Donita Bauer (bassoon) has enjoyed a varied musical background. A native of Iowa, her musical studies on bassoon and piano began in the second grade. She received her Bachelors degree from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, and a Master’s degree in bassoon performance from the Saint Louis Conservatory studying with George Berry and Robert Wisneskey. Donita has taught high school band and orchestra and has been active as a church organist and choir director. Presently, Donita is principal bassoon with Webster University Orchestra, Bach Society, Union Avenue Opera and Masterworks Chorale. An extra player with the Saint Louis Symphony, other freelance engagements in the Saint Louis area include Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Ballet Orchestra of St. Louis, A Perfect Fifth Woodwind Quintet, New Opera St. Louis and the American Cantorei. Donita is active in the teaching field through private instruction, serves on the faculties at the Community Music School of Webster University, OASIS, and is currently the Director of Music at Eden Theological Seminary, Webster Groves.
Ann Homann (oboe, English Horn, oboe d’amore) is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where she was a student of Joseph Turner and co-principal oboist of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. As a student of Peter Bowman and Marc Gordon, she received her Master of Music degree from the Saint Louis Conservatory. She has frequently performed as a substitute and replacement player with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Homann is the principal oboist of the Webster Symphony, the Saint Louis Philharmonic, Union Avenue Opera and the American Kantorei, a choral and instrumental ensemble that specializes in the music of J. S. Bach. She serves on the faculty of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Principia College Webster University and the Community Music School of Webster University. She enjoys performing chamber music with Quintessence-St. Louis and as a founding member of the Equinox Chamber Players.
Jeanine York Garesché (clarinet) holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and received her Master of Music performance degree from the St Louis Conservatory of Music. Ms. Garesché plays professionally with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Union Avenue Opera, the Equinox Chamber Players, the Gateway Festival Orchestra, the Webster University Symphony Orchestra and the Ballet Orchestra of St. Louis. Former professional engagements include the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (Springfield), the Fort Wayne Philharmonic (Indiana), Quintessence-St Louis Woodwind Quintet, and Synchronia, a contemporary chamber music ensemble. She has served on the faculty of the Tidewater Music Festival (Maryland) and served as clarinetist-in-residence for the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival (Maine). She is a member of ACME (Artists, Composers, Musicologists, Educators), a branch of Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity and performed at the 2008 International Clarinet Convention in Kansas City, MO. Jeanine is known throughout the Midwest as a private instructor, chamber music coach and clinician. Her students have won top honors in Missouri’s District and State competitions. Ms. Garesché is currently a replacement player with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, pianist for The First Divine Church of St. Louis, a sought after chamber musician and recitalist and a faculty member at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, Webster University, and the Community Music School of Webster University. Originally from northeast Nebraska, she resides in University City, Missouri with her husband, Tom.
Jennifer Adams received her Bachelor of Music Degree at the New England Conservatory of Music and her Master of Music Degree at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music. You can see her perform with The Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, the American Kantorei and with the FOX Theatre Orchestra. Along with her many chamber music engagements, Jennifer teaches private lessons in her home.
Originally a native of the rolling farmland of southeastern Wisconsin, Christina Schempf is a St. Louis based horn player and educator. She received a Master’s Degree from New England Conservatory in Boston as a student of Richard Sebring and studied with Melanie Cottle at Wheaton College. Christina is an active freelancer and has played with the Equinox Chamber Players, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, the MUNY, Winter Opera St. Louis, the Illinois Symphony, and the New World Symphony. Christina currently works as the director of music programs at Intersect Arts Center, a nonprofit organization that provides arts engagement opportunities for youth, adults, and families in the Gravois Park neighborhood. Aside from her pursuits in music, Christina enjoys various activities including backpacking, foraging, and reading poetry.
Peg Bumb, originally a flutist, switched to bassoon in college. After attending Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and Northwestern University, she returned to St. Louis and has been a freelance bassoonist and teacher. Some of the groups which she has performed with are the Illinois Symphony, Bach Society of St. Louis, Winter Opera, The Fox Orchestra, and the Muny. She is also a substitute player with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.
In Appreciation
The Equinox Chamber Players are grateful to Carole Lemire, founding member, as well as Paula Kasica, Scott Hammann, Stephen Hanrahan, Mary Bryant, Cathy Lane, Rebecca Meador, Sherry Lile and Dana Hotle for their former commitment to the Equinox Chamber Players.