The Thursday Musical Group, a hundred year-old organization, showcases professional Minnesota musicians. Two of their very accomplished artist will perform at the OAC: Lindsay Schlemmer, cellist, and Salam Murtada, pianist. Schlemmer is the principal cellist of the Southeastern Minnesota Orchestra and the University of Minnesota Symphony. She has a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Salam Murtada, pianist, is a civil and environmental engineer currently working for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He is a native of Amman, Jordan. He was a semi-finalist in the fourth Van Cliburn International Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in 2004, a semi-finalist in the Washington International Piano Competition in 2006, a prize winner in the Greensboro Music Academy National Piano Competition in 2000. His original compositions have been premiered in the US, Australia and Jordan.