THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS
WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
*
>> THEY SHARE A PASSION FOR
MUSIC, TALENTED YOUNG
PERFORMERS, FULL OF HOPE AND
PROMISE, EAGER TO TAKE THE STAGE
IN PURSUIT OF THEIR DREAMS.
THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
UNDER THE BATON OF ASSOCIATE
CONDUCTOR KYLE KNOX, WELCOMES
THE FOUR FINALISTS TO
OVERTURE HALL:
EMILY HAUER·.
JONAH KARTMAN·.
JESSICA JIANG·.
AND MICHAEL WU.
IT'S "WISCONSIN YOUNG ARTISTS
COMPETE: THE FINAL FORTE."
MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
DIANE BALLWEG·
STEPHEN MORTON·
W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI·
A. PAUL JONES CHARITABLE TRUST·
JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO·
FRED AND MARY MOHS·
ELIZABETH OLSON·
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
BELL LABORATORIES·
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND·
KATO PERLMAN·
CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM·
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION·
DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE·
DR. A. BEYER-MEARS·
NICK AND JUDITH TOPITZES·
FOCUS FUND FOR YOUNG PERFORMERS·
AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
HELLO AND WELCOME TO "FINAL
FORTE," THE CULMINATION OF THE
2020 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST
COMPETITION.
I'M LORI SKELTON, HOST OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S
"AFTERNOON CLASSICS."
>> AND I'M ANGELA FITZGERALD,
HOST OF PBS WISCONSIN'S
"WISCONSIN LIFE."
2020 MARKS THE 14TH YEAR OF THIS
HISTORIC COLLABORATION AMONG THE
MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO, AND PBS
WISCONSIN, A PARTNERSHIP FORMED
TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE
TALENTS AND AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS
OF WISCONSIN'S BEST AND
BRIGHTEST YOUNG PERFORMERS.
>> TONIGHT, LIVE FROM
MAGNIFICENT OVERTURE HALL IN
MADISON, FOUR MUSICALLY-GIFTED
TEENAGERS WILL COMPETE FOR TOP
HONORS.
THE WINNER OF TONIGHT'S
COMPETITION WILL BE AWARDED THE
MARIAN BOLZ PRIZE FOR
DISTINGUISHED MUSICAL
ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES A
$2,000 SCHOLARSHIP.
>> SECOND PLACE WILL RECEIVE THE
STEENBOCK YOUTH MUSIC AWARD,
WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A $2,000
SCHOLARSHIP.
TWO HONORABLE MENTION
SCHOLARSHIPS OF $1000 WILL BE
AWARDED AS WELL.
TONIGHT'S FINALISTS EMERGED FROM
A GROUP OF 32 STUDENTS WHO
AUDITIONED LAST NOVEMBER.
THEY ARE:
VIOLINIST EMILY HAUER OF
APPLETON;
VIOLINIST JONAH KARTMAN OF
GLENDALE;
PIANIST JESSICA JIANG OF
MADISON;
AND PIANIST MICHAEL WU OF SUN
PRAIRIE.
>> EACH WILL PERFORM HERE
TONIGHT, ALONG WITH THE
WONDERFUL MADISON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA, UNDER THE BATON OF
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR KYLE KNOX.
>> SO LET'S GET STARTED, AND
MEET TONIGHT'S FIRST FINALIST,
EMILY HAUER.
>> MY NAME IS EMILY HAUER.
I'M 17 YEARS OLD, AND I'M FROM
APPLETON, WISCONSIN.
I AM THE FIFTH IN MY FAMILY, THE
YOUNGEST.
THE OLDEST IS 34.
AND THEN I HAVE LAURA, AND PAUL,
AND JOE.
HE WAS ACTUALLY A FINALIST OF
BOLZ LIKE NINE YEARS AGO.
THEY WERE MY INSPIRATION, AND I
KIND OF WANT TO BE MORE
SUCCESSFUL THAN THEM. SO...
[LAUGHS]
MY TEACHER IS THE AMAZING,
WONDERFUL ILANA SETAPEN.
I LOVE HER.
>> THAT'S THE MELODY, RIGHT?
>> SHE'S JUST SUCH A SWEET
PERSON.
>> AND NOW YOU CAN DO IT.
THAT'S WAY BETTER!
>> SHE REALLY HELPED ME
INTERPRET WHAT THE COMPOSER WAS
FEELING AND THINKING WHEN HE
WROTE HIS CONCERTO.
AND SHE HELPS ME TO EMOTE THAT
THROUGH VIBRATO AND BOW CONTROL,
AND EVEN A BIT OF STAGE
PRESENCE, AS WELL.
I STARTED MY OWN STRING QUARTET.
WE'LL PLAY SOMETIMES FOR WEDDING
RECEPTIONS, DINNERS.
I THINK ONE YEAR WE DID A
WHOPPING TOUR OF SEVEN NURSING
HOMES, AND IT WAS AWESOME!
I FELT LIKE MY QUARTET NEEDED
MORE BONDING TIME.
IN A GROUP LIKE THAT, YOU NEED
TO BECOME CONNECTED PERSONALLY.
SO, I THOUGHT: FOOSBALL.
AFTER WE'VE GOTTEN SO FED UP
WITH A CERTAIN SPOT, THEN I'M
LIKE, "OKAY, GUYS, BREAK.
LET'S GO DOWNSTAIRS, LET'S BEAT
EACH OTHER UP, AND GO BACK
UPSTAIRS AND HIT THE PROBLEM
AGAIN."
[LAUGHING]
>> I LOVE EDM: ELECTRONIC DANCE
MUSIC.
IT IS A GREAT WAY TO UNWIND.
EDM IS GREAT!
I DEFINITELY HAVE DANCE PARTIES
IN MY ROOM FOR MY BREAKS FROM
VIOLIN.
YOU CAN VENT LOTS OF
FRUSTRATION.
IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
I LIKE IT.
I WILL BE PERFORMING SIBELIUS'
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MINOR, 1ST
MOVEMENT.
THIS CONCERTO HAS LOTS OF RUNS,
LOTS OF CHORDS.
IT'S GOT THE FAST NOTES, IT'S
GOT SLOWER SECTIONS.
AND IT HAS ALL THE COLORS AND
ALL THE CHARACTERS AND ALL OF
THAT, BUT IT'S ALL MIXED INTO
ONE.
YOU FEEL ALL THE "FEELS" WHEN
YOU'RE PLAYING IT!
I LOVE PERFORMING.
IT'S GREAT!
YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOU GET TO BE WITH OTHERS.
YOU GET TO BE IN PUBLIC.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S...IT'S WHAT I ENJOY DOING.
*
(APPLAUSE)
>> EMILY WILL BE PERFORMING THE
FIRST MOVEMENT OF THE CON CONCERTO,
WRITTEN IN 1904.
*
**
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 18-YEAR-OLD EMILY
HAUER, PERFORMING THE FIRST
MOVEMENT OF JEAN SIBELIUS'
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MINOR.
EMILY IS THE FIRST OF FOUR
COMPETITORS IN THIS FINAL ROUND
OF THE 2020 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST
COMPETITION.
>> THIS IS THE 94TH YEAR FOR THE
YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION AND THE
14TH THE FINALS HAVE BEEN
BROADCAST TO A STATEWIDE
AUDIENCE ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO AND PBS WISCONSIN.
>> OUR NEXT COMPETITOR TONIGHT
IS VIOLINIST JONAH KARTMAN.
>> MY NAME IS JONAH KARTMAN.
I AM 18 YEARS OLD, AND I'M FROM
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.
I WAS ORIGINALLY PUT ON CELLO.
BUT SINCE MY MOM AND DAD THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US TO PLAY
TRIOS TOGETHER, MY MOM SUGGESTED
A CHANGE TO THE VIOLIN.
MY INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN PASSED
DOWN OVER THE YEARS THROUGH MY
GRANDFATHER, AND IT FINALLY CAME
INTO MY HANDS.
IF YOU HIT A CHORD PERFECTLY,
THERE'S THIS KIND OF VIBRATION
THAT YOU CAN FEEL WHICH IS
REALLY SATISFYING. .
I WILL BE PERFORMING THE FIRST
MOVEMENT OF SAINT-SAËNS' 3RD
CONCERTO IN B MINOR.
THE VERY OPENING, WHERE YOU HEAR
THIS B MINOR CHORD, IT'S VERY
OMINOUS AND STORMY.
IT REALLY PUTS THE PLAYER AND
THE AUDIENCE IN A CERTAIN MOOD.
AND YOU'RE JUST READY FOR THIS
INCREDIBLE OPENING THAT COMES
FROM THE VIOLIN, JUST FULL OF
FIRE AND PASSION.
AND IT'S JUST -- YEAH, IT'S THE
BEST.
