Important People
Jane Atherstone, Director
Jane has been director of the Inland Chorale since 1989. Vocally, she has performed with many community organizations, including the MSJC Opera Theater, for which she also trained and directed the chorus in various productions.
She began her vocal studies at MacPhail School of Music in Minneapolis. She graduated from the University of Minnesota and studied voice for many years with the late Ann Ayars, a leading soprano of the New York City Opera.
She developed choral and conducting technique in workshops with Fred Waring, John Raymond, Dr. Axel Theimer of St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and others, as well as continuing private music study.
Ms. Atherstone is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT). She has been involved in workshops and training with Master Teacher Richard Miller of Oberlin College as well as with NATS, the Brigham Young University Choral Academy and The Voice Care Network.
She has taught voice privately for over thirty-five years, and her students have been accepted into the voice programs at Eastman, Redlands University, Boston Conservatory of Music, Stanford, Brigham Young University, Concordia, CSU Long Beach, UC Santa Barbara, University of Utah, San Francisco Conservatory, Lawrence Conservatory, San Francisco State and others.
Virginia Pritchard, Piano
Ms. Pritchard has been the accompanist for the Chorale since its beginning.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Sacramento State University and Master of Music degree at the University of Washington. After graduating, she taught piano in Washington, in Iowa, and since 1979, in Hemet, California.
She is in demand as an accompanist for choirs and soloists and has accompanied many MSJC opera and musical productions. Ms. Pritchard has a private music studio in Hemet, and she has served as president of the Hemet Valley Music Teachers. Her students are frequently selected to play at honors recitals and at the state conventions of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT).
Ms. Pritchard is also a piano instructor at MSJC and has served for many years as organist for the Sun City Methodist Church.