Tag Archives: Peter Ostroushko

Peter Ostroushko & Dean Magraw — January 31

Crossings brings Peter Ostroushko & Dean Magraw to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, January 31, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, and can be purchased online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Peter Ostroushko, one of the finest mandolin and fiddle players in acoustic music joins guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer Dean Magraw for a return trip to Zumbrota.

The two legendary musicians played as a duo for 15 years. Both known for bringing together many musical styles, their concerts will leave audiences astounded and with a new appreciation for the similarities among musical traditions.

Because their musical interests roam so widely, each man has teamed up with other musicians for performances and recordings in every style from punk-folk to jazz, Celtic to country.

Ostroushko's tours have taken him to clubs, performing arts centers, music festivals and theatres across North America and Europe, and he has earned an international reputation as a versatile and dazzling musician and composer. He is at his most passionate playing a rich ethnic mix of music, at the heart of which is his Ukrainian heritage. His term for his mixture of musical styles is "sluz duz," a phrase roughly meaning "over the edge" or "off his rocker."

He has recorded with artists such as Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Greg Brown, and Taj Mahal. His first recording session was contributing the mandolin parts for Bob Dylan's epochal Blood on the Tracks. As a composer, Ostroushko has written works that have been performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia, the Rochester (Minnesota) Symphony Orchestra, and more.

Magraw's 30-year career in music has seen him teamed up with the well-known Irish group Altan, Japanese shamisen player Nigel Kennedy, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, singers Claudia Schmidt and Ruth MacKenzie, and Boiled in Lead. He leads his own jazz trio and quintet, and recorded with Celtic, Indian and Hungarian musicians as well.

"[Magraw’s] passion transcends all perceived musical boundaries, yet the vital essence of his distinctive style is ever-present, whether he’s performing and recording as a solo artist, [or] leading his own ensembles." –Pamela Espeland – MinnPost.com

Peter Ostroushko

Dean Magraw

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

Peter Ostroushko & Dean Magraw — March 22

Crossings brings Peter Ostroushko and Dean Magraw to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, and can be purchased online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Peter Ostroushko, one of the finest mandolin and fiddle players in acoustic music, and guitarist, composer, arranger and producer Dean Magraw reunite once again. The two legendary musicians played as a duo for 15 years. Both known for bringing together many musical styles, their concerts will leave audiences astounded and with a new appreciation for the similarities among musical traditions.

Because their musical interests roam so widely, each man has teamed up with other musicians for performances and recordings in every style from punk-folk to jazz, Celtic to country.

Ostroushko’s tours have taken him to clubs, performing arts centers, music festivals and theatres across North America and Europe, and he has earned an international reputation as a versatile and dazzling musician and composer. He is at his most passionate playing a rich ethnic mix of music, at the heart of which is his Ukrainian heritage. His term for his mixture of musical styles is “sluz duz,” a phrase roughly meaning “over the edge” or “off his rocker.”

He has recorded with artists such as Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Greg Brown, and Taj Mahal. His first recording session was contributing the mandolin parts for Bob Dylan’s epochal Blood on the Tracks. As a composer, Ostroushko has written works that have been performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia, the Rochester (Minnesota) Symphony Orchestra, and more.

Magraw’s 30-year career in music has seen him teamed up with the well-known Irish group Altan, Japanese shamisen prodigy Nitta Masahiro, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, singers Claudia Schmidt and Ruth MacKenzie, and Boiled in Lead. He leads his own jazz trio and quintet, and has recorded with Celtic, Indian and Hungarian musicians as well.

Peter Ostroushko

Dean Magraw

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

Hometown Holiday Show — December 21

The Hometown Holiday Show is back! Join us on Saturday, December 21, at 7:30 PM for another delightful evening of music and storytelling. Adult tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Student tickets for ages 18 and under are $5. Add $4 per ticket and you can reserve your seat! Tickets can be purchased at Crossings, as well as online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Pianist/accordionist Dan Chouinard and fiddle/mandolin player Peter Ostroushko headline a performance that also features a multitude of talented local performers.

This community-wide variety show and sing-along will feature performances by the Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School Jazz Band, a flute and cello duet, Irish soft shoe dancers from the Zumbrota Dance Studio, Rochester's Choral Arts Ensemble, and other fabulous acts by your neighbors! Concert goers will be greeted by carolers from Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.

This concert is a joint production between Crossings at Carnegie and the Zumbrota Area Arts Council to raise funds for improvements to the historic State Theatre. The theatre is an intimate venue whose vintage atmosphere is praised by audiences and performers alike. Planned renovations include weatherizing the exterior, restoration of interior finishes, upgrades in sound and lighting equipment, seating improvements, and an addition to the building for handicapped accessible restrooms, a larger lobby and dressing rooms.

Chouinard turns up regularly in Zumbrota playing a supporting role for performers like Ostroushko, Prudence Johnson, Ann Reed and others. Both he and Ostroushko are regular contributors to Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion radio show.

Chouinard has hosted similar community-based holiday shows in Lanesboro every year since 2007, drawing on local talent to fill most of the show's roster of musicians and storytellers and always featuring a performer friend from the Twin Cities as a special guest. He regularly creates special programs which blend storytelling, interview and music, many of these for Minnesota Public Radio. He has dubbed Crossings “my favorite SE Minnesota haunt.”

Ostroushko, one of the finest mandolin and fiddle players in acoustic music, plays a rich ethnic mix of music, at the heart of which is his Ukrainian heritage. It’s a mixture of musical styles he calls “sluz duz,” a phrase roughly meaning “over the edge” or “off his rocker.” He has earned an international reputation as a versatile and dazzling musician and composer.

Dan Chouinard

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota.