Beth Vandervennet is a resident of Oakland, California where her work passions include freelance musician, teaching artist, and advocate for arts education. Beth was the Program Manager and Lead Teaching Artist for the Oakland Symphony’s MUSE (MUSic for Excellence) program where she coordinated programming and taught in partnership with Oakland Unified School District (2011-2023). Her leadership in music education prioritizes opportunities for students from marginalized communities. In 2016, Beth received the Ford Musician Award for Excellence in Community Service granted by the League of American Symphony Orchestras and the Ford Foundation. In September of 2023 she enthusiastically joined Crowden as Associate Artistic Director.

Beth currently holds cello performance posts in the Oakland Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Marin Symphony, and is former Principal Cellist of Vallejo and Stockton Symphonies. Beth’s former chamber music posts include cellist of Satory Quartet, Lake String Quartet, Sequoia Trio, Squid Inc. - string quartet, and Rosin Coven - theatrical Pagan Lounge ensemble. Beth received a Bachelor of Musical Arts in cello performance from the University of Michigan with a minor in Arts Administration and high honors in music theory. She earned a Master of Music in Cello Performance from Carnegie Mellon University where she studied with Anne Martindale-Williams, Principal Cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Beth has studied chamber music with members of the Cavani, Cleveland, Miami, and Alexander Quartets and other renowned chamber musicians and pedagogues such as Abraham Loft, Norm Fischer, Anthony Elliot, Fred Sherry, and Camilla Wicks.

www.cellobeth.com