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CONCERTMASTER IS ONE WORD
FERDINAND GA VONT HOUSE CONCERTO
CON CHAIRT TOE MARIMBA MA RIM
BENEFIT MA MARIMBAIST ELGAR CAT
REEN A CAT RENA KENNY ELLIOTT
LESS PER RANS ANDRAE PECK JANE
STORY MENDELSSOHN SAN SON
>> THIS IS THE CAPTIONER WRITING
A TEST FOR "FINAL FORTE."
AUDIO SOUNDS GOOD.
TEST TEST.
I'LL WRITE PART OF THE NOWR. NEWSHOUR.
>> I'M TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
THIS BOOK'S NOT DOING THAT.
>> SO THIS IS NOT A
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS
WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
?
>> THEY SHARE A COMMON BOND:
TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS WITH A
PASSION TO PERFORM AND A
DRIVE TO EXCEL, EAGER TO TAKE
THE STAGE AND FULFILL THEIR
DREAMS.
THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
UNDER THE BATON OF MUSIC
DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN, WELCOMES
THE FOUR FINALISTS TO OVERTURE
HALL: ANDRÉ PECK, JANE STORY,
KATARINA KENNEY, AND ELLIOT
LESPERANCE.
IT'S "WISCONSIN YOUNG ARTISTS
COMPETE: THE FINAL FORTE."
MAJOR FUNDING FOR “THE FINAL
FORTE” IS PROVIDED BY:
W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI.
DIANE BALLWEG.
BARBARA AND NORM BERVEN.
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND.
JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO.
ELIZABETH OLSON.
KATO PERLMAN.
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION.
TRUST POINT.
CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM.
DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE.
DOCTOR A. BEYER-MEARS.
JOAN JOHNSTON.
DONORS TO THE FOCUS FUND FOR THE
ARTS.
AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
?
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO
"FINAL FORTE," THE CULMINATION
OF THE 2024 BOLZ YOUNG
ARTIST COMPETITION.
I’M LORI SKELTON, HOST OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO’S
“AFTERNOON CLASSICS.”
>> AND I’M CLINT WALZ, DIRECTOR
OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING AT PBS
WISCONSIN.
2024 MARKS THE 18TH YEAR OF THIS
HISTORIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN
THE MADISON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA, WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO, AND PBS WISCONSIN, A
PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO
RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF WISCONSIN’S
BRIGHTEST YOUNG PERFORMERS.
>> TONIGHT, LIVE FROM OVERTURE
HALL IN MADISON, FOUR TALENTED
AND EXTREMELY DEDICATED
TEENAGERS WILL COMPETE FOR TOP
HONORS.
THE WINNER OF TONIGHT’S
COMPETITION WILL RECEIVE 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 $1,000 WILL BE
AWARDED AS WELL.
>> TONIGHT’S FINALISTS EMERGED
FROM A FIELD OF 35 STUDENTS FROM
AROUND THE STATE WHO AUDITIONED
FOR THE BOLZ COMPETITION IN
JANUARY.
THEY ARE:
PIANIST ANDRÉ PECK OF LA CROSSE.
CELLIST KATARINA KENNEY OF
MADISON.
MARIMBIST ELLIOT LESPERANCE OF
OREGON.
AND VIOLINIST JANE STORY OF
STEVENS POINT.
>> ALL WILL PERFORM HERE
TONIGHT, ACCOMPANIED BY THE
MAGNIFICENT MADISON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA, UNDER THE BATON OF
MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN, NOW
CELEBRATING HIS 30TH SEASON WITH
THE ORCHESTRA.
LET'S GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
LET’S BEGIN TONIGHT’S
COMPETITION WITH THE FIRST OF
OUR FOUR FINALISTS, PIANIST
ANDRÉ PECK.
?
>> I’M ANDRÉ PECK.
I’M 14 YEARS OLD, AND I PLAY
PIANO.
I’VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS
FOUR-AND-A-HALF.
I LIKE THAT YOU CAN IMITATE THE
SOUND OF AN ORCHESTRA BECAUSE
YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT
VOICES THAT YOU CAN PLAY.
MUSIC HELPS YOU SAY THINGS THAT
YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO SAY IN
WORDS.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE EMOTIONS
THAT YOU CAN CONVEY THROUGH
MUSIC.
?
>> NOW GET SET.
>> MY TEACHER IS DR. JOSEPH
ZINS. EVERYTHING HE SAYS HAS A
PURPOSE, WHICH I REALLY LIKE.
>> GIVE IT A LOT OF TONE ON THE
BASS.
MM HMM.
>> HE FOSTERS A LOVE THROUGH THE
INSTRUMENT BY REFERENCING THE
CLASSICAL MUSIC GODS.
IT’S ALMOST LIKE A RELIGION FOR
HIM BECAUSE IT’S BEEN WITH HIM
ALL OF HIS LIFE, AND HE’S TRYING
TO FOSTER THAT WITH ME.
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING: “IF IT
AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT!”
FOR FUN, I GENERALLY DO THINGS
WITH MY FRIENDS.
WE PLAY LOTS OF BOARD GAMES
BECAUSE OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY DOES
BOARD GAME RENTALS, WHICH IS
REALLY COOL, BECAUSE YOU CAN
JUST CYCLE THROUGH PRETTY MUCH
INFINITE THINGS.
I’M A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL,
BUT I GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN — LA CROSSE FOR MUSIC
THEORY CLASSES AND FOR MATH.
I’M PROBABLY GOING TO GET A
BACHELOR’S IN MATH, BUT
HOPEFULLY THEN I CAN GO TO MUSIC
SCHOOL AND KEEP MUSIC, LIKE,
THROUGH MY ENTIRE LIFE.
THEY’RE OPPOSITES, BECAUSE ONE
OF THEM IS SUPER LOGICAL AND THE
OTHER IS REALLY EMOTIONAL, WHICH
I REALLY LIKE, THE VARIETY.
I WAS IN THE INTERNATIONAL YOUNG
ARTIST CONCERTO COMPETITION.
THEY HAVE 16 KIDS PLAY WITH A
PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA, WHICH IS
THE MOST I’VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
PLAYING WITH AN ORCHESTRA IS
JUST ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES
THAT YOU DON’T FORGET.
PLAYING WITH THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, I THINK IT’S
GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING
BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPER HIGH
LEVEL.
I’M PLAYING SAINT-SAËNS’ 2ND
CONCERTO, THE FIRST MOVEMENT.
IT STARTS REALLY TRAGIC, AND
THEN IT KIND OF GETS TO A MORE
HOPEFUL SECTION.
>> AND I REALLY LIKE THE VARIETY
BECAUSE IT CHALLENGES ME IN
EVERY WAY, WHICH I NEED TO
DO IT TO SURVIVE AS A MUSICIAN.
MY TEACHER ALWAYS SAYS THAT IF
YOU HAVE A FEELING, THEN YOU
CONVEY IT THROUGH THE MUSIC
AND THE AUDIENCE IS GOING TO
FEEL IT AS WELL.
IF YOU WANT TO SERVE OTHER
PEOPLE WITH MUSIC, YOU HAVE TO
SERVE THE MUSIC FIRST.
I’M PROUD OF THE THING THAT I
GET TO DO BECAUSE I GET TO
SHOWCASE WHAT I’VE DONE AND MY
HARD WORK IN FRONT OF SO MANY
PEOPLE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW, ANDRÉ PECK IS TAKING
THE STAGE ALONG WITH MAESTRO
JOHN DEMAIN.
>> ANDRÉ WILL BE PERFORMING THE
FIRST MOVEMENT OF CAMILLE
SAINT-SAËNS’ PIANO CONCERTO
NO. 2 IN G MINOR.
>> SAINT-SAËNS WAS A FRENCH
COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST
OF THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH
CENTURIES.
HIS SECOND PIANO CONCERTO WAS
COMPOSED IN 1868.
THOUGH NOT INITIALLY SUCCESSFUL,
IT HAS BECOME ARGUABLY HIS MOST
POPULAR PIANO CONCERTO.
?
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 14-YEAR-OLD ANDRÉ
PECK, PERFORMING THE FIRST
MOVEMENT OF CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS’
PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN G MINOR.
