Mrs. Magdalena Wester

Originally from Latvia, Magdalena Sustere is a cellist who is passionate about music in a wide variety of forms. From playing classical to World music, she finds joy in taking part in various projects. Her passion is reflected in her versatile career, encompassing the baroque, classical, and modern genres, as well as opera, gospel, musicals, world music, jazz, and improvisation.

Ms. Sustere serves as freelance studio recording artist, educator, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. Magdalena is principal cellist for Chicago Composers’ Orchestra, sectional cellist with Oistrakh and Northbrook Symphony Orchestras , and cellist with Chicago based Sonder Trio. Additionally, she runes private cello studio with Bellas Artes School Of Music in Wheaton, IL.

Magdalena has a Masters of Music from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she studied with Dr. Tanya Carey. She earned her Bachelors of Music Degree in Cello Performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Summa Cum Laude). Magdalena has additionally played in masterclasses for Lynn Harrell, Neal Cary, Robert Burkhardt, Penny Thompson Kruse,Ozan Tunca, John Friesen, Anne Suda, Julian Schwarz, Sara Sant’ Ambrogio, Eric Stephenson, and Steuart Pincombe.

Besides cello playing, Magdalena enjoys singing, playing electric bass, reading, learning about other cultures and their foods.