I THINK RUNNING IS A VERY MENTAL
PROCESS.
IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF TIME TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
YOUR LIFE.
AND, AT THE SAME TIME, THE
MELODIES FROM PIECES THAT I'M
PLAYING WILL KIND OF JUST COME
INTO MY HEAD, AND I'LL JUST KEEP
RUNNING TO THEM, OVER AND OVER.
I STUDY WITH MR. I-HAO LEE, AT
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY.
MR. LEE HAS A VERY RELENTLESS
BUT ENCOURAGING MINDSET.
>> YOU HAVE TO TELL THE STORY.
>> IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CLARITY.
HE WANTS YOU TO THINK ABOUT
EVERY NOTE AND MAKE SURE EVERY
NOTE IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU CAN
MAKE IT.
>> BEAUTIFUL!
>> THE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS I'VE
MADE WITH HIM IS JUST
INCREDIBLE.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER CLICKED
AS MUCH WITH ANY OTHER TEACHER
BEFORE.
>> GOOD?
YEAH!
>> MY DAD HAS AN INTEREST IN
TABLE TENNIS.
SO HE STARTED ME WHEN I WAS
PRETTY YOUNG.
IT GETS COMPETITIVE SOMETIMES.
BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY FUN.
HE HAS A NUMBER OF SERVES THAT I
HAVEN'T REALLY LEARNED HOW TO
COUNTER YET.
I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT MY DAD IS,
YOU KNOW, THE BETTER TABLE
TENNIS PLAYER THAN I AM.
WHAT I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO
IS PUTTING THIS PIECE TOGETHER
WITH THE ORCHESTRA.
KNOWING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
VOICES COMING TOGETHER AS ONE
AND SUPPORTING YOU IS JUST SUCH
A HUGE POWER.
IT'S A FEELING THAT REALLY CAN'T
BE REPLICATED BY ANYTHING ELSE.
*
(APPLAUSE)
>> JONAH KARTMAN IS COMING ON
STAGE NOW TO PERFORM THE FIRST
MOVEMENT OF CAMILLE
SAINT-SAËNS' VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.
3 IN B MINOR.
>> SAINT-SAËNS WAS A FRENCH
COMPOSER, ORGANIST, CONDUCTOR
AND PIANIST OF THE ROMANTIC ERA.
THIS CONCERTO WAS COMPOSED IN
MARCH, 1880.
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 18-YEAR-OLD JONAH
KARTMAN PERFORMING THE FIRST
MOVEMENT OF CAMILLE
SAINT-SAËNS' VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.
3 IN B MINOR.
>> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE'D LIKE
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU WHO
WILL BE JUDGING TONIGHT'S
COMPETITION.
CHRISTOPH PTACK SERVES AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
PENINSULA MUSIC FESTIVAL IN DOOR
COUNTY.
>> NICKI ROMAN IS CURRENTLY AN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SAXOPHONE
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE.
>> ANTHONY PADILLA IS A
PROFESSOR OF PIANO AND CHAMBER
MUSIC AT THE LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.
>> AND BERNARD ZINCK IS AN
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN,
AND CHAMBER MUSIC DIRECTOR, AT
UW-MILWAUKEE.
>> THE JUDGES TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION A RANGE OF
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA INCLUDING:
QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF TONE·
BALANCE AND BLEND WITH THE
ORCHESTRA·
MATURITY OF SOUND·.
MUSICALITY·.
AND STAGE PRESENCE.
>> COMING UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING
TO HEAR FROM OUR THIRD FINALIST,
PIANIST JESSICA JIANG.
>> I AM JESSICA JIANG, A JUNIOR
AT MADISON MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
I STARTED PIANO WHEN I WAS FOUR
YEARS OLD.
I THINK THAT THE PIANO HAS SUCH
A BEAUTIFUL SOUND TO IT.
YOU CAN CREATE SUCH WONDERFUL
TONES, MELODIES.
SOPHIA IS MY YOUNGER SISTER.
IT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT
SIBLING CONNECTION WHERE WE BOTH
PLAY PIANO AND WE DON'T FIGHT A
LOT SO...
(LAUGHS)
AND SHE'S JUST A WONDERFUL
PIANIST.
I STUDY WITH MR. BILL LUTES.
HE IS AN AMAZING, HUMOROUS
TEACHER.
HE ALWAYS KNOWS HOW TO HELP ME
IMPROVE MY PHRASING, EXPRESSION,
JUST OVERALL MY MUSICALITY.