ANDRÉ IS THE FIRST OF FOUR
COMPETITORS IN THIS FINAL ROUND
OF THE 2024 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST
COMPETITION.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
BOLZ COMPETITION, AS WELL AS
OTHER MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PERFORMANCES, VISIT THE
ORCHESTRA’S WEBSITE AT
MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG.
OUR NEXT COMPETITOR TONIGHT IS
VIOLINIST JANE STORY.
?
>> MY NAME IS JANE STORY, AND I
AM A 17-YEAR-OLD JUNIOR FROM
STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN.
I’VE BEEN PLAYING THE VIOLIN FOR
13 YEARS.
I ALWAYS HEARD CLASSICAL MUSIC
GROWING UP.
MY MOM’S A SINGER, MY DAD DOES
CLASSICAL AND JAZZ DOUBLE-BASS.
SO IT WAS JUST ALWAYS AROUND,
ALWAYS A PART OF MY LIFE.
I’M GOING TO BE PERFORMING
MENDELSSOHN’S VIOLIN CONCERTO IN
E MINOR, FIRST MOVEMENT.
IT HAS SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF
EMOTIONS.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT’S VERY
SWEET AND SENTIMENTAL, AND
THERE’S OTHER PLACES WHERE IT
SOUNDS LIKE THE VIOLIN IS
SCREAMING IN PAIN.
AND I LOVE THE RANGE OF COLORS
THAT I GET TO CREATE.
PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PART OF THE
PIECE IS TOWARDS THE END OF THE
MOVEMENT.
THERE’S THIS HUGE OCTAVE RUN.
IT’S A GREAT TECHNICAL
CHALLENGE, AND IT’S ALSO VERY
EXCITING.
I AM CURRENTLY STUDYING WITH DR.
ANNA CROMWELL AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN—STEVENS POINT.
I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO PLAY THIS
CONCERTO FOR A VERY LONG TIME,
BUT I NEVER TALKED TO MY TEACHER
ABOUT IT.
I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN SHE TOLD
ME THAT IT WOULD BE MY NEXT
PIECE TO LEARN.
>> AND SO WE REALLY WANT THE
MOTION TO HAPPEN HERE.
>> I REALLY LIKE HOW SHE FOCUSES
ON BOTH THE TECHNICAL AND THE
MUSICAL SIDE OF MY DEVELOPMENT
AS A MUSICIAN.
DR. CROMWELL AND I BEGAN WORKING
ON THIS PIECE AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE SUMMER.
WE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE
TECHNICAL CHALLENGES FIRST.
LATELY WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON THE
MUSICAL SIDE: THE BEAUTIFUL LONG
LINES AND CREATING A CONTRAST
BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT
CHARACTERS.
BECAUSE THERE ARE PLAYFUL
CHARACTERS, THERE’S SWEET
CHARACTERS AND THERE’S ANGRY
CHARACTERS.
>> YEAH.
OKAY.
I THINK THAT WAS BETTER.
>> I’VE BEEN A MEMBER OF WYSO
FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
MY FAMILY AND I DRIVE DOWN THERE
EVERY WEEKEND.
BEING A PART OF WYSO HAS TAUGHT
ME A LOT ABOUT LISTENING
CAREFULLY AND CARVING MY SOUND
SO THAT IT FITS WITHIN A
SECTION.
BECAUSE THE AUDIENCE DOESN’T
WANT TO HEAR JUST ME, THEY WANT
TO HEAR EVERYONE, AS ONE BIG,
BEAUTIFUL SOUND.
PERFORMING IN THE "FINAL FORTE"
INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES OF MY
LIFE.
WHEN YOU FINISH A PIECE, IT’S
ALMOST LIKE YOU DON’T REMEMBER
ANYTHING THAT’S JUST HAPPENED.
IT’S LIKE IT’S ONLY BEEN A
SECOND SINCE YOU JUST STEPPED ON
STAGE.
EXCEPT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON
BECAUSE YOU’VE GONE ON A JOURNEY
WITH THE PIECE.
I THINK MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT
PLAYING MUSIC IS THAT THERE’S
NEVER AN END POINT.
YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING
NEW, CREATE SOMETHING DIFFERENT
OR EXPLORE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF
EACH PIECE THAT YOU LEARN.
I THINK MUSIC IS JUST THE MOST
WONDERFUL THING.
AND VIOLIN IS MY WAY OF BEING A
PART OF THE MUSIC.
[APPLAUSE]
>> JANE STORY IS COMING ON STAGE
NOW TO PERFORM THE FIRST
MOVEMENT OF MENDELSSOHN’S
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR.
>> FELIX MENDELSSOHN WAS A
GERMAN COMPOSER, PIANIST AND
CONDUCTOR OF THE EARLY ROMANTIC
PERIOD.
THE VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR
IS MENDELSSOHN’S FINAL CONCERTO.
?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 17-YEAR-OLD JANE
STORY PERFORMING THE FIRST
MOVEMENT OF FELIX MENDELSSOHN’S
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR.
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
IN GRADES THREE THROUGH
EIGHT.
THE WINNER GOES ON TO PERFORM IN
A PROGRAM WITH THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE
ORCHESTRA’S WEBSITE AT
MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG.
>> COMING UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING
TO HEAR FROM OUR THIRD
COMPETITOR, CELLIST KATARINA
KENNEY.
?
>> MY NAME IS KATARINA KENNEY,
I’M A 15-YEAR-OLD CELLIST, AND
I’M A FRESHMAN AT MADISON
COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL.
I’VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS
THREE-AND-A-HALF.
MUSIC HAS ALWAYS RUN THROUGH MY
HOUSE.
MY MOM PLAYS VIOLIN, MY DAD
PLAYS A LITTLE BIT OF
DOUBLE-BASS, AND MY SISTER PLAYS
VIOLIN.
MY FIRST RECITAL WAS ACTUALLY
WITH HER, PLAYING “POP GOES THE
WEASEL.”
MUSIC HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.
I FEEL REALLY HONORED TO HAVE
SUCH A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
LIKE, LITERALLY.
UH HUH, SO [VOCALIZING]...
>> I STUDY WITH CORNELIA
WATKINS.
>> YEAH!
>> SHE HELPS ME TO DIVE DEEP
INTO FIGURING OUT WHAT I
WANT TO EXPRESS, WHILE ALSO
FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT
THE COMPOSER REALLY WANTS.
>> ARE YOU AWARE OF WHERE THE
ACCENTS ARE...IN THIS SECTION?
>> SHE DOESN’T LET ME GET AWAY
WITH ANYTHING.
BUT SHE’S VERY SUPPORTIVE.
>> GOOD!
NOW LET’S KEEP GOING.
THAT SOUNDED BEAUTIFUL.
>> I’VE BEEN A PART OF THE
MADISON YOUTH CHOIRS FOR EIGHT
SEASONS NOW.
WHEN I SING, I FEEL LIKE I AM
THE INSTRUMENT.
[CHOIR SINGING]
>> EACH CONCERT SEASON THERE’S A
THEME.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND EMILY
DICKINSON.
THE MADISON YOUTH CHOIR
INTRODUCED ME TO THOSE POETS.
I LOVE TO READ AND WRITE.
I LOVE BEING ABLE TO, LIKE,
BRING MY IDEAS TO LIFE AND TO
EXPRESS MY EMOTIONS, JUST LIKE I
DO WITH MY CELLO.
READING JUST LETS ME ESCAPE FROM
THE REAL WORLD AND USE THE
CREATIVE PART OF MY MIND.
I’M A PART OF THE MUSIC
INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO ACADEMY.
WE GO DOWN EVERY SATURDAY.
IT REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT FROM
THE WHOLE GROUP.
AND I FEEL LIKE MY QUARTET HAS
REALLY DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP
AND WE’RE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER
AND BRING ALL OF OUR IDEAS
TOGETHER TO CREATE MUSIC.
I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF
PLAYING WITH THE MADISON
SYMPHONY MULTIPLE TIMES.
I GOT TO PLAY WITH THEM AGAIN
THIS PAST SPRING, PLAYING THE
FIRST TWO MOVEMENTS OF ELGAR, SO
IT’LL BE SUPER EXCITING TO BE
ABLE TO PLAY THE LAST MOVEMENT.
ELGAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY
DREAM PIECES.
IT HAS A VERY WIDE PALETTE OF
COLORS THAT YOU CAN USE WITH
YOUR BOW.
SOME OF THE MORE LYRICAL AND
DANCING MELODIES IS REFLECTING
HIS PAST WITH HIS WIFE.
WHEN YOU PRACTICE AT HOME,
YOU’RE, LIKE, MORE FOCUSED ON
YOUR INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AS A
MUSICIAN.
BUT WHEN YOU FINALLY GET TO SOLO
WITH AN ORCHESTRA LIKE MSO, IT’S
REALLY SPECIAL AND YOU GET TO
BRING ALL YOUR HARD WORK TO
LIFE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR,
15-YEAR-OLD KATARINA KENNEY, IS
NOW COMING ON STAGE.
>> SHE'S CHOSEN TO PERFORM THE
FOURTH MOVEMENT OF EDWARD
ELGAR’S CELLO CONCERTO
IN E MINOR.
EDWARD ELGAR WAS AN ENGLISH
COMPOSER OF THE LATE 19TH AND
EARLY 20TH CENTURIES.
HE WAS APPOINTED MASTER OF THE
KING’S MUSICK IN 1924.
HIS CELLO CONCERTO IS ONE OF HIS
LATER WORKS, COMPOSED DURING THE
SUMMER OF 1919.
IT HAS BECOME A CORNERSTONE OF
THE SOLO CELLO REPERTOIRE.
?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS KATARINA KENNEY
PERFORMING THE FOURTH MOVEMENT
OF EDWARD ELGAR’S CELLO CONCERTO
IN E MINOR.
>> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE’D LIKE
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU WHO
WILL BE JUDGING TONIGHT'S
COMPETITION.
ILANA SETAPEN IS THE FIRST
ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER OF THE
MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND
IS ON THE FACULTY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
>> ANTHONY PADILLA IS PROFESSOR
OF PIANO, CHAMBER MUSIC AND
COLLABORATIVE PIANO AT THE
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY CONSERVATORY
OF MUSIC IN APPLETON, WISCONSIN.
>> AND MARK DUPERE IS CURRENTLY
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND
DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAL STUDIES,
ALSO AT LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY IN
APPLETON.
>> 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.
>> NEXT, WE’RE GOING TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO TONIGHT'S FINAL
COMPETITOR, MARIMBIST ELLIOT
LESPERANCE.
?
>> MY NAME IS ELLIOT LESPERANCE.
I’M 16-YEARS-OLD, AND I GO TO
OREGON HIGH SCHOOL.
I’VE BEEN PLAYING THE MARIMBA
FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.
WHEN I WAS FIVE, I PLAYED PIANO,
AND THEN I GAVE IT UP TO PURSUE
MARIMBA.
I LIKE THE MARIMBA REPERTOIRE.
IT’S VAST.
AND I LOVE ALL THE MODERN MUSIC
AND HOW EXPRESSIVE IT IS.
I CHOSE TO PLAY PRISM RHAPSODY
FOR THIS COMPETITION BECAUSE IT
DELVES INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS OF MUSIC.
ON TOP OF THAT, IT SHOWS AN
INCREDIBLE DISPLAY OF TECHNICAL
FACILITY.
PRISM RHAPSODY WAS COMPOSED BY
KEIKO ABE.
THE HARMONICS OF HER
COMPOSITIONS ORIGINATE FROM MORE
CLASSICAL JAPANESE MUSIC, AND
SHE INCORPORATES IN WESTERN
CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND I LOVE THE
FUSION OF THOSE TWO ELEMENTS.
I TAKE LESSONS WITH DR. TODD
HAMMES.
HE IS VERY CREATIVE AND GIVES A
LOT OF METAPHORS AND
DESCRIPTIONS FOR HOW PHRASES AND
SHAPES AND ALL SORTS OF ARTISTIC
ELEMENTS WORK.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE
THIS SHAPE?
>> WE’RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
HOW TO IMPROVE TECHNIQUE.
>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY UP HERE.
>> WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ART.
HE DOESN’T JUST TELL YOU TO DO
THINGS.
