Ralph Stewart   1929-2004

The Naples Orchestra and Chorus, officially and lovingly known as "I Musici Di Napoli, Inc.," was founded in 1993 by Ralph Stewart who also became its first conductor.

Ralph Stewart was not new to starting from scratch. He formed his first civic chorus in Northern Ontario at the age of seventeen. Later his experience included choirs, chorales and orchestras in Canada's capitol, where he established a one hundred voice chorus for the nation's centennial, and in the United States.

In addition to his musical pursuits Mr. Stewart was a published author, politician and professional diplomat. He was elected to Canada's Parliament where he served for eleven years. He chaired a committee at the NATO Assembly, and was Canada's Consul General to the Southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico.

After leaving his ambassadorial post he became a permanent resident of the U.S. and settled in Naples where he served for twelve years as Director of Music at St. Leo Catholic Church in Bonita Springs.

Richard T. Holmberg

Richard T. Holmberg was Musical Director of the Naples Orchestra and Chorus for two and half years, succeeding its original conductor and founder, the late Mr. Ralph Stewart. Mr. Holmberg resigned in April 2007.

He had arrived at a time of crisis but he managed professionally and personally to maintain the vitality of the organization. The orchestra and chorus grew in numbers and matured in quality. But no one was surprised because Richard Holmberg was an unusual musician.

He had been director of music for the School Town of Munster in Munster, Indiana for 35 years, during which time he built the music department into one of the most successful music programs in the state. He was also in charge of the vocal music department, which included as many as three hundred students participating in choirs and select vocal ensembles.

Mr Holmberg holds a bachelor's degree from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota and a master's degree in piano from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He continued his post-graduate study at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Maintaining an affiliation with Northwestern University, Mr. Holmberg still chairs the alumni association in Naples. He is also a member of the Alumni Admission Council and the Henry Wade Rogers and John Evans societies for Northwestern.

Locally, he is still quite active in the Naples Music Club where he was president for two years. He is also a board director of Classic Chamber Concerts in Naples.