A symphony orchestra group photo in a green, sunny park.

An elegantly dressed symphony orchestra performing a concert, with a focus on the violinists.

An elegantly dressed symphony orchestra performing a concert, with a focus on the trumpet players.

An elegantly dressed symphony orchestra performing a concert, with a focus on the timpanist and the kettledrums.

About The Hunterdon Symphony

The Hunterdon Symphony is dedicated to providing area residents with live music of the highest quality, as well as providing opportunities for local musicians to participate in musical performances.

Currently under the direction of Lawrence Kursar, we perform five concerts annually: a fall concert, a Holiday concert, a children’s concert, a spring concert, and a summer concert in Deer Path Park.

The makeup of the symphony is a mix of community musicians, professional players, and advanced students. We always welcome new instrumentalists to join. Those interested in joining can contact us to schedule an audition.

Rehearsals are on Monday evenings from 7:00-9:00 pm, at either Hunterdon Central High School or North Hunterdon High School. Concerts are generally performed at these two locations as well.

Since its inaugural concert on June 5, 1980, the Hunterdon Symphony has presented more than 250 concerts. A few of the special works they have performed are Carmina Burana, Mozart Requiem, Rachmaninoff Piano concerto No. 2, William Grant Still's Afro-American Symphony, Sibelius Symphony No 5, and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.

The Symphony has made multiple trips overseas to perform at venues in Austria in 2006, Russia in 2008, Ireland in 2016, and Austria again in 2022.

The Hunterdon Symphony also runs the “Saturday Strings” program, as well as the Orchestra Camp every July.

Lawrence Kursar - Conductor

Lawrence Kursar has been the conductor of the Hunterdon Symphony since 1992. He also is the conductor of the Princeton Symphonic Brass, is an accomplished horn player and an award-winning composer. His Bachelor of Arts degree was earned at Trenton State College and his two Masters degrees at New England Conservatory, where he received high honors in wind ensemble conducting. While a member of the faculty of New England Conservatory, Mr. Kursar served as administrator and conductor of the Repertory Wind Ensemble; he also conducted the Concert band at Boston University. In New Jersey he has conducted at Jersey City State College and at the June Opera Festival. An accomplished horn player, he performs with the Crosswinds Trio, Presentation Brass Quintet, and regional orchestras. Mr. Kursar has taught in Hunterdon Central High School, Long Valley Middle School, and Woodbridge High School and is recently retired from teaching instrumental music at the Woodglen School in Lebanon Township. A native of Piscataway, he resides in Clinton Township with his wife, Karen.

The founder of the Hunterdon Symphony, Nancy Roth, playing the violin.

Nancy Roth
Founder of Hunterdon Musical Arts

Nancy Roth co-founded the Hunterdon Symphony with oboist and friend Janice Norvell in 1980. Then in 1985, she founded the umbrella non-profit organization Hunterdon Musical Arts, which serves the orchestra, educational strings program and formerly Choral Union.

She is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory as violin performance major and music education specialist, and also spent a year in Austria, studying at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She remains an active member of the symphony, private instructor and the board of Hunterdon Musical Arts.

Barbara Volkov - Orchestra Manager

Barbara Volkov earned her Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College as an Independent Scholar, and was editor of Section 8, the college arts publication. Barbara has been continuously involved in Hunterdon Musical Arts since 2005, and in music and the arts all her life.

She serves as Manager of Hunterdon Symphony, Coordinator of Saturday Strings and Hunterdon Symphony Orchestra Camp, and Managing Director of Hunterdon Musical Arts.