Ernestine Riedel Chihuaria

1930 - 2014

Ernestine Riedel Chihuaria
March 23, 1930 - December 1, 2014
Resident of Redwood City
Ernestine Riedel Chihuaria passed away December 1st at the age of 84. Born in Oakland and raised in San Leandro, she had an extensive musical career as a solo concert violinist as well as a respected member of the San Francisco Symphony orchestra. Her interest in the violin started at the age of nine on a second hand violin purchased by her father, and by twelve she began private lessons with Naoum Blinder in San Francisco. At sixteen she debuted with the Oakland Symphony. Her studies continued at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and in Jascha Heifetz's master class.
In 1961 she left the United States to study at the famed Mozarteum in Salzburg Austria for a year. She gave recitals throughout Europe, and returned in 1963 performing with orchestras throughout the continent including recording with the BBC. Upon her return she joined the Oakland Symphony in 1964 and later that same year she auditioned for Maestro Josef Krips and began her long career with the San Francisco Symphony. In 1967 she was featured as a soloist with the symphony performing the William Walton violin concerto. She was married to Victor Chihuaria in 1969 and together they built their home in the Redwood City hills. They enjoyed gardening, music, cooking and world travel. After retiring from the symphony in 1994, she continued to play concerts throughout California and Nevada. Playing music was her gift to others.
She was a loving and devoted sister to Leonard Riedel of San Lorenzo, Linda Daniel of Alamo, and Jeanette Lage of Leavenworth, Washington. Also a loving aunt to Tracy Hudson of Valley Springs, Brian Daniel of Reno and Julia Boots of Pleasanton. The family requests that remembrances be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.