IT'S REALLY HELPED ME DEVELOP AS
A MUSICIAN.
I PLAY THE VIOLIN ALONGSIDE
PIANO, AND THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR
IN THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MY FIRST
YEAR AS A FIRST VIOLINIST.
AND IT'S QUITE AN ENRICHING
EXPERIENCE BECAUSE ALL THE
KIDS AROUND ME ARE REALLY GREAT
MUSICIANS, TOO.
I AM ALSO CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF OF
THE SWORD AND SHIELD, WHICH IS
OUR SCHOOL NEWSPAPER.
EVERY MONDAY, WE'LL HAVE
MEETINGS.
THEY'RE ABOUT IMPROVING AN
ASPECT OF WRITING.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT YOUR
VOICE IS REALLY HEARD, AND YOU
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR
COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT HAVING ALL THESE
ACTIVITIES, IT REALLY PUSHES YOU
TO EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF
THE WORLD, TO FIND YOUR PASSION.
IT'S A BUSY KIND OF LIFE, BUT
IT'S NICE KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE
SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN
ENJOY.
THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE
THE FEELING I HAD TWO YEARS AGO
WHEN I WENT AND PERFORMED WITH
MSO FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I WAS ONLY 13, AND IT WAS JUST
SUCH A SURREAL EXPERIENCE FOR
ME.
I'M PLAYING THE FIRST MOVEMENT
OF PROKOFIEV'S THIRD PIANO
CONCERTO IN C MAJOR.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT
EMOTIONS THAT I FEEL WHEN I PLAY
THIS PIECE.
I'M REALLY THRILLED TO PLAY WITH
THE MSO BECAUSE IT REALLY JUST
FEELS LIKE YOU'RE OPENING UP TO
THE HEAVENS WHEN YOU HAVE AN
ORCHESTRA WORKING WITH YOU.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I'VE
GROWN AS A MUSICIAN, BUT ALSO AS
A PERSON.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO BRING MORE
MUSICAL MATURITY INTO THIS
PERFORMANCE AND JUST SHOW MY
GROWTH.
(APPLAUSE)
>> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR,
17-YEAR-OLD JESSICA JIANG, IS
NOW COMING ON STAGE.
>> SHE'S CHOSEN TO PERFORM THE
FIRST MOVEMENT OF PROKOFIEV'S
PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 IN
C MAJOR.
>> SERGEI PROKOFIEV WAS A
RUSSIAN COMPOSER AND GRADUATE OF
-- AND PLAYED THE SOLO PART
HIMSELF WHEN THIS PREMIERED IN
1921 IN CHICAGO.
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS JESSICA JIANG
PERFORMING THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF
SERGEI PROKOFIEV'S PIANO
CONCERTO NO. 3 IN C MAJOR.
WHILE SHE'S TAKING HER BOWS,
WE'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT
THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
OFFERS A COMPETITION FOR YOUNGER
MUSICIANS, AS WELL.
>> THE FALL YOUTH CONCERTO
COMPETITION IS OPEN TO MUSICIANS
AGED EIGHT THROUGH MIDDLE
SCHOOL.
THE WINNER GOES ON TO PERFORM IN
A PROGRAM WITH THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
>> NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO TONIGHT'S FINAL
COMPETITOR, PIANIST MICHAEL WU.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL WU.
I'M A SENIOR AT SUN PRAIRIE HIGH
SCHOOL.
I STARTED PLAYING THE PIANO AT
AROUND AGE FIVE AND A HALF.
MY MOTHER AND FATHER WEREN'T
MUSICAL, BUT MY MATERNAL
GRANDFATHER WAS ACTUALLY VERY
MUSICAL.
HE PLAYED ACCORDION.
>> YOU READY?
>> YEAH.
>> WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I REMEMBER
LOOKING INTO A PIANO AND MY
COUSIN HAD AN UPRIGHT.
WHILE HE WAS PLAYING, I SAW LIKE
ALL THE ACTION OF THE KEYS
HITTING THE STRINGS.
AND I WAS JUST FASCINATED EVEN
BY THE MECHANISM.
MY PIANO TEACHER IS BILL LUTES.
WE WORK ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS: IDEAS ON PHRASING,
IDEAS ON SHAPING, ARTICULATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY SINGLE
LESSON, BECAUSE HE REALLY IS
JUST SUCH A -- NOT ONLY
KNOWLEDGEABLE, BUT VERY
KIND-HEARTED INDIVIDUAL.
