Ostroushko, Peter For a man of few words, Peter Ostroushko was a master communicator. His music did the talking - and left its mark on the lives of those closest to him as well as grateful listeners across the globe. After several years of health challenges, Peter died Wednesday, February 24, of heart failure. A superlative mandolinist, fiddler, composer, arranger, and teacher, Peter grew up listening to tunes played at family get-togethers in the Ukrainian community of northeast Minneapolis. He said, "When I first picked up my father's old bowl-back mandolin, around the age of three, little did I know that I was committing myself to a lifelong odyssey with the instrument." And what an odyssey it was, from an uncredited mandolin set on Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" to his 40 years with Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" to his compositions that underscored the Ken Burns films "Lewis & Clark" and "The National Parks" and Twin Cities Public Television's "Minnesota: A History of the Land," for which Peter won an Emmy. He released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including his wide-ranging compilation "The Mando Chronicles." Fourteen episodes of Peter's podcast, "My Life and Time as a Radio Musician," can be found on Peter Ostroushko's website. Decade upon decade, arts critics, fellow performers, and fans worldwide sang his praises. Celebrated musician Norman Blake placed him among the greats of mandolinists. "Go out of your way to see Pete," mandolin virtuoso Jethro Burns advised. And as one reviewer wrote, "Let's start with the word 'brilliant' and move on from there." A devoted family man who enjoyed cooking, gardening, and baseball, Peter is survived by his wife, Marge, daughter Anna, sister Ludmilla, and brothers George and Taras. A private family funeral will be held; a larger celebration - with lots of music - is planned for a later date. Tribute gifts for medical and final expenses can be made at Peter's GoFundMe page gofundme.com/ f/help-peter-and-marge-ostroushko or to MacPhail Center for Music to support a mandolin program created in Peter's honor macphail.org or 501 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55401. Also see Jon Bream's article in the Star Tribune. kozlakradulovich.com "A Celebration of Life" 612-789-8869

Published on February 28, 2021