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Eight Strings and a Whistle is a classical music trio consisting of flutist Suzanne Gilchrest, violist Ina Litera, and cellist Matthew Goeke. The group was formed in 1998 and has since become a prominent force in the chamber music world. Suzanne Gilchrest, the flutist of the group, was born in New York City and began playing the flute at the age of nine. She went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in flute performance. Gilchrest has performed with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic and the American Symphony Orchestra. She has also been a member of the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music since 1989. Ina Litera, the violist of the group, was born in Lithuania and began playing the viola at the age of six. She went on to study at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and the Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in viola performance. Litera has performed with many orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. She has also been a member of the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music since 1991. Matthew Goeke, the cellist of the group, was born in Ohio and began playing the cello at the age of nine. He went on to study at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Juilliard School, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in cello performance. Goeke has performed with many orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic and the American Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a member of the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music since 1995. The trio first came together in 1998, when they were all members of the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music. They quickly discovered a shared passion for chamber music and began performing together regularly. The name "Eight Strings and a Whistle" was chosen to reflect the instrumentation of the group: flute, viola, and cello. Since their formation, Eight Strings and a Whistle has performed extensively throughout the United States and abroad. They have been praised for their virtuosic playing and their innovative programming, which often includes works by contemporary composers alongside more traditional repertoire. One of the highlights of the group's career was their performance at the 2004 National Flute Association Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. They were one of only a handful of chamber ensembles invited to perform at the convention, which is the largest gathering of flutists in the world. Their performance was met with enthusiastic applause and critical acclaim. In addition to their performances, Eight Strings and a Whistle has also been recognized for their recordings. Their debut album, "Eight Strings and a Whistle," was released in 2002 and features works by Mozart, Beethoven, and contemporary composer Robert Sirota. The album was praised for its "impeccable musicianship" and "thoughtful programming." Their second album, "Albert's Window," was released in 2008 and features works by Sirota, as well as composers David Macbride and Harold Meltzer. In 2010, Eight Strings and a Whistle was awarded a Chamber Music America Residency Grant, which allowed them to work with composer Robert Sirota on a new piece for their ensemble.

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