Write your article here...The Holladay Arts Council has selected violinist and violist Ling Yu and watercolor and charcoal artist Quinn Curtis as Holladay Artists of the Month, acknowledging their exceptional artistic talent and skill in the performing and visual arts.

Ling Yu

Ling Yu’s parents were her earliest and most important influences; they taught her discipline, perseverance and a love for music. From an early age, her musical accomplishments have been extensive. She has performed in orchestras, church programs, community concerts and educational music programs in both China and the United States. Before coming to the United States, Yu performed with the Hunan Provincial Broadcasting and Television Orchestra. She came to the United States from China as an international student and later became a naturalized citizen. Music has been a constant source of strength and hope throughout her life journey.

Formal violin lessons began for Yu at age 6 after her father brought home a small violin. She recalls, “I attended music school at about 13, where there was always a need for viola players. Since few students were willing or able to play the viola because the music uses a different clef and requires additional study, I decided to put in the extra effort and volunteered to learn.” Her willingness to take on this additional challenge provided her with further opportunities to perform in string quartets and orchestras enhancing her musicianship.

“I have valued every opportunity to study,” Yu said. “I have earned a Doctor of Musical Arts and three master's degrees: one in music performance, one in public administration and one in language arts. As a music educator, I believe that music has the power to change lives, strengthen families and build community.”

Her students and her own children often inspire Yu by their development through music, reinforcing her dedication to music education. “Watching students develop confidence, discipline and joy through music is one of the most rewarding parts of my life,” she said. 

As a mother, teacher and musician, Yu has seen how music and community involvement transform lives. One of her children, once extremely shy, gradually became confident and socially engaged through music, church participation, and educational activities. He is graduating from Yale University this year.

Yu’s artistic journey centers on classical music, where the viola, violin and the art of conducting take center stage in both performance and education.

“I serve as the conductor of the Utah Chinese Folk Orchestra, perform violin with the Westminster Chamber Orchestra, and teach sixth-grade orchestra and the after-school Sistema music program at American Preparatory Academy,” Yu said. “One of my proudest accomplishments was earning my Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Utah while raising three children and continuing to teach and perform.”

Sacred music is especially meaningful to Yu. “Music has the unique ability to communicate emotion, faith and beauty beyond words,” she said. “I especially love the warmth and expressive sound of the viola because it closely resembles the human voice. I recorded a CD titled ‘I Love You, Lord! Worship Songs to Dream By’ with pianist Marty Salso, featuring 12 worship songs. This project was especially meaningful to me because it combines classical musicianship with peaceful and uplifting sacred music.”

Yu moved to Holladay in June 2025 to be closer to family and help care for her daughter’s children. She appreciates the community’s warmth and their support of the arts and education. 

She is grateful for the opportunities she has had in music in China and America, and hopes to continue serving others through music and education. “My music often explores themes of faith, hope, perseverance, family and personal transformation,” she said. “Having experienced both Chinese and American cultures, I value music as a bridge between people and communities.”

Quinn Curtis

Visionary realist painter Quinn Curtis reflects, “The world is full of stories.” Known for her watercolors and charcoal works, she envisions life as woven from the tales we tell ourselves about identity, possibility and worth.

“I'm continually inspired to bring nature themes into my work as reminders to trust that inner knowing, peaceful, still voice that reassures us that no matter what happens, all is well. We are loved, and we matter.”

For Curtis, it is difficult to choose between watercolor and charcoal as her preferred medium of art. She appreciates charcoal for its soft, ethereal quality and its ability to convey movement and emotion through subtle lines or gestures. Her spirit animal collection is primarily rendered in charcoal, which she believes gives the animals a ghostly or visionary presence. She also enjoys watercolor, noting, “When you do it well, you let the 'light' shine through like painting with stained glass. With watercolor and charcoal, there are so many things I can't control that end up making each piece perfectly imperfect. It feels like a dance between me and the medium, giving the medium a chance to play and do what it wants.” Curtis finds that working with watercolor and charcoal cultivates humility, a quality she considers important in both art and life.

Primarily self-taught, Curtis has developed her artistic techniques over several years through trial and error, studying books, and completing online courses. She furthered her education at the Milan Art Institute and studied with New York Times bestselling illustrator Andy J. Pizza, British artist Laura McKendry, and local artists Jenedy Paige and Lynde Mott.

For many years Curtis dreamed of becoming a picture book illustrator and creating books filled with beautiful elevated art similar to the art of picture book illustrator Jackie Morris and the French illustrator and painter Benjamin Lacombe.  The artworks of the Impressionists Vincent Van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Claude Monet have heavily influenced her art.

“A few years ago, I was able to visit Monet's Giverny home in France and was so deeply inspired by his gardens and water lily pond which are truly sacred spaces and a heaven on earth,” Curtis said. “When creating art, I’m also deeply inspired by old myths and fairy tales and especially with the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell who helped us understand the power of archetypes in nature and stories and how these can better help us navigate our inner and outer worlds.”

Curtis launched her first illustrated book last year titled "The World is Full of Stories." It is a self-help guide for anyone, from children to adults, to help them work with the critical and negative stories in a person's head and to turn them into more empowering stories. It encourages a positive mindset that supports creating a life to love.

 Sandy is Curtis’ hometown, but growing up, she had dreamed of one day living in Holladay. Finally, eight years ago, her dream became a reality, and she began living and creating a new “life story” in the city of Holladay.

“I love the beautiful old trees in the neighborhoods and how close we are to the mountains,” Curtis said. “It's such a quick drive to go up to Millcreek Canyon or any of the canyons, really. I also feel like the people here in Holladay are so kind. They appreciate beauty and community, which I think is really special, too.”

The community is invited to the Holladay Artist of the Month pop-up event Friday, July 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Four Lemons, 4850 South Highland Drive, will host a short recital by Yu and a gallery display of Curtis’ art. Paintings will be available for purchase and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Arts and Culture Manager Megan Attermann at 801-527-2677

or email at [email protected].