>> IT’S THE ONLY NOTE IN THE
MEASURE THAT...
>> HE EXPLAINS THINGS IN A VERY
DEEP WAY.
I LOVE TO SPEND TIME WITH MY
BROTHER.
>> COME ON!
YOU’VE...GOT...THIS!
I’M A GYM-BRO, FOR SURE.
SOMETIMES WE LIFT WEIGHTS
TOGETHER.
SOMETIMES WE PLAY VIDEO GAMES.
I TAKE PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE AND
JAZZ STUDIES WITH MS. JAEGER.
SHE’S ALWAYS PUSHING US, ALWAYS
GETTING US TO WORK ON MORE
CHALLENGING THINGS.
I LOVE PLAYING DRUM SET.
IT HAS AMAZING VERSATILITY.
IT CAN COMPRISE THE ENTIRE
RHYTHMIC BASE OF A PIECE.
I ALSO LOVE WORKING WITH THE
YOUNGER STUDENTS AND HELPING
THEM.
I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF MY
YOUNGER PERCUSSIONISTS TODAY.
HE WAS HITTING THE NODES OF THE
BAR A LOT, WHERE THE SOUND
QUALITY ISN’T AS GOOD.
SO I HELPED HIM FIGURE OUT HOW
TO PLAY HIS PART WITHOUT HITTING
THOSE NODES AND WHILE GETTING
THE BEST SOUND QUALITY OUT OF
THE INSTRUMENT.
>> GOOD JOB!
>> DR. HAMMES CAME TO ME WITH
THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
COMPETITION A YEAR AGO.
HE TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THAT
I COULD DO IT.
AND I DIDN’T THINK THAT I COULD
MAKE IT THIS FAR.
BUT I WORKED ON THAT A LOT, AND
HERE I AM.
?
[APPLAUSE]
>> ELLIOT LESPERANCE IS COMING
ON STAGE NOW WITH MAESTRO JOHN
DEMAIN.
ELLIOT WILL PERFORM COMPOSER
KEIKO ABE’S PRISM RHAPSODY.
>> KEIKO ABE IS A JAPANESE
COMPOSER, TEACHER AND MARIMBA
PLAYER AND ONE OF THE PRIMARY
FIGURES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE MODERN FIVE-OCTAVE CONCERT
MARIMBA.
PRISM RHAPSODY WAS ONE OF ABE’S
FIRST WORKS FOR MARIMBA AND
ORCHESTRA.
THE WORLD PREMIERE TOOK PLACE IN
191996
?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS OUR FINAL COMPETITOR
THIS EVENING: 16-YEAR-OLD ELLIOT
LESPERANCE.
HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FOR ALL FOUR OF THESE
INCREDIBLE PERFORMERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME
MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN BACK TO THE
STAGE.
[APPLAUSE]
MAESTRO, FIRST OF ALL,
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS YOUR 30TH SEASON AS
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE MADISON
SYMPHONY.
YOU’VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE
"FINAL FORTE" SINCE ITS
INCEPTION BACK IN 2007.
CAN YOU TELL US HOW THIS
COLLABORATION WITH WISCONSIN
PUBLIC MEDIA CAME ABOUT?
>> WELL, I THINK IT WAS THE
BRAIN CHILD OF ANDRES YOKUM.
WE WERE THINKING WHAT WOULD BE
THE IDEAL THING TO DO?
AND SINCE THIS HAS EXISTED SINCE
BEFORE THE TELEVISION SHOW, WE
WERE ALWAYS BLOWN AWAY BY THESE
TEENAGERS, WHAT THEY COULD DO.
SO GET AN IDEA TO DO FINALS WITH
AN ORCHESTRA.
THEY'VE BEEN HOPING FOR A CHANCE
TO PLAY WITH AN ORCHESTRA.
AND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT FROM THE
BEGINNING, I SAY THIS IS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO,
BECAUSE THIS IS SO MOTIVATIONAL
FOR NOT ONLY FOR THESE KIDS, WHO
DON'T REALLY NEED MOTIVATION
BECAUSE THEY'RE SO PASSIONATE
ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, BUT FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE TO SEE
WHAT YOU CAN GO WHEN YOU'RE
PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING.