THE FIRST TIME I DID THIS, I WAS
A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THAT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE
EXPERIENCE.
IT CHANGED THE WAY THAT I LOOKED
AT MUSIC.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I THINK
ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE IS KIDS
WALK UP TO YOU AND THEY SAY,
"OH, I SAW YOU ON THAT
BROADCAST."
AND, YOU KNOW, "I WISH I COULD
PLAY LIKE YOU."
SEEING MY COMMUNITY BE SO
INSPIRED BY MY PLAYING, IT JUST
REALLY ENCOURAGES ME TO DELIVER
MORE.
I MENTOR STUDENTS IN MY FREE
TIME.
WE WORK ON FUNDAMENTALS OF
TECHNIQUE.
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THINGS THAT I TRY TO BUILD
WITHIN THEM IS REALLY A DEEP
APPRECIATION FOR MUSIC OF ALL
FORMS.
I ALSO PLAY THE CLARINET IN MY
HIGH SCHOOL'S WIND ENSEMBLE.
I TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THAT
ENSEMBLE.
I REALLY ENJOY IT BECAUSE YOU
GET TO INTERACT WITH SO MANY
OTHER MUSICIANS.
YOU LEARN CERTAIN SKILLS RUNNING
SECTIONALS AND MAKING SURE THAT
EVERYONE HAS A VOICE.
"TOTENTANZ," IT'S A HUGELY
TECHNICAL, VERY VIRTUOSIC PIECE.
LISZT BRINGS OUT SO MANY
DIFFERENT SIDES OF WHAT IT MEANS
TO DIE.
IT'S SUCH A CREATIVE PIECE.
MY FIRST TIME ONSTAGE, I
REMEMBER I WAS SO NERVOUS.
BUT NOWADAYS I'M MORE
COMFORTABLE.
I'VE MATURED A LOT MUSICALLY.
AND THROUGH EXPERIENCES LIKE
WIND ENSEMBLE AND THROUGH
TEACHING STUDENTS, IT'S REALLY
HELPED ME DEVELOP AS NOT ONLY A
MUSICIAN, BUT AS A PERSON.
(APPLAUSE)
>> MAESTRO KYLE KNOX IS COMING
ON STAGE NOW WITH PIANIST
MICHAEL WU, WHO WILL PERFORM
FRANZ LISZT'S TOTENTANZ FANTASY
FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA.
>> LISZT WAS A HUNGARIAN
COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND VIRTUOSO
PIANIST OF THE ROMANTIC PERIOD.
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS OUR FINAL CONTESTANT
THIS EVENING, 18-YEAR-OLD
MICHAEL WU, FROM SUN PRAIRIE.
>> HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FOR ALL FOUR OF THESE
PHENOMENAL PERFORMERS!
(APPLAUSE)
[APPLAUSE]
>> AT THIS POINT, WE'D LIKE TO
INVITE MAESTRO KNOX TO JOIN US
OVER HERE.
>> FIRST OF ALL,
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE KIDS ARE AMAZING.
>> SO IS THE ORCHESTRA.
>> IT'S TRUE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SPEAKING OF ORCHESTRAS, YOU
ARE THE MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE
WISCONSIN YOUTH SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA AND MANY OF OUR
FINALISTS OVER THE YEARS HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN WSO OR SIMILAR
YOUTH ORCHESTRAS.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT HOW PLAYING
IN AN ORCHESTRA SUCH AS WSO
COULD HELP A STUDENT PREPARE FOR
AN EVENT LIKE "THE FINAL FORTE"?
>> SURE.
A BIG PART OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE,
OF COURSE, HAPPENS AT HOME, IN
THE PRIVACY OF A PRACTICE HOME,
WITH THE STUDENT AND THEIR
INSTRUMENT, PLAYING, PRACTICING
ON THE PIANO, SCALES, OF COURSE
WORK WITH A PRIVATE TEACHER.
THAT'S KIND OF THE EXTERNAL
LAYER OF WHAT WE SEE IN A
PERFORMANCE LIKE TONIGHT.
BUT IN REALITY, THAT'S ONLY
ABOUT HALF OF THE BATTLE.
