The highly regarded, statewide Bolz Young Artist Competition provides Wisconsin's young musicians with a chance to shine. Two preliminary rounds on
Sat Nov 7 and
Tues Nov 10 lead up to a free concert in Overture Hall in which the four finalists perform with John DeMain and the MSO before a live audience. Through a unique partnership between the MSO and Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television, the concert is broadcast as
Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte live on WPR and at a later date on WPT. The two winners of the final round receive scholarships and go on to perform with the MSO at the
Spring Young People's Concert.
Congratulations to the 2009 Winners!
Pianist Alice Huang took top honors with the Marian Bolz Prize for Distinguished Musical Achievement and violinist Benjamin Seeger received the Steenbock Youth Music Award. Trumpet-player Ansel Norris and pianist Joseph Hauer both received Honorable Mentions. All four young musicians received scholarships. The entire MSO thanks them for their hard work and inspiring performances.
Winning Awards
Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte earned First Place in the "Special Interest" category from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association in 2007. The 2008 broadcasts on WPR and WPT reached more than 60,000 viewers in the Madison market alone. Rated the fifth most watched program in the Feb 2007 Nielsen ratings, the television audience was 63 percent greater than WPT's average audience in the Madison market. There were an estimated 200,000 viewers and listeners for the 2009 broadcasts.
John DeMain's Take
"This has been a very auspicious partnership. The quality of the broadcasts and the performances of the finalists are simply spectacular, and I think this sends a magnificent message to our community and to the entire state of Wisconsin about the importance and effectiveness of our music education programs. It is an extraordinary opportunity for everyone to feel the commitment and energy of these young performers and to reflect on the central role the arts play in our lives. I look forward to these events with great joy."
Viewer Comments
"Thank you for The Final Forte. That's the most wonderful television I've ever seen. I am so impressed by the talent of those young people...I hope we'll see more of these talented Wisconsin artists...."
For More Information
Please download the 2010
Registration Form. If you need more information on the competition, please contact MSO Education Director Michelle Kaebisch at 608.257.3734 or
mkaebisch@madisonsymphony.org.
To Support this Program
Please contact MSO Development Director Robin Johnson at 608.257.3734 or
rjohnson@madisonsymphony.org.
