SYMPHONY NEW HAMPSHIRE, EST. April 29, 1923

A celebrated source of innovation, inspiration, education and entertainment since 1923, Symphony New Hampshire is the premiere symphony orchestra of the Granite State. From its humble beginnings over 100 years ago as a mainly all-Nashua musician group that performed two concerts each season in the City of Nashua, the orchestra has since grown into a vibrant jewel in the cultural crown of New Hampshire. Today, concerts are offered not only in Nashua, but throughout Southern New Hampshire and in special performances around the region.

As the organization continues strong through its second century of music making, presenting masterworks, choral extravaganzas, contemporary pieces and rare jewels of the orchestral repertoire, the symphony today comprises top musicians throughout New England. It is acclaimed for its memorable performances, including premieres by composers Kevin Siegfried, and Randall Thompson; wide-ranging repertoire from Bach to Bartok, including New Hampshire native Amy Beach, and from Bernstein to the Beatles and more.

Among the notable guest artists that have graced the orchestra’s stage are pianists Emanuel Ax, Herbert Stessin,  Max Levinson, and Victor Borge; violinists Caroline Goulding, Jennifer Koh, Irina Muresanu, and Mark O’Connor; cellist Sergey Antonov, The Irish Tenors; and conductor Eiji  Oue, as well as collaborations with such local organizations as the Boston Ballet, Nashua Choral Society, Granite State  Chorale, Nashoba Valley Chorale, Lowell State Chorus, Chelmsford Choral Society, Worcester Chorus, Concord Chorus, and Merrimack Lyric Opera Company, to name a few. Symphony NH has also been presented in recent seasons by Music Worcester (MA) and the Jorgensen Center at UConn Storrs.

Founded as the Nashua Symphony Orchestra by Clayton A. Eaton, the organization has gone through several incarnations as the community experienced the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II and other events in its history. At one time also called the Nashua Symphony Association, the organization changed its name June 19, 2012 to Symphony NH to reflect its expanded mission “to inspire and enlighten through exceptional live music” serving the state, not just the city of Nashua.

In recent years, Symphony NH has greatly increased access to high-quality music played by professional musicians through an expansion of venues, the addition of a free community engagement program and additional concert offerings to include more contemporary and culturally diverse music, thereby continuing to fulfill the promise of our name: we are the Symphony for all of New Hampshire.

New venues include the Nashua Center for the Arts, The Rex Theatre in Manchester, the Stockbridge Theatre in Derry, and a partnership with the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord.  Symphony NH also has a partnership with the New London Barn Playhouse to perform “In Concert” musicals as part of their summer season.

SNH Plays Back is a community program that works with NH nonprofits to provide free ensemble performances at soup kitchens, hospitals, libraries, hospice, food pantries, etc. Since its inception in December 2022, musician ensembles have performed for over 400 people at 28 nonprofit venues across the state, bringing live music directly to those who have the least access to it. 

Symphony NH’s commitment to music education continues our long-standing partnership with the Nashua School District. The Link Up Program (in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute) provides free music instruction during the school year to Nashua third graders as well as a culminating concert with the orchestra each spring.