The Viroqua Fine Arts Association Artistic Committee, Liz Cifani and Sue Walby, invite area residents to the sixth annual Spring Concert on Sunday, May 18, at the Temple Theater at 4 p.m.

The concert will feature classical works by Scandinavian composers. Westby native Jess Salek performs piano selections, including compositions by Edvard Grieg, Jean Sibelius, and Niels Gade.

Salek began studying piano at the age of nine and continued through high school. His undergraduate degree is from Lawrence University, Appleton. His masters degree is from State University of New York, Stony Brook. Following his master’s degree, he served as staff accompanist and instructor of music theory at Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan. Salek's doctoral studies were at the University of Wisconsin. He teaches private piano lessons in the Madison area. He has led masters classes and adjudicated solo piano competitions and concerto competitions in Wisconsin. He is in demand as both soloist and chamber musician in concerts throughout Wisconsin. Salek's parents, Carl and Susan, live in Westby.

The YellowCello Chamber Ensemble performs Edvard Grieg's "Holberg Suite" featuring violins, violas, celli, and bass. The ensemble represents middle-high school students from Wisconsin's Driftless Area as well as Iowa and Minnesota. Viroqua's Wyatt Sutherland, an accomplished cellist and artistic director/coach of YellowCello Young Artists, is founder of the group. He is a devoted teacher of chamber music.

Soprano Lauren Curnow, accompanied by pianist Elizabeth Buccheri, both from Lyric Opera of Chicago, will present a variety of songs by Scandinavian composers.

Curnow began her training as a classical singer at Muhlenberg College, where she also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and English. She continued her vocal studies at both The Juilliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music, in which she earned two master’s degrees in music and opera performance. She has performed with many U.S. opera companies, including Chicago, Philadelphia, New Jersey and St. Louis. Her European debut took place in 2007 at the Wexford Opera Festival, Ireland.

Buccheri acts as assistant conductor for Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is a senior lecturer at Northwestern University School of Music, Evanston, Ill. She is music director of Chamber Music at North Park University, Chicago. She was educated at Winthrop University and the Eastman School of Music, from which she received the Performer's Certificate in Piano and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. She is one of Chicago's most sought-after musicians.

General admission is $15 and $10 for students. Tickets are available before the 4 p.m. performance on May 18 at the Temple Theatre. Contact Sue Walby, VFAA treasurer, at (608) 637-3619 for advance tickets before the performance date.

Founded in 2002 the Viroqua Fine Arts Association, Inc. is a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation. The association promotes fine arts, encourages local and regional artists, and cultivates appreciation for the fine arts through concerts and community outreach programs.