Weekender Encore: Chamber Orchestra Concert Will Feature Beth Heid
By Swan Day
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NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — On. Feb. 23, the Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra will present a free concert at Crosswalk Community Church. The program will include 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.
Heid began playing violin in the fourth grade in the Napa Valley public 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,” Heid said. “She really helped to develop my love of music. For me, it was uniquely satisfying to learn and perfect my playing.”
By the ninth grade, Heid 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 Conservatory, where she earned a degree in music and played both violin and viola. She hoped to return to Napa and teach music, but no teaching jobs were available here in the late 1970s.
“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 Heid
She decided to go to Mexico City on a special program from UOP to teach music at the American School. There she also began to explore other musical opportunities in Mexico, playing with several groups and ensembles. Upon learning about a newly formed Mexico City Philharmonic, she won an audition and began performing with this professional orchestra, first as a violinist and later on viola. The Mexico City Philharmonic was a full-time orchestra, providing a year-round season in Mexico City as well as on numerous international tours to Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and the United States.
“I was definitely in the right place at the right time to join this organization,” Heid said. “I especially enjoyed performing in some of the world’s greatest concert halls: Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Royal Albert Hall in London, the New Philharmonie Hall in Berlin and Carnegie Hall in New York. Playing in a full-time orchestra and traveling with this group was a dream come true.”
When she started her career as a professional, Heid played both violin and viola and also taught students of both instruments. She ultimately focused on the viola when she was offered the full-time post in Mexico City, realizing that she preferred the rich, harmonic sound of the instrument.
“‘The Bruch Romance’ piece is a perfect opportunity to showcase the viola sound to an audience,” Heid said. “‘Melody is the soul of music’ is a quote often attributed to Bruch. I think this is what Bruch had in mind with his beautiful ‘Romance’ piece for viola.”
After five years in Mexico City, Heid returned to Napa. She was hesitant to attempt a career as a freelance musician only, due to its financial insecurities. She became a bilingual teacher and eventually school psychologist in the St. Helena, Napa and Sonoma school systems. Through it all, 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.
She also enjoyed several travel experiences related to music, including playing on a cruise ship with a string quartet and participating in a summer program at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She also spent six summers in Graz, Austria, playing at the American Institute of Musical Studies Music Festival Orchestra, a special training program for opera singers.
Heid 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,” she said.
Her solo with the Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra is a departure for her, as she is most comfortable playing in musical ensembles. She co-founded the Eloquence String Quartet with violinist Peggy Brady, and over the past 20 years this group has played for many winery events and weddings at venues throughout the Bay Area. A more recent performing group, Eloquence Ensemble, has formed, featuring pianist Elena Casanova, along with musicians Rachelle Davis (violin) and Gwyneth Davis (cello).
Heid’s home with husband Rob Wright, noted local bass player, is filled with musical instruments. The couple are frequently 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.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Chamber Orchestra and grateful to be able to participate in free concerts for the Napa community,” Heid said. “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 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23, at Crosswalk Community Church, 2590 First St. in Napa. Admission is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. This is the third of four planned concerts for the ’24/’25 season. For more information, visit the website at Napavalleychamberorchestra.com. Heid’s string quartet is at eloquencestringquartet.com.
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Swan Day is a musician and volunteer with the Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra. Though a skilled musician, she does not perform with the orchestra.
No live music in our area. Used to attend regularly in Napa. Really miss it. Mark is my nephew in law!