Josh Aerie with the Sylvan Trio and Maggie Anderson at the Edge

Comprised of the eclectic instrumentation of cello, flute and piano, the Sylvan Trio explores new music as well as pieces from the standard repertoire. The trio includes Josh Aerie, Suzanne Bona and Dr. Greg Kostraba. Local Bigfork cello player and former student of Josh Aerie's, Maggie Anderson, will open the concert. The cello, flute and piano ensemble of Sylvan is a new group with Bigfork being one of the performances of their first tour of the area. The trio’s program will include a mix of works from classical composers Weber, Pleyel and Sowash.  Date April 26. Time 2 pm. Cost $10 adults and $5 children.

Josh Aerie is returning to the Edge with this trio (above). He has said,  “The Edge Center is a wonderful venue…it's acoustically near-perfect…with an intimate feel. I've performed in many concert halls across the country and the Edge is one of my favorites!”

He is a cellist, symphonic conductor, music educator and arts advocate. His career spans a wide array, including major-label recordings, nationally syndicated television appearances, premier performances as conductor and cellist, plus awards and appointments to leadership positions in the arts. In 2010 he co-founded the North Shore Philharmonic and in 2007 founded the Woodland Chamber Music Workshop.

He has performed, and conducted throughout the country and is a founding member of the Gichigami Paino Trio and Aerie-Lanzer duo. Recently relocated to South Bend, Indiana from Duluth, Josh is Music Director of the Hyde Park Youth Symphony in Chicago and Artistic Director of the Youth Honors Orchestra program affiliated with Goshen College. Josh is an outspoken proponent for music and arts in education and the community.

Flutist Suzanne Bona is a native of Fairfield, CT. and has performed with ensembles and as a soloist throughout Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In November 2013 Suzanne and pianist Greg Kostraba performed the US premiere of the Sonata for Flute and Piano op. 23 by British composer Ian Venables, and in March 2012 she was the soloist with the Guam Symphony in Tumon.

Suzanne is also host and executive producer of Sunday Baroque, a syndicated radio program of baroque and early music. Originated in 1987, “Sunday Baroque” is heard every week on 165 radio stations and networks across the United States.

Dr. Greg Kostraba combines a career as a radio professional and concert pianist. At the Fourth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in 2004, Greg’s performances garnered him semifinalist status. His 2006 performance of Kaintuck’ by William Grant Still with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, was broadcast nationwide on NPR’s Performance Today.

Currently he is Director at WBAA Public Radio from Purdue University and previously served as Classical Music Director and Senior Radio Host at WGTE Public Media in Toledo, receiving the 2007 Ohio Public Broadcasting Award for “Radio Producer of the Year.”  He founded and served as President and Artistic Director of the Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society in Lafayette, Indiana and Chamber Music Toledo. He holds masters and doctoral degrees in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. His background also includes other recording, directing and performing accomplishments.

Opening The Sylvan Trio program will be a musician and former student of Josh Aerie’s, local Bigfork area cellist Maggie Anderson. She started playing the cello at age 7 with the Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program. Now a young adult, she plays, composes and teaches.  Maggie played with Itasca Youth Symphony, in smaller chamber groups and the adult orchestra (Itasca Symphony Orchestra) where she is currently principal cellist.

She attends summer camps for strings, including St. Benedict and Gustavus. Most recently, as All State Orchestra member, she's attended summer camps with her All State peers (below), both at St. Ben's and Concordia College. As an All State participant, she has also played at Orchestra Hall, this year as assistant to the principal cellist.

Bigfork provided a number of great opportunities for her performances. From the pit orchestra in "Fiddler on the Roof" to "The Great Northern Radio Show" and numerous recital performances in between.

Fiddle on the Roof (above)

GNRS (above)

In Grand Rapids, playing with Itasca Symphony, "First Friday" gigs, and teaching beginning students in the Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program provided great experience. In the fall she will attend Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin to study biology and music. Lawrence has a music conservatory and Maggie has been invited to work with their cello studio.

Sylvan Trio

Maggie Anderson

There will be a very special group of artists at the concert on April 26th. You will get to hear music from both visiting and local musicians. If you have not heard classical music played in the Edge auditorium, this will be a good concert to try it and see if you like it. If classical music is one of the reasons you come to the Edge, this concert will not disappoint you.