCountryMusicPark.org.
