Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra is very grateful for the opportunity to participate in Napa Valley Can Do’s Give!Guide. Not only do we benefit financially, but we are establishing a community presence through joining other nonprofits in fundraising efforts. It’s a win-win situation!

One of our ongoing stories is how we showcase local talent at our concerts. On. Feb. 23, the Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra presented a free concert at Crosswalk Community Church. The program included Max Bruch’s “Romance”, featuring a viola solo played by Beth Heid, a Napa native and talented musician who has played with the Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra since its inception in 2021.

Beth’s musical career began in the fourth grade in the Napa Valley School system. Her parents were very supportive of her interests in music and provided private lessons. “I was fortunate to have local violinist Dorothy Gundling to teach me from the very beginning.

She really helped to develop my love of music,” Beth said. “For me, it was uniquely satisfying to learn and perfect my playing.” By the ninth grade, she was playing in the Napa Valley Symphony, which was a small community orchestra. She continued her pursuit of music at the University of the Pacific (UOP) Conservatory, where she earned a degree in Music and played both violin and viola.

After an exciting period playing with the Mexico City Philharmonic, including tours to major music capitals around the world, Beth returned to her hometown and taught in the St. Helena, Napa and Sonoma school systems.

Throughout this period, she continued to perform on her viola in local groups, including the Santa Rosa Symphony, Napa Valley Symphony, and Vallejo Symphony, as well as many small ensembles.

Beth is now retired from the school system and can devote more time and energy to her music. “The joy and satisfaction of playing in a musical group, whether a quartet, a chamber orchestra, or a symphony, just never gets old for me,” Beth says. Her solo with the Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra is a departure for her, as she is most comfortable playing in musical ensembles.

She is married to Rob Wright, noted local bass player, and frequently they are found on the same stage, playing with the Chamber Orchestra, accompanying Bel Canto and St. Helena Chamber Choir, or adding their musical voices to countless other performances.

Beth sums up her feelings about working with NV Chamber Orchestra by saying “I am thrilled to be part of the Chamber Orchestra and grateful to be able to participate in free concerts for the Napa community. The Chamber Orchestra is a great place for local musicians to perform. I love playing in different venues around the valley, with different players.”

Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra is the only community orchestra in the Napa Valley. The musicians are local residents who volunteer their time and talent to bring free concerts to Napa. The next concert will be held at 2:00 pm, Sunday April 27th with Chase Spruill as concertmaster and soloist.

Admission is free and donations are gratefully accepted. This is the last of four planned concerts of the ‘24-’25 season. For more information, visit the website at Napavalleychamberorchestra.com.

Beth Heid’s string quartet is at eloquencestringquartet.com.