Magdalena Sustere, a passionate cellist originally from Latvia, delves into music in myriad forms. From classical to world music, she thrives on participating in diverse projects, demonstrating her versatile career in baroque, classical, modern genres, opera, gospel, musicals, world music, and improvisation.

Ms. Sustere is a freelance artist, educator, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. She is the principal cellist for the Chicago Composers’ Orchestra and performs as a sectional cellist with the Oistrakh and Northbrook Symphony Orchestras. She also co-founded the Chicago-based Sonder Trio. Beyond performance, Magdalena runs her own cello studio, teaches with Ravinia’s “Reach, Teach, Play” program at GR Clark Elementary School in Chicago, serves as the music and orchestra director at the Science Academy of Chicago, and instructs cellists at the Bellas Artes School of Music.

Magdalena holds a Master of Music degree from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she studied under Dr. Tanya Carey. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Magdalena has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists such as 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.

As a recording artist, Magdalena has contributed tracks for artists in the United States and internationally, notably collaborating with contemporary film composer Philip G. Anderson. She frequently engages in various projects, infusing her creative input into the production of music.

In Latvia, Magdalena co-founded and organized History Makers Latvia, a youth prayer camp. In the spring of 2010, the organization launched the first School of Worship, a multi-day event focused on music and worship, teaching participants to effectively use their gifts for God’s Kingdom. Ms. Sustere served as an instructor for improvisation classes. History Makers remains very active and has grown significantly.

In her free time, Magdalena enjoys cultivating friendships, writing music, watching American football, reading, longboarding, and honing her skills on the bass guitar and other instruments.

In 2022, Magdalena married and changed her surname from Sustere to Wester, marking a new chapter in both her personal and professional life.