Peter Ostroushko

Peter Ostroushko

Peter Ostroushko playing mandolin in 2014
Background information
Birth name Peter Ostroushko
Born August 12, 1953
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Genres Americana, folk
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Mandolin, fiddle, guitar
Labels Rounder, Red House
Associated acts Garrison Keillor, The Guys All-Star Shoe Band, Robin and Linda Williams, Dean Magraw
Website www.peterostroushko.com

Peter Ostroushko (born August 12, 1953) is an American violinist and mandolinist.

Background and career

Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis. He has released numerous recordings and is a regular performer on the A Prairie Home Companion radio program.

Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Mandolin

Ostroushko's first recording session was an uncredited mandolin player on Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks.[1][2] He has toured with Robin and Linda Williams, Norman Blake and Chet Atkins. Ostroushko also worked with Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Johnny Gimble, Greg Brown, John Hartford and the New Orleans-based rock/blues band The Radiators , among many others.

Orchestral

Ostroushko has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Ostroushko's compositions have been performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia, the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, the Des Moines Symphony and the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra. In 2009, he played with the Minnesota Youth Symphonies at Orchestra Hall. Music from Heart of the Heartland was used by Ken Burns for the PBS documentary Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery and his arrangement of "Sweet Betsy from Pike" was used in Burns' Mark Twain.

Television and radio

Ostroushko has appeared on television on Austin City Limits, Late Night with David Letterman, and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, as well as performing regularly on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion.

Awards

Ostroushko received a regional Emmy award for his soundtrack to the 2005 PBS Series Minnesota: A History of the Land.[3]

Personal

Ostroushko is married to public radio producer Marge Ostroushko.[4] They have one daughter, Anna.

Discography

References

  1. Blood on the Tracks recording sessions.
  2. A Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan and the Making of Blood on the Tracks, Andy Gill, Kevin Odegard, Da Capo Press. 2004
  3. University of Minnesota article on A History of the Land.
  4. Marge Ostroushko

External links