Milwaukee duo SistaStrings performed at Oscars' In Memoriam segment with Andrea Bocelli

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The golden opportunities keep coming for Milwaukee duo SistaStrings.

Two months after Chauntee and Monique Ross performed with Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile on the Grammys, the sisters appeared on the Academy Awards Sunday night. They performed as part of a string quartet that ushered in the telecast's In Memoriam segment, set to "Time To Say Goodbye," performed by Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo, which was reimagined for the Oscars with famed film composer Hans Zimmer.

SistaStrings are primarily known for their work in Brandi Carlile's backing band since 2022, which has included performing on "Saturday Night Live" and in stadiums as an opener for Pink last year.

The Ross sisters started playing instruments before they were 5, and first performed in the family group Sisters of Praize at schools, libraries, churches and nursing homes around Milwaukee. SistaStrings was established in 2014; the duo collaborated with a wide range of Milwaukee musicians, from rappers to folk artists, and built up a reputation through their own shows in town.

Since leaving Milwaukee for Nashville in 2020, they have performed in Allison Russell's band; won Instrumentalist of the Year at the Americana Music Awards last September; and last month had some artifacts included at the American Currents Gallery at the Country Music Hall of Fame. They are also working on their own album that Carlile is producing.

While SistaStrings currently don't have a Milwaukee show booked, Bocelli does. He’ll perform with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra April 6 at Fiserv Forum.

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Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee duo SistaStrings perform at the Oscars with Andrea Bocelli