March 4, 2009 – St. Croix Landmarks Society presents Tod Bowermaster on horn and Vera Parkin on piano as part of the 23rd annual Candlelight Concert Series at Whim Plantation Greathouse, on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14. The concert series is an avenue to raise funds as well as to carry out the organization's mission to provide culture, performing arts and music education to the people of St. Croix and its visitors.
Tod Bowermaster has been third horn of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra since 1995, and served as acting principal horn for the 2002-2003 season. Winner of the 1999 American Horn Competition and the 1982 Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, he performs in both solo and chamber music settings. Bowermaster has performed as a soloist with the Honolulu Symphony, the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and numerous orchestras throughout the Midwest. He has performed as a member of the Honolulu Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra and with the orchestras of Chicago, Houston and San Francisco. He is an active teacher, giving recitals and master classes at Rice University, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Missouri. He resides in Kirkwood, Missouri, with his wife, Cynthia, a violinist, and their children Kathryn and Ryan.
Pianist Vera Parkin made her debut under the auspices of the Artist Presentation Society in 1985. Since that time, she has had an active and varied career as a performer and pedagogue in the St. Louis area. Educated at Northwestern University, Southern Illinois University and Washington University, her teachers have included Ruth Slenczynska and Seth Carlin. As a performer, Parkin is widely known as a collaborative pianist. She has been a keyboardist with the St. Louis Symphony since 1986, and is a frequent participant in the orchestra's Community Partnerships outreach concerts. She collaborates with many SLSO members as well; her most frequent duo partner is Mexican violinist Manuel Ramos. As a teacher, she is involved with many levels of music education. She is the founding director of the preparatory program for gifted music students at the Community Music School of Webster University, and she continues as the program's artistic director in this year's 10th season. During the summer months, she is the director of student life and a teaching artist at the Innsbrook Institute and Festival.
Because seating is limited, reservations should be made early. Ticket prices for Friday night performances are $35; Saturday night performances are $45 and include a post-concert artist reception. Music lovers can reserve a "Boxed Dinner on the Lawn" from Turtles Deli until noon on Friday before the concert for $20, which includes one beverage.