Beth McNinch is an esteemed Irish violist, producer, educator, and artistic director, recently honoured as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) for her outstanding contributions to the field. Known for her ability to craft compelling programmes that balance classical favourites with lesser-known gems, Beth is passionate about collaboration across artistic genres. This spirit of innovation is at the heart of her company, Musici Ireland, an acclaimed chamber collective and interdisciplinary production house.

Beth began her career in London after studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music. She quickly established herself as a prominent orchestral violist, performing with leading UK ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has appeared in principal viola positions with the Irish National Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, English National Ballet, Ulster Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

In the past couple of years, Beth has made her directorial debut with two major Musici Ireland productions: A Mother’s Voice, a multi-media performance honouring women affected by Ireland’s mother-and-baby homes, and Chronically Hopeful, an interdisciplinary work exploring themes of invisible disability through music, movement, and spoken word. Both projects exemplify Beth’s commitment to socially engaged art and creating space for underrepresented voices.

She is a core contributor to Improvising Across Boundaries, a four-year research project led by University College Dublin and the Improvised Music Company, which supports women and gender minority improvisers in Ireland. Her involvement in improvisation led to her participation in the 2023 “Icelandic Sessions” at the Við Djúpið Music Festival in Ísafjörður.

Beth plays on a rare cut-down Barak Norman viol, originally made in the 1650s and converted into a viola by Matthew Hardie in 1818. Her work has been supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Artlinks!, SEVN, and Creation Artists Residency.