IN ORDER TO DO WHAT HAPPENED
TONIGHT, THEY ALSO NEED TO
DEVELOP ENSEMBLE SKILLS AND THE
ABILITY TO COLLABORATE AND
INTERACT WITH OTHER MUSICIANS
AND THAT SKILL REQUIRES THAT A
PERSON HAVE ENOUGH TECHNIQUE TO
PLAY AND HAVE ENOUGH BANDWIDTH
LEFT OVER TO HEAR WHAT OTHER
PEOPLE ARE DOING, TO RESPOND TO
IT, TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.
THAT IS HOW YOU MAKE MUSIC.
THAT IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT
AS THESE TECHNICAL THINGS AND
CAN ONLY BE GOTTEN IN THE
PRESENCE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
AT WSO, IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
THAT'S WHERE YOU DEVELOP THAT
SKILL, IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHER
PEOPLE.
YOU CAN'T MAKE MUSIC WITHOUT IT.
>> WHAT'S THE ONE BIT OF ADVICE
YOU'D LIKE TO PASS ON TO THE
FINALISTS IN THIS COMPETITION
AND THOSE WHO MIGHT BE THINKING
OF AUDITIONING IN THE FUTURE?
>> WELL, THIS CONTEXT, YOU'RE
PLAYING ON TELEVISION IN FRONT
OF A BIG ORCHESTRA WORKING WITH
AN INTIMIDATING CONDUCTOR.
WHAT I WOULD SAY EVEN IN THAT
PRESSURE COOKER IN THIS
SITUATION WHERE YOU SO WANT TO
DO WELL AND EVERYTHING IS RIDING
ON THIS, THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT
YOU LOVE MUSIC, THAT MUSIC MEANS
SOMETHING TO YOU AND THAT'S WHY
YOU PUT IN ALL THE HOURS.
BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE DRAWING FROM
THAT WELL, WHETHER YOU'RE 14 OR
WHETHER YOU'RE 60, THEN YOU KNOW
YOU'RE IN BUSINESS.
>> YES INDEED.
THANK YOU, MAESTRO.
AND NOW WHAT WILL THE ORCHESTRA
BE PERFORMING TO CLOSE OUT
TONIGHT'S CONCERT?
>> WE HAVE THREE GREAT
COMPOSERS, SLA FROM OPUS 46, NOS. 3,
5 AND 8, BASED ON EASTERN
EUROPEAN DANCES, A POLKA, A
JUMPING DANCE AND A FINAL IS G
MINOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO WE HAVE THE MADISON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
MAESTRO KYLE KNOX WITH THREE
SLAVONIC DANCES.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL
THE END OF THE THIRD DANCE.
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> KYLE KNOX AND THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH ANTONÍN
DVORÁK'S SLAVONIC DANCES,
AND NOW, THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL
BEEN WAITING FOR.
MAESTRO KNOX AND ALL FOUR OF
TONIGHT'S COMPETITORS, PLEASE
JOIN US OUT HERE ON STAGE.
(APPLAUSE)
>> BEFORE WE PRESENT THE AWARDS,
WE FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
FACT THAT ALL FOUR OF THESE
EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED YOUNG
ARTISTS ARE WINNERS, EACH OF
THEM TRULY DESERVING OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM HERE WITH
THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
>>SO, STARTING WITH THE TWO
HONORABLE MENTIONS, WE HAVE:
JONAH KARTMAN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND EMILY HAUER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER IS
JESSICA JIANG.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WHICH MEANS MICHAEL WU HAS
TAKEN FIRST PLACE IN
THE "2020 BOLZ YOUNG ARITIST
COMPETITION".
(APPLAUSE)
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOUR
OF OUR FINALISTS, ALONG WITH
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR KYLE KNOX
AND THE MADISON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA.
>> AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
JOINS US HERE TONIGHT.
FROM OVERTURE HALL IN MADISON,
I'M LORI SKELTON.
>> AND I'M ANGELA FITZGERALD.
GOODNIGHT.
(APPLAUSE)
*
MAJOR FUNDING FOR "WISCONSIN
YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE
FINAL FORTE" WAS PROVIDED, IN
PART, BY:
DIANE BALLWEG·
STEPHEN MORTON·
W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI·
A. PAUL JONES CHARITABLE TRUST·
JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO·
FRED AND MARY MOHS·
ELIZABETH OLSON·
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
BELL LABORATORIES·
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND·
KATO PERLMAN·
CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM·
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION·
DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE·
DR. A. BEYER-MEARS·
NICK AND JUDITH TOPITZES·
FOCUS FUND FOR YOUNG PERFORMERS·
AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.