In Concert
for the People of St. Croix
at
St. Croix Reformed Church
Sunday, Jan 12, 2014
5:30 P. M
Concert Event Features Stradivarius

Sometimes beautiful, little events happen on St. Croix. One of those events may be in the offering again when on Jan. 12 celebrated, violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn arrives at the hilltop church in La Reine to give a free concert. She will be performing at 5:30 p.m. on the 1720 “Red Mendelssohn” Stradivarius, which is said to have inspired the 1999 film, “The Red Violin.” Barbara Podgurski will accompany her on piano.

Community music events are not new to the St. Croix Reformed Church. The church has regularly hosted Jazz Vespers on certain Sunday evenings throughout the year. Pastor Rod Koopmans says, “We, at the Reformed Church, the home of Jazz Vespers, are excited about being asked to host what could be the classical concert of the year for the Virgin Islands.” He encourages people to come early because seating is limited.

According to Pitcairn’s website, the violin was crafted in 1720 by Antonio Stradivari, who made his instruments in his small shop in Cremona, Italy centuries ago, and remains the most famous violin maker of all time. Not long after its creation, the instrument appeared to vanish from the radar screen; no one knows where or to whom the violin belonged for more than 200 years, spawning any number of historians, writers, journalists, critics as well as Canadian filmmaker, Francois Girard, to speculate on the violin’s mysterious history. Girard’s imaginative speculations became the narrative for his beloved film, “The Red Violin.” Ms. Pitcairn collaborated with Lionsgate Films for “The Red Violin” DVD.

She has given concerts in Sweden, Finland, Brazil and China. She made her New York debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in 2000 with the New York String Orchestra and she appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Academy of Music.

Podgurski holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance, and a Master of Music in both piano performance and theory from the Mannes College of Music. She has performed as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. She has been featured in numerous television and radio broadcasts.

One can find the Reformed Church when driving down Northside Road towards the Kingshill Post Office, look left up the hill, before getting to the Post Office and for the cross and turbine tower. A church sign is located at the bottom of the road leading up to the church. For more information call 340.778.0520 or email the pastor at StXRevRod@aol.com