CBU faculty member assembles orchestra for Concert for Heroes

Riverside, Calif. (July 1, 2026) — This spring Ruth Noemy Wheeler, instructor of music at California Baptist University, was asked to be the music director for the Concert for Heroes, an annual concert at the Riverside National Cemetery on July 3 that concludes with fireworks. 

She had four months to select the music and contact and hire the musicians to make up the Riverside Festival Orchestra.  

“I still said yes, because I love challenges,” Wheeler said. 

For over 20 years, the Riverside Philharmonic Orchestra has performed the concert. No other national cemetery hosts a symphony concert, said John Collins, producing director for the Concert for Heroes. This year he wanted to go a different route, asking Wheeler to direct.  

“I had an opportunity to work with local professionals, and I grabbed it enthusiastically,” Collins said. “The Riverside Festival Orchestra now has strong ties with both CBU and La Sierra University, both excellent partners for the future.” 

Wheeler, who has lived in Riverside since 2005, has played in a lot of orchestras and frequently attends concerts, where she has built relationships with fellow musicians.  She drew on those connections to assemble the 50-plus member orchestra. When a musician was unavailable, they often referred her to another qualified performer. 

At the first rehearsal last week, Wheeler acknowledged being a little nervous. 

“Putting together an orchestra, people who have never played together, it's a big challenge, even at a professional level,” she said. 

The result? 

“The very first chord that they play, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is going to be good,’” she said. 

When deciding on performers, the first thing Wheeler looked for were skills. The second was personality.

“That's one of the things that I teach my students: you need to have the skills to be a professional, but you need to have personal skills too,” she said. 

When selecting the music, Wheeler thought about what a regular attendee would want to hear. Plus, with a family concert, the crowd will include a wide age range. The 15 pieces selected include patriotic and movie themes.  

This is the first time Wheeler holds the role of music director outside of academia. 

“It’s exciting because it feels like all my roles as assistant conductor have been preparing me for this moment,” she said. 

Wheeler feels honored to continue the concert tradition. Someone told Wheeler that she loved the concert because her grandpa is buried there and feels like she is listening with her grandpa. Additionally, Wheeler’s husband is a Marine veteran and currently serves in the Army reserves, which gives the event more meaning.  

“My goal is that the audience enjoys it and they a have great time, celebrating the heroes that we have around us and the heroes that are not with us anymore,” she said.