O'Shaughnessy Center offers a combination of musicians

Spend an afternoon with solo pianist Philip Aaberg, violinist Darol Anger and cellist Eugene Friesen on Jan. 23 at the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

The Aaberg/Anger/Friesen Trio merges American music traditions into an entertaining circus of virtuosity, improvisation and soul.

The three musicians have each been at the forefront of many new music trends, yet have kept their grounding in various American traditions: classical, bluegrass, rock and roll, and folk music.

Aaberg, a Chester, Mont., native and recipient of the Montana Governor's Award for the Arts, has performed throughout the world. During his undergraduate days at Harvard he began breaking boundaries, performing chamber music as well as playing New Orleans jazz, rock, and improvisational theater and experimental music. Audiences are dazzled by his dynamic and emotional range, and captivated by his musical composition and storytelling.

Aaberg has scored films, composed dance music and recorded seven albums of his own. He has secured the first piano chair with Skywalker Orchestra at Lucasfilm, recently recording soundtracks for "Mimic," "The Game" and "Winnie the Pooh, Search for Christopher Robin."

Anger is among the world's best improvising string musicians. The Boston Herald lauded him for his "fertile inventiveness, surprising touches, and technical mastery."

Working with some of the world's great improvising string musicians, among them Stephane Grappelli, Mark O'Connor, Bela Fleck and Vassar Clements, has contributed to the development of Anger's signature voice. He is at home in a number of genres, some of which he helped to invent. Darol has been an influential member of the Turtle Island String Quartet, Psychograss and the David Grisman Quintet.

Friesen, a member of the Paul Winter Consort since 1978 and a frequent performer with Living Music, has liberated the cello into an instrument with immense power of free expression. His gift for the responsive flow of improvisatory music has been featured in concerts throughout Europe, Japan, Brazil, Canada and the United States. Friesen uses cello and voice to create new music that is accessible yet personal.

The concert is part of Whitefish Theatre Company's Sunday Chamber Series. Tickets for the 4 p.m. show are reserved seating only and are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $9 for students. The box office at the O'Shaughnessy Center is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or two hours before a performance.

Call 862-5371 for tickets and information or check the theatre website at www.whitefishtheatreco.org