Violin

Violinist Allison Ostrander enjoys a multifaceted career as orchestral leader, versatile chamber musician, teacher, studio musician and freelance violinist. Currently, Ms. Ostrander performs as concertmaster of the Minnesota Opera, violinist in the IRIS Orchestra where she has held the Isaac Stern concertmaster chair on numerous concerts throughout her 20 years with the ensemble, and is a regular substitute violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Previously, she has held positions with the Naples Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival orchestra as an orchestra fellow, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Madison Symphony, the Spoleto festival, and has been a guest artist with Twin Cities ensembles such as The Bakken Trio, LOFTrecital, Musical Offering, Vocalessence and Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion”.

In addition to her performing schedule, Ms. Ostrander is professor of violin and chamber music at the University of St. Thomas. She can be heard on the Naxos label performing Stephen Hartkes’ “Rose of the Winds” octet with members of IRIS Orchestra, as well as Kevin Puts’ 2012 Pulitzer Prize winning opera “Silent Night” with the Minnesota Opera. Her primary teachers include Margaret Pressley, Vartan Manoogian, Paul Kantor and David Perry. She holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.