Jess Salek, Founder, Piano
Jess Salek holds degrees from Lawrence University (Bachelor of Music in piano performance) and State University of New York at Stony Brook (Master of Music in piano performance).
Jess has worked as Music Theory Instructor at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, as Piano Instructor at Prairie Music Academy in Sun Prairie, WI, and as pianist for the non-profit Opera for the Young. He also has judged for piano competitions and music festivals throughout Wisconsin.
From 2009-2013 Jess served as Music Director of Fresco Opera Theatre, which in 2013 received Bronze in the Performing Arts Group category in Madison
Magazine’s “Best Of Madison” competition – an award voted by fans.
Jess is Founder/Owner of Salek Piano Studio, Inc., where he teaches a diverse group of over 45 students of all ages and levels on the west side of Madison.
He performs as substitute keyboardist with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for Concerts on the Square and Madison Symphony Orchestra.
Jess is a member of Sound Ensemble Wisconsin, a non-profit chamber music organization in Madison.
He also serves as accompanist for Madison Youth Choir, a non-profit performing group based in Madison.
Most recently Jess founded Mosaic Chamber Players, a professional group dedicated to performing varied chamber music programs throughout Wisconsin. Mosaic was recently described as “…among the finest purveyors of chamber music in Madison.”
His teachers have been Sue Walby, Catherine Kautsky, David Abbott, Christina Dahl, and Christopher Taylor.
Jess has worked as Music Theory Instructor at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, as Piano Instructor at Prairie Music Academy in Sun Prairie, WI, and as pianist for the non-profit Opera for the Young. He also has judged for piano competitions and music festivals throughout Wisconsin.
From 2009-2013 Jess served as Music Director of Fresco Opera Theatre, which in 2013 received Bronze in the Performing Arts Group category in Madison
Magazine’s “Best Of Madison” competition – an award voted by fans.
Jess is Founder/Owner of Salek Piano Studio, Inc., where he teaches a diverse group of over 45 students of all ages and levels on the west side of Madison.
He performs as substitute keyboardist with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for Concerts on the Square and Madison Symphony Orchestra.
Jess is a member of Sound Ensemble Wisconsin, a non-profit chamber music organization in Madison.
He also serves as accompanist for Madison Youth Choir, a non-profit performing group based in Madison.
Most recently Jess founded Mosaic Chamber Players, a professional group dedicated to performing varied chamber music programs throughout Wisconsin. Mosaic was recently described as “…among the finest purveyors of chamber music in Madison.”
His teachers have been Sue Walby, Catherine Kautsky, David Abbott, Christina Dahl, and Christopher Taylor.
Laura Burns, Violin
Laura Burns, violinist, is a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, where she performs with the Rhapsodie String Quartet, part of the MSO’s Heartstrings initiative that brings live music to individuals with disabilities. Laura performs frequently at the Token Creek Chamber Music Festival and with local ensembles including Duo Penumbra, Oakwood Chamber Players and Quartessence.
Laura is also a passionate advocate for music education. She has taught studio violin, chamber music and conducted orchestras in both public and private education settings. She currently teaches violin at Edgewood College and maintains a private studio in Oregon, WI.
In addition to her concertizing and teaching, Laura serves as president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American String Teachers Association.
Ms. Burns holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Her teachers include David Perry and Tyrone Greive.
Laura is also a passionate advocate for music education. She has taught studio violin, chamber music and conducted orchestras in both public and private education settings. She currently teaches violin at Edgewood College and maintains a private studio in Oregon, WI.
In addition to her concertizing and teaching, Laura serves as president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American String Teachers Association.
Ms. Burns holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Her teachers include David Perry and Tyrone Greive.
Wes Luke, Violin
Wes Luke is a violinist and educator who performs and teaches across the upper Midwest. He currently serves as the Concertmaster of the LaCrosse (WI) Symphony Orchestra, the Principle Second Violinist of the Dubuque (IA) Symphony Orchestra, and a section violinist in the Madison (WI) Symphony Orchestra. He also regularly plays in the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Wisconsin Philharmonic, where he has also served as Concertmaster.
In recent seasons he has appeared as a concerto soloist with the UW-Platteville Symphony Orchestra and the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra.
A frequent recitalist, he performs with the Mosaic Chamber Players based in Madison, WI and the Concordance Ensemble, which performs new music throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. He served as substitute 1st Volinist in the Ancora String Quartet for a string of recitals this last season and previously served as 2nd Violinist in the Kipperton String Quartet when it was in residence at UW-Platteville.
He is currently on the teaching faculties of the University of Dubuque, Divine Word College, and Loras College. He has performed at music festivals in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Japan, and holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where he studied under Boston Symphony Concertmaster Malcolm Lowe, and the University of Wisconsin- Madison, under Felicia Moye. His principle early studies were with Suzuki Viola School author Doris Preucil.
In recent seasons he has appeared as a concerto soloist with the UW-Platteville Symphony Orchestra and the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra.
A frequent recitalist, he performs with the Mosaic Chamber Players based in Madison, WI and the Concordance Ensemble, which performs new music throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. He served as substitute 1st Volinist in the Ancora String Quartet for a string of recitals this last season and previously served as 2nd Violinist in the Kipperton String Quartet when it was in residence at UW-Platteville.
He is currently on the teaching faculties of the University of Dubuque, Divine Word College, and Loras College. He has performed at music festivals in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Japan, and holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where he studied under Boston Symphony Concertmaster Malcolm Lowe, and the University of Wisconsin- Madison, under Felicia Moye. His principle early studies were with Suzuki Viola School author Doris Preucil.
Kyle Price, Cello
Kyle Barrett Price, Artistic Director and Founder of the Caroga Lake Music Festival and Caroga Arts Collective, is a summa cum laude graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance under the tutelage of Merry Peckham. As a soloist, Mr. Price was named a Grand-Prize Winner in the 2015 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, finalist in the 2015 G. Gershwin International Music Competition and semi-finalist in the 2016 Naftzger Young Artist Competition. He studied chamber music at the Chamber Music Connection and has attended numerous prestigious music festivals including the Perlman Music Program and Banff Centre Masterclass Program. A medalist in the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, Mr. Price was featured on NPR’s From the Top! radio show and has recorded with artist Alyson Stoner. Mr. Price has also received acclaim for his composition Requiem in memory of his aunt, cellist Constance E. Barrett and his work, Serenade, premiered by the Calidore String Quartet and the Chamber Music Connection this past winter. Mr. Price recently completed his Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Music in the fall under the mentorship of Uri Vardi. He holds positions as the cellist of the Hunt String Quartet (Madison Symphony Orchestra, Mead-Witter School of Music), KASA Quartet and as Co-Principal Cello of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra (WI).
