The Ahn Trio — three sisters born in Korea and trained at Juilliard in New York City — play piano, violin and cello music that draws its inspiration from jazz, pop and rock.

RileArts

They have made albums of Ravel and Dvorak, but the Ahn Trio, three Juilliard-trained sisters who were born in Korea, is anything but traditional. The trio, which appears Monday at Rhode Island College, has in more recent times shared the stage with a Czech rock band, and performed arrangements of My Funny Valentine and The Doors’ Riders on the Storm.

The sisters — violinist Angella, pianist Lucia and cellist Maria — form sort of the ultimate crossover group, dissolving the boundaries between art forms by combining the talents of dancers, DJs, installation artists, painters, and even kite makers. The group has spent the last couple of years performing new music that has been written for them.

But that should not be seen as anything unusual, said Angella Ahn in a recent interview. When asked if the group no longer plays standard classical repertoire, Ahn said it all depends on what you mean by “standard.”

“If you look at Beethoven’s time, or Mozart’s time, classical music was contemporary, not music hundreds of years old. For us, standard classical music is what’s being written for us.”

Ahn said she is not sure what she and her sisters will play at RIC. The program will be announced from the stage. But she said it is likely that they will play a number of selections from their newest CD, Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac, music that’s contemporary but accessible.

In fact that seems to be a hallmark of the Ahns, playing music that is melodic and engaging, and draws its inspiration from jazz, pop and rock.

“Lullabies are very simple melodies,” said Ahn, “but there’s so much love, passion and strength to them.”

It may seem like there was a grand plan behind the formation of the group. After all, what are the odds of three sisters all mastering instruments on a professional level, instruments that just happen to form a piano trio? But that’s not the case, said Ahn.

“We did not come from a typical, strict Korean family. Both parents worked. Our mother is a writer and our father owned a publishing business. But they shared an amazing love for classical music and took us to so many concerts. We grew up with a real love of the arts.”

It all started with Lucia wanting to play the piano, and then the other two sisters not wanting to be left out.

“We got into it as a hobby. And when we moved to the United States we all got into Juilliard. It was not carefully planned at all.

“How many people, after all, grow up thinking I want to spend the rest of my life with my sisters?”

The first couple of albums the Ahns made featured music by Ravel, Shostakovich and Dvorak.

But then for a concert at Columbia University the sisters decided to put together a program they were “excited” about.

“Not that we are not excited about Dvorak, but we wanted to showcase something more contemporary, more organic. And it turned into a philosophy.”

That concert led to the album Ahn-Plugged.

“It was quite an organic process that reflects who we are,” said Ahn about their move to contemporary repertoire.

The sisters all live in New York City, but just “far enough apart,” said Ahn. Does that mean they don’t get along? Obviously they have to see eye to eye to play such complicated music together. But there are also differences of opinion.

“We fight every day,” said Ahn, “we are sisters. Doing something this intense, of course we fight.”

The Ahn Trio performs Monday night at 8 at Rhode Island College’s Sapinsley Hall. Tickets are $35 with discounts for seniors, students and RIC employees. Call (401) 456-8144.

cgray@projo.com