Announcing…

The 36th Raritan River Music Festival
Old Friends & New Faces: 300 Years of Music
May 10 – 31, 2025

Welcome to the 36th Raritan River Music Festival!

As we approach the 250th Anniversary of American Independence, along with New Jersey’s history as one of the founding thirteen colonies, we are reminded of the vast artistic creativity of the diverse cultures in the US, one of the genuinely revolutionary cornerstones of our society, reflected in our country’s motto “e pluribus unum” – out of many, one.

Raritan River Music continues to serve as a community leader, providing programs of music creation and presentation, educational and therapeutic enrichment, working tirelessly to support the mission of Creating Our Cultural Heritage Today!

Laura Oltman and Michael Newman,
Founding Artistic Directors

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A huge THANK YOU to the Raritan River Music family for contributing to the resounding success of tHE 35th Raritan River Music Festival:

*The Patrons, Foundations, and Businesses*

*The Festival Volunteers*

*The Audience Members*

*The Musicians and Composers*

*The Staff of the Concert and Outreach Venues*

*The Media Community Partners*

The 35th Raritan River Music Festival was featured in the national and regional media.  Here are a few of the articles and reviews:

*TAPInto Flemington*

*State of the Arts*

*NJ Arts Maven*

Click here to hear public radio’s “Performance Today” episode featuring music by Paulo Bellinati, recorded at the Historic Hunterdon County Courthouse, performed by Laura Oltman, João Luiz, Celil Refik Kaya, and Michael Newman.

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Click here to hear the podcast of Daedalus Quartet’s festival concert, produced and broadcast by WWFM/The Classical Network.

Click here to hear the 2-in-1 podcast of festival concerts featuring the Hot Club of Philadelphia, along with the Guitar Extravaganza with music commissions and Leo Brouwer 85th birthday celebration, produced and broadcast by WWFM/The Classical Network.

Click here to hear the podcast of Manhattan Chamber Players’ festival concert, produced and broadcast by WWFM/The Classical Network.

Please click here to support the programs of Raritan River Music, including the Artists-in-the-Community Outreach, with your contribution today.

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec wrote “Raritan Triptych” for the Raritan River Music Festival.  It will be featured on an upcoming recording of Raritan River Music commissioned compositions!

“The Raritan River Music Festival took root 35 years ago in the farm fields, forested rolling hills, and centuries-old hamlets of western central New Jersey. The Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s statewide newspaper, called the festival ‘a diamond in sylvan reaches.’

“In addition to concerts at historic churches around the area, we are thrilled to have presented a performance of festival musicians in the courtroom of the celebrated Hunterdon County Courthouse, site of the famed Lindbergh Kidnapping Trial of January 1935.

“Thanks to the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Hunterdon County Commissions for inviting us to present the inaugural public event in the newly restored Historic Hunterdon County Courthouse.”

-- Laura Oltman and Michael Newman, Founding Artistic Directors

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New music by Cuban composer Leo Brouwer, commissioned by Raritan River Music, is featured on the new Audiophile Vinyl LP, CD, download, and streaming by the Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo.

CLICK HERE for samples of the recording and links to download and streaming services.
CLICK HERE to purchase the limited edition Audiophile Vinyl LP, autographed by Leo Brouwer and by Newman & Oltman

festival favorites | new music | beloved classics | community engagement | educational enrichment

The new recording of music commissioned by Raritan River Music is available NOW!

Leo Brouwer

El Libro de los Seres Imaginarios / The Book of Imaginary Beings  

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

Available this Spring on the Musicmasters label:

Audiophile Vinyl LP  *  CD  *  Streaming

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Thirty three years ago, we were inspired to start a chamber music festival in rural western New Jersey that operates with an expansive definition of chamber music and its repertory.

Raritan River Music (RRM) is much more than the concerts in May, with programs year round for school kids, seniors, and patients at health-care facilities around the region. RRM also creates a legacy of new compositions and recordings commissioned by RRM’s patrons, as well as presenting new music at each concert by local school-age composers.

Over 33 years, however, the greatest achievement of RRM is the community created by the audiences, volunteers, trustees, and patrons of RRM. Musicians may not be able to perform surgery or put out fires, but there are times when a concert can heal a mortal wound or dispel the dark clouds for a while and make life worth living. That is what you, the supporters of Raritan River Music, have given to this community, to each other, into our fourth decade and counting. And, as the founders, that is what you have given to us. Thank you!

- Laura Oltman and Michael Newman, Founding Directors