Thrive & Jive for the Big 25

It’s the Napa’s Chamber Music Festival’s silver anniversary

By Matt Larson

Is it August yet? If so, at your earliest convenience, start planning to attend Napa’s 25th Anniversary Season of Music in the Vineyards. Four weeks of chamber music concerts await you, performed by professional musicians in an exquisite setting, resulting in an experience that is quite unique, to say the least.

“Music in the Vineyards is a magical combination of incredibly talented musicians, an engaged and intimate audience, Napa Valley wine, and a wine country setting,” said PR Manager Natasha Biasell. “That combination doesn’t happen anywhere else.”

As chamber music is defined as being just that—music played within an often-small chamber—most of their concerts sell out every season, but not every one of them. Naturally, the smaller venues sell out more quickly, but some of the larger venues, with 200+ seating capacity, tend to remain open until showtime. Either way, reserve your tickets ASAP at musicinthevineyards.org.

What you’ll encounter at Music in the Vineyards may be unlike any concert that you’ve experienced. Classical music, played by a soloist, duo, trio or quartet (as opposed to a full orchestra), in a smaller performance venue (as opposed to a large concert hall) is something anyone and everyone can enjoy.

“Our chamber music concerts are held at intentionally intimate venues,” Natasha explained. “We’ve got a really incredible lineup of not just individual artists, but ensembles; returning favorites and some new ensembles as well. And every concert is different.”

Settings for this year’s concerts include a wide variety of Napa Valley venues, including Frog’s Leap Winery, Domaine Carneros, Robert Mondavi Winery, Silverado Vineyards, Charles Krug Winery, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and many more.

It all kicks off on July 31st at The Walt Disney Family Museum, and concerts are held every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, until the final concert on Sunday, August 25th at Inglenook Winery, closely followed by the event’s official 25th Birthday Party at Tre Posti.

We asked Natasha what has changed the most over the past 25 years of Music in the Vineyards, and what has stayed the same. “In one way, we have grown and developed in terms of our scope, and our quality of music,” she said. “The quality of the musicians that we are now able to attract to our festival is impressive.” But the experience as a whole, she added, is just as special as it’s always been. “On the other side of the coin, the intimacy and the uniqueness of our festival has remained the same.”

Audience members really get to know these musicians; compared to being one of thousands in an oversized venue, being one of a hundred or so at a Music in the Vineyards event makes the experience a bit more personal. And that personal connection goes a bit deeper than you might expect.

“One of the unique offerings that we provide for musicians is that we set them up in houses, with Napa Valley residents,” Natasha said. “It’s one of the reasons why we think they love to come back year after year! They actually get to interact with residents of the Napa Valley and create lasting friendships.”

Pairing musicians with local residents isn’t something new, by the way. In fact, it has been part of the process since the very beginning. “So instead of sticking folks in a hotel, we put them with people who live in the Napa Valley, know the Napa Valley, and who can really introduce them to the heart of what the Napa Valley is all about,” she added. “We believe that actually adds to the magic of that intimacy between the performance and the audience, because you’ve got people on stage who are actually staying in the homes of some of the folks in the audience!”

A new tradition for Music in the Vineyards is the Apprentice String Quartet Program, with 2019 being only its second year. Designed to help a pre-professional ensemble that has been active somewhere throughout the country, this year’s winner, chosen by a national audition, is Indiana-based 2nd St. Quartet.

“They’ll come to Napa and will be mentored at the festival,” Natasha said. “And as they’re learning and practicing and growing, they’ll be performing at local venues in the Napa Valley.” In collaboration with select Music in the Vineyards musicians, the 2nd St. Quartet will perform free concerts in local retirement communities, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Veterans Home, Napa School of Music, The Cameo Theater, and the Yäger Galerie.

2019 also marked the sixth year of the Solo Instrumental Competition, created to foster instrumentalists in grades 10-12 who reside in the greater Bay Area. It was held on March 9th, and winners were awarded a cash prize with the opportunity to perform at a recital as part of the festival. The Competition Winners Recital, including both the 2nd St. Quartet and the winners of the Solo Instrumental Competition, will be held on Saturday, August 3rd at 2 p.m. at Napa Valley College.

Commitment to the local community is obviously yet another aspect of the festival that has continued to grow over the past 25 years. Music in the Vineyards also provides a scholarship program designed to help pay for music lessons for young Napa Valley musicians, done in partnership with the Napa Valley Youth Symphony.

The Apprentice String Quartet program is supported by the Napa Valley Performing Arts Foundation, with matching funds from the Napa County Arts, Culture and Heritage Arts Program, City Council of St. Helena, and donors to their Community Outreach Program.

Partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, residents, and restaurants, have all played a huge role in the success of this event. Natasha gives a special shout out to the venues themselves. “We get to play at incredibly gorgeous venues across the valley, who give us their space free of charge because of their connection to the art community. We are so grateful to these venues for partnering with us.”

There are many, many concerts to choose from over the four-week Music in the Vineyards extravaganza. If you are having trouble deciding which one to attend, Natasha recommends getting tickets to the concert at Markham Vineyards on Wednesday, August 14th, featuring the Pacifica Quartet, now in their 14th season with the festival. “They are a favorite!” she exclaimed. “Their energy, their style of performance, and their love of the Napa Valley is inherent and clearly present.”

Other dates to note are the Bravissimo! Gala on August 10th, Free Open Rehearsals on Thursdays at Napa Valley College, Pre-Concert Talks on August 8th, 15th and 22nd, and of course the official dates for the Napa Valley Chamber Music Festival: July 31st through August 25th.

To purchase tickets and for additional information, head to musicinthevineyards.org. Give them a call at (707) 258-5559 or email them at info@musicinthevineyards.org.

If you haven’t been to Napa in a while and are in search of a new experience, make some calls, texts, faxes—find a date! And make it out in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Music in the Vineyards.

Larson is an actor/comedian/director from Vallejo who lives a double life between the Bay and LA. When he’s not writing for Local Happenings Magazine he could be editing a short film or working on his next rap album—who knows!

Keep up with all things Larson at: www.MarsLegstrong.com.