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Peter Ostroushko
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When they write the book on Peter Ostroushko, they may mention that he loved his family and music and cooking and baseball. But there's no doubt they'll say he was one of the most accomplished instrumentalists and gifted composers of his generation.
Growing up in the Ukrainian community of northeast Minneapolis, Peter heard mandolin, balalaika and bandura tunes played by his father and family friends at get-togethers in their home and in church. He was still in high school when his career as a professional musician began. Asked to compose and play the music for a one-man staging of A Christmas Carol, Peter fell in love with theater. Soon he was honing his skills at the Children's Theatre School in Minneapolis.
He began to take up instrument after instrument, finally opting to concentrate on fiddle and mandolin. During the next three decades, he made his mark as a sideman, session player, headliner and composer. His first recording session was an uncredited mandolin set on Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks. He toured on a regular basis with Robin and Linda Williams, Norman Blake and the Rising Fawn Ensemble, and Chet Atkins. He also worked with the likes of Jethro Burns, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Johnny Gimble, Greg Brown, John Hartford and Taj Mahal, among a host of others.
Peter has spent more than 25 years as a frequent performer on A Prairie Home Companion, and for a few seasons, he did a stint as Music Director for the popular radio show. He's appeared on Austin City Limits, Late Night with David Letterman, even Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
Composer Peter Ostroushko has undeniably come into his own. His works have been performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia, the Rochester (Minnesota) Symphony Orchestra, the Des Moines Symphony and the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra, among others. Twin Cities Public Television commissioned Peter to provide music for their nationally distributed programs, The Dakota Conflict and Grant Wood's America. Ken Burns used music from Heart of the Heartland for his PBS documentary Lewis & Clarke, and Peter's haunting arrangement of "Sweet Betsy from Pike" was underscore for Burns' Mark Twain.
In 2001, Peter was the recipient of a Bush Artist Fellowship for Music Composition. And, along the way, he has picked up a N.A.I.R.D. Indie Award, and a couple of Minnesota Music Awards. His music has made its way around the world. Wherever it's heard, there's another bunch of fans eager for more.
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Postcards A recording of all original compositions from one of acoustic music's finest, composed on the road while traveling with A Prairie Home Companion. With few exceptions, each piece is tied specifically to the location the show was visiting for that episode. CD Price: $15.97  |
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Coming Down From Red Lodge Ostroushko first wrote and performed this outstanding cycle of instrumental music for five consecutive appearances on A Prairie Home Companion and the response from the listening audience was unprecedented. Here it is recreated in all of its glory by Peter and the talented Prairie Home Shoe Band. A stunning blend of Celtic, classical and American Roots music, highlights include "Trip to Donegal" and his beautiful tribute "Hymn: Page 9/11." CD Price: $15.97 |
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Sacred Heart Sacred Heart completes the Heartland Trilogy. In an almost all-instrumental affair (vocalist Ruth MacKenzie sings on just one track), Ostroushko melds folk traditions both foreign and domestic with the likes of jazz, classical, and even New Age music. CD Price: $15.97 |