Karen Conrad has been a string specialist and orchestra conductor in the New Jersey public schools for nearly 30 years. Mrs. Conrad graduated from Montclair State University with a B.A. in Music Education. Following her graduation she was awarded a scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston where she received a M. M. in Cello Performance. At the conservatory, she also studied conducting with Richard Pitman and Gunther Schuller. She is currently the Orchestra Director at Millburn High School where she also conducts the Chamber Orchestra, the musical Pit Orchestra and teaches the A.P. Music Theory class.

In addition to her teaching experience, Mrs. Conrad was conductor of the youth orchestra at Montclair State University Prep division and led them in performances in Munich, Germany. A professional freelance cellist, Mrs. Conrad has played for various personalities such as Luciano Pavarotti, Ravi Shankar, Henry Mancini, The Three Irish Tenors, and Blues Traveler. She was principal cellist at the Paper Mill Play house for eight years and continues to substitute there. She performs at NJPAC with the New Jersey State Opera Orchestra and during the summer performs at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.