To enable all people to learn about and experience choral music, bringing them inspiration and joy.
The Inland Master Chorale presents its 47th concert season in 2026-27. The group is comprised of eighty talented vocalists from throughout the Inland Empire. Dr. Joseph Modica serves as Artistic Director, Zoe Petersen is the assistant director, and Sophie Tait is the Chorale’s accompanist. First formed in March 1980, the Chorale has provided exciting, quality musical experiences in a variety of genres for audiences in the Inland Empire, California, Washington, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.
Dr. Joseph Modica is Director of the School of Performing Arts and the Conservatory of Music at the University of Redlands. He also serves as Director of Music at the First Presbyterian Church of Redlands. Modica earned a Bachelor of Music degree in conducting from Chapman University, a Master of Music degree from California State University Long Beach, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California.
Early in his career, Modica taught choir at Redlands East Valley High School and Mater Dei High School. He spent 19 years as Conductor of the Festival Choir at the Idyllwild Summer Arts Camp. In 2017, Modica was selected to conduct concerts for the national tour of “Il Volo.” He has prepared choirs for “Video Games Live,” Pete Townshend’s Classic Quadrophenia, Josh Groban, Sarah Brightman, “Star Wars – In Concert,” and others. He also enjoys serving as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States.
Modica was selected to lead the Inland Master Chorale in 2017. While attending Redlands High School, he was a choir student of the Chorale’s founding Director, Roger Duffer.
Zoe Petersen was selected to be the Chorale’s new Assistant Director in 2025. She sang with the Chorale in 2019-2020. Petersen holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (2016) and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting (2019), both from the University of Redlands. She currently serves as Choral Director at San Jacinto Valley Academy, where she leads four choirs comprising more than 120 students in grades 6–12 and directs the school’s musical theater program for students in grades 2–12. She has enjoyed watching the choral program grow into a beautiful community. Her High School Treble Choir has received high praise and first place scores at competitions across the country, most notably in 2024 at the Riverside Church in New York City. Ms. Petersen also returns this season as the Director of the Redlands Youth Choir, which she led during college and from 2018-2021
Sophie Tait is an award-winning pianist who performs throughout Southern California as a soloist and collaborative artist. Ms. Tait received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Redlands, where she studied with Louanne Long and was the recipient of many accolades, including being named Grand Prize Winner of the annual Concerto Competition. Equally devoted to music education, Ms. Tait teaches piano at Redlands High School and accompanies the school’s choral ensembles. Ms. Tait is also Associate Faculty at Riverside City College and serves as the Executive Director of the annual University of Redlands Summer Piano Camp. An accomplished chorister, organist, and music director, Ms. Tait is a liturgical musician at St. Christopher Church in Moreno Valley. She was selected to be the Chorale’s Accompanist in 2016.
President
John Biddick
Secretary
Leslie Gunn
Treasurer
Debbie Kamrani
General Manager of IMC
Douglas Newton
Artistic Director
Dr. Joseph Modica
At Large
George Becker, Doug Simao, Ray Watts
October & December Concerts
100 Cajon St., Redlands, CA 92373
March & May Concerts
To Be Announced
Sundays at 4 pm
Plus Saturday at 7 pm on December 12
