Roth began his musical studies as a child at New York's Henry Street Settlement. He attended the Juilliard School on the G.I. Bill and studied with Harold Gomberg, then principal oboist with the New York Philharmonic, and joined the Philharmonic himself, as second oboist under Gomberg, in 1961.

According to the Times, the Philharmonic's previous second oboist, Ronald Roseman, offered to give Roth the position in exchange for his place in the quintet. "I was primarily a first oboist," Roth said, "but playing second oboe with Harold Gomberg was an opportunity I couldn't refuse."

Roth retired in 1992.