FLEMINGTON, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The Hunterdon Symphony Orchestra performed its annual Concert for Young People on Feb. 21 at the Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse, marking the first time a full symphony orchestra has performed inside the building.
The sold-out concert, titled “Seven Stories of Old Hunterdon,” combined live orchestral music, storytelling, visual art and local history in a program designed for young audiences and families.
“This concert was a wonderful example of how local history and the arts can come together to create a meaningful experience for residents of all ages,” said Commissioner Zach Rich. “Programs like this help bring Hunterdon County’s past to life while showcasing the creativity and talent within our community.”
The performance featured an original score by conductor Lawrence Kursar inspired by colonial-era musical traditions. The music accompanied readings of seven historically based stories set in Hunterdon County during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The stories, written by local authors and published as a picture book with illustrations by Charlotte Molter, were narrated during the performance by the authors and county residents. Illustrations from the book were projected above the orchestra.
Selections included a Revolutionary War-era story told from the perspective of a Flemington horse, the history of Clinton’s Vought House as told by Christiana Vought, and an account of how Sergeantsville came to be nicknamed “Skunktown.”
The concert was presented by Hunterdon Musical Arts, which received a National Endowment for the Arts Special Project Grant through Hunterdon County in recognition of the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial. The organization is also a 2026 Local Arts Program re-grantee of the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
More information about upcoming exhibits and events at the Historic Courthouse is available on the county’s website.
