BJU Hosts Masterclass with Alana Carithers

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GREENVILLE, S.C. (September 21, 2016) – The Division of Music at Bob Jones University will host a masterclass by violinist Alana Carithers on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. in Stratton Hall. In addition to her masterclass, Carithers will perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the BJU Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 20.

“We’re always thrilled when we can bring back alumni for masterclasses,” says Dr. Michael Moore, conductor of the BJU Symphony Orchestra. “With her versatility as an international soloist, orchestral, and chamber player, Alana has a valuable perspective to share with our student musicians.”

Alana Pritchard Carithers graduated in 1999 from Northwestern University with a double Master of Music degree in violin performance and pedagogy. During her time at Northwestern, she served as Assistant Concertmaster and Principal Second Violin with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Principal Second Violin of the Northwestern Symphony Orchestra. She was one of the founding members of the MusiCorp program in Chicago, a grant funded chamber music education program to take music into the inner city schools and churches of the Chicago area.

She began her orchestral career as the Associate Principal Second Violin of the Colorado Springs Symphony in 2000 and held that post until 2003. In 2003, she joined the Richmond Symphony, currently serving as a section player. She played as a member of both the DaVinci String Quartet and Hausmusik String Quartet, and has been a member of the Oberon Quartet since 2005. She has appeared as a guest soloist with the Zhengzhou New Years Orchestra, Hunan Symphony, Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Masterworks Festival Orchestra and on the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C.

Carithers has served on the violin faculty of the Masterworks Festival during the summer since 2001, and has appeared as a clinician, adjunct professor and masterclass teacher at the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii; SIAS University in Xinzheng, Henan, China; Harmony Music School, Changsha, Hunan China; University of Richmond and VCU; and St. Catherine’s and St. Christopher’s Schools.

Carithers is a visible advocate of chamber music and participates as a regular member of the Oberon Quartet, Atlantic Chamber Ensemble, Classical Revolution RVA, and makes appearances with the Richmond Chamber Players.

Participants in the masterclass will include students of BJU music faculty Mr. Brandon Ironside, Mrs. Dianne Pinner, Dr. Yuriy Leonovich and Mrs. Becca Grove. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the parking garage behind Rodeheaver Auditorium and on campus streets.

Carithers is one of several artists and pedagogues presenting masterclasses at BJU throughout the year. Others include David Kim, concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and cellist Michael Haber.

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