Peter Ostroushko

Peter Ostroushko (August 12, 1953 – February 24, 2021) was an American violinist and mandolinist.

He performed regularly on the radio program A Prairie Home Companion and with a variety of bands and orchestras in Minneapolis–Saint Paul and nationally.

Born August 12, 1953, and of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis where he first took up mandolin at age three.

He released numerous recordings and was a regular performer on the A Prairie Home Companion radio program.

Ostroushko's first recording session was an uncredited mandolin player on Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks.

He toured with Robin and Linda Williams, Norman Blake, and Chet Atkins.

Ostroushko also worked with Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Johnny Gimble, Greg Brown, and John Hartford among many others.

Ostroushko 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.

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's Mark Twain.

He has also composed music for shows by Circus Juventas, a Saint Paul youth circus.

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

He won a regional Emmy Award for the soundtrack he composed for the documentary series Minnesota: A History of the Land (2005).

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

Ostroushko was married to public radio producer Marge Ostroushko.

They had one daughter together, Anna.

Ostroushko suffered a stroke in January 2018 and stopped performing.

A GoFundMe page was set up to assist with medical bills.

He died of heart failure on February 24, 2021, at the age of 67.

Adapted from Apple Music and AllMusic.