Orsino Thruston

Orsino Thruston is a wizard and the drummer for the popular wizarding band, The Weird Sisters. His most notable appearance is his performance with the band at the Yule Ball, which was held during the 1994-1995 Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is a background character who helps establish the popular culture of the modern wizarding world.

Orsino Thruston's only appearance in the series is during Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Along with the rest of The Weird Sisters, he was hired by Albus Dumbledore to provide the musical entertainment for the Yule Ball on Christmas Day, 1994. The band set up on a stage at the end of the Great Hall and performed to an enthusiastic student audience. Their music was described as “deafeningly loud” and was very well-received, particularly by younger students like Ginny Weasley. No further details about Thruston's life before or after this event are provided in the novels.

Orsino Thruston's individual appearance is not described in the books. The entire band is collectively described as wearing “artfully ripped black robes”. As a member of a popular rock band, he is part of a high-energy performance, but no specific personality traits are mentioned.

  • Musicianship: Thruston's primary documented skill is his talent as a musician. He is the drummer for one of the most famous bands in the British wizarding world.
  • General Magical Ability: As a wizard, Thruston presumably possesses magical ability and likely attended a wizarding school, but he is never seen performing any magic.
  • Drum Kit: During the Yule Ball performance, Thruston plays a set of drums.

Thruston is a member of The Weird Sisters. Other members mentioned in the story or by the author include Myron Wagtail (lead singer), Kirley Duke (lead guitarist), Donaghan Tremlett (bassist), Gideon Crumb (bagpipes), Heathcote Barbary (rhythm guitar), Merton Graves (cello), and Herman Wintringham (lute) (Pottermore). He has no known personal relationships with the main characters of the series, though they are familiar with his band's work.

  • Orsino: An Italian name, diminutive of “Orso,” meaning “bear.” It is also the name of the lovesick Duke in William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night.
  • Thruston: A surname of Old Norse origin, derived from the name “Thorstein” (from the god Thor and steinn, meaning “stone”). The word “thrust” means to push or drive with force, an action highly characteristic of a drummer's playing style.
  • The names of all the members of The Weird Sisters, including Orsino Thruston, were first revealed by J.K. Rowling on her official website.
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the role of the unnamed drummer for The Weird Sisters was played by Phil Selway, the real-world drummer for the band Radiohead. The on-screen band also featured Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey of Pulp, and Jonny Greenwood and Jason Buckle of Radiohead (film).