Alana Carithers

Alana Pritchard Carithers, violin, holds a double Masters Degree in Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University.   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 also received her Suzuki Certification with the renowned Betty Haag of Chicago. She was one of the founding members of the MusiCorp program in Chicago, a grant funded chamber music program to take music into the inner city schools and churches of the Chicago area. In 2005, she began Vivace!, a great summer camp for students in the Richmond/ and Chesapeake areas. She began her orchestral career as the Associate Principal Second Violin of the Colorado Springs Symphony in 2000 and held that post until 2003.  She played as a member of both the DaVinci String Quartet and the Hausmusik String Quartet, in addition to having a private teaching studio. She has appeared as a guest soloist with the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Masterworks Festival Orchestra and performed on the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, Symphony Hall Chicago, Symphony Hall Boston, Schermerhorn Symphony Hall, and the Bermuda Music Festival.  She has participated, programmed and led chamber music, orchestral clinics, private lessons and masterclasses, at SIAS International University in Henan Province, CHINA, Changsha, Hunan, Zhengzhou, Beijing, Kunming and The University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii. She plays several solo and chamber recitals each year throughout Virginia as a member of the Oberon Quartet in Residence at St. Catherines School, a guest with Richmond Chamber Players, and with the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble.  She teaches in the Richmond area and has played in the violin section of the Richmond Symphony since September 2003 and serves as principal second violin of the Williamsburg Symphony orchestra.