YOU JUST GO WITH YOUR PASSION.
THE PIANIST PRACTICES FOR THREE
HOURS BEFORE HE GOES TO SCHOOL.
>> WE KNOW HOW MUCH THIS
COMPETITION HAS MEANT TO THE
FINALISTS OVER THE YEARS, MANY
OF WHOM HAVE GONE ON TO
SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN THE FIELD
OF MUSIC.
BUT WHAT HAS IT MEANT
TO YOU TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
"FINAL FORTE" FOR THE LAST 18
YEARS?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT ONLY ME, BUT
IT'S THIS ORCHESTRA.
THEY SAY TO ME, FOR ALL OF US,
IT'S SO INSPIRATIONAL, YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
ORCHESTRA WERE JUST LIKE THAT
WHEN THEY WERE 14, 15, 16, 17.
IF NOT, THEY REALLY PRACTICED
HARD AFTERWARDS BECAUSE THEY'RE
REALLY GOOD NOW.
BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER
WHEN I WAS 18.
I WON THE PIANO COMPETITION FOR
MY LOCAL SYMPHONY.
I REMEMBER PLAYING THAT
CONCERTO.
IT WAS LIFE TRANSFORMING.
IT'S THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
BUT IT'S THE SOUND, THE FEELING,
THE EMOTION.
EVERYTHING.
SO I KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS ARE
FEELING.
AND THEY ALL TELL ME, YOU KNOW.
SURE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE
CASH PRIZES, BUT IT'S PLAYING
WITH THE ORCHESTRA THAT IS SO
MUCH FUN FOR THEM.
AND IT'S FUN FOR ME, TOO.
I'M AMAZED TO SEE HOW SMART THEY
ARE PLAYING WITH THE ORCHESTRA
AT THAT AGE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MAESTRO.
AND NOW, WHAT WILL THE ORCHESTRA
BE PERFORMING TO CLOSE OUT
TONIGHT’S CONCERT?
>> WE WILL BE PERFORMING THE
OVERTURE TO DIE FLEDERMAUS BY
JOHANN STRAUSS.
>> JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH DIE FRED
ER--FIEDERMAUS BY JOHANN STRAUSS.
?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN AND THE
MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH
THE OVERTURE TO DIE FLEDERMAUS
BY JOHANN STRAUSS II.
AND NOW, THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL
BEEN WAITING FOR.
CAN WE HAVE MAESTRO DEMAIN AND
ALL FOUR OF TONIGHT’S
COMPETITORS JOIN US HERE ON
STAGE, PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BEFORE WE PRESENT THE AWARDS,
WE FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
FACT THAT ALL FOUR OF THESE
EXTRAORDINARILY-TALENTED YOUNG
ARTISTS ARE INDEED WINNERS, EACH
OF THEM TRULY DESERVING OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM HERE
TONIGHT WITH THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SO, STARTING WITH THE TWO
HONORABLE MENTIONS, WE HAVE:
ELLIOT LESPERANCE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND ANDRAE PECK.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER IS
JANE STORY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WHICH MEANS CAT KATARINA KENNEY
IS THE WINNER FOR THE 2024 BOLZ
YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOUR
OF OUR FINALISTS, ALONG WITH
MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN
AND THE MADISON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> A WARM AND HEARTFELT THANK
YOU TO OUR LOVELY AUDIENCE
TONIGHT, AS WELL AS ALL OF THOSE
WHO JOINED IN THE BROADCAST OR
IS WATCHING ONLINE.
FROM OVERTURE HALL IN MADISON,
I'M LORI SKELTON.
>> AND I'M CLINT WALZ.
GOODNIGHT.
>> GOOD NIGHT.
[APPLAUSE]
MAJOR FUNDING FOR "WISCONSIN
YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE FINAL
FORTE" WAS PROVIDED BY:
W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI.
DIANE BALLWEG.
BARBARA AND NORM BERVEN.
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND.
JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO.
ELIZABETH OLSON.
KATO PERLMAN.
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION.
TRUST POINT.
CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM.
DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE.
DOCTOR A. BEYER-MEARS.
JOAN JOHNSTON.
DONORS TO