Jess Salek, Founder, Piano
Jess Salek holds degrees from Lawrence University (Bachelor of Music in piano performance) and Stony Brook University (Master of Music in piano performance). He has completed many of the requirements of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has studied with Sue Walby, Catherine Kautsky, David Abbott, Tina Dahl, Howard Karp, and Christopher Taylor.
Jess has worked as Music Theory Instructor at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and as Piano Instructor at Prairie Music Academy in Sun Prairie, WI. He also has served as judge for piano competitions and music festivals throughout Wisconsin. For many years, Jess served as accompanist for Madison Youth Choir, a non-profit performing group based in Madison.
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 60 students of all ages and levels in Madison and the surrounding communities.
Competitively Jess has won the piano division of the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs competition, and the Beethoven Competition in Madison, WI.
An accomplished performer, Jess has performed numerous solo programs at Farley’s House of Pianos and First Unitarian Society of Madison, WI; the Monroe Arts Center of Monroe, WI; as well as Viroqua, Wisconsin, and Westby, Wisconsin.
Currently he performs as keyboardist with Madison Symphony Orchestra. Jess is founder and pianist of the critically-acclaimed Mosaic Chamber Players Ltd., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to performing varied chamber music programs throughout Wisconsin. Mosaic was recently described as “…among the finest purveyors of chamber music in Madison.”
Jess has worked as Music Theory Instructor at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and as Piano Instructor at Prairie Music Academy in Sun Prairie, WI. He also has served as judge for piano competitions and music festivals throughout Wisconsin. For many years, Jess served as accompanist for Madison Youth Choir, a non-profit performing group based in Madison.
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 60 students of all ages and levels in Madison and the surrounding communities.
Competitively Jess has won the piano division of the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs competition, and the Beethoven Competition in Madison, WI.
An accomplished performer, Jess has performed numerous solo programs at Farley’s House of Pianos and First Unitarian Society of Madison, WI; the Monroe Arts Center of Monroe, WI; as well as Viroqua, Wisconsin, and Westby, Wisconsin.
Currently he performs as keyboardist with Madison Symphony Orchestra. Jess is founder and pianist of the critically-acclaimed Mosaic Chamber Players Ltd., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to performing varied chamber music programs throughout Wisconsin. Mosaic was recently described as “…among the finest purveyors of chamber music in Madison.”
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.
Derek Handley, Cello
Derek Handley began his studies with renowned cellist Hans Jorgen Jensen at age nine. In his youth, he also studied with Richard Hirschl, contemporary of Leonard Rose and member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Derek received his BM in Performance at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music where he studied with the late Eleanore Schoenfeld. Derek also studied with esteemed cellist and pedagogue, Gerhard Mantel, during his time at USC. He received his MM in Performance at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, studying once again with Hans Jensen.
Derek is a current member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and principal cellist with Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. He is a substitute cellist with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Grant Park Orchestra. In addition to Mosaic Chamber Players, Derek also performs with Madison chamber group Con Vivo!
In 2018 and 2019, Derek was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall as Principal Cello of the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. In 2015, he was invited to perform in the Kultursommer Nordhessen (music festival) in Kassel, Germany with chamber group Con Vivo. In his orchestral career, Derek has had the pleasure of playing under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen and Carl St. Clair. Derek has also had the great pleasure of performing with artists such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinists Gil Shaham and Augustin Hadelich, pianist Yefim Bronfman, and in 2011, he performed Villa-Lobos “Bachianas Brasilieras” with cellist Lynn Harrell.
Derek is a current member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and principal cellist with Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. He is a substitute cellist with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Grant Park Orchestra. In addition to Mosaic Chamber Players, Derek also performs with Madison chamber group Con Vivo!
In 2018 and 2019, Derek was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall as Principal Cello of the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. In 2015, he was invited to perform in the Kultursommer Nordhessen (music festival) in Kassel, Germany with chamber group Con Vivo. In his orchestral career, Derek has had the pleasure of playing under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen and Carl St. Clair. Derek has also had the great pleasure of performing with artists such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinists Gil Shaham and Augustin Hadelich, pianist Yefim Bronfman, and in 2011, he performed Villa-Lobos “Bachianas Brasilieras” with cellist Lynn Harrell.
