Our Story Begins with a Baton and a Vision

What started as a one-time concert quickly became a beloved musical tradition.

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In 1978, local music teacher Sheldon Bair gathered a small group of musicians to perform a single concert for the community. That concert sparked something special—a shared desire to keep making music together. From that point on, the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra (then called the Harford Community Orchestra) became a fixture in the area’s cultural life.

Today, we are proud to be a full orchestra made up of passionate volunteers—teachers, engineers, students, nurses, retirees, and more—all united by a love for music. Under the baton of our founding conductor, we’ve premiered over 100 works, collaborated with renowned soloists, and remained steadfast in our mission: to make exceptional orchestral music accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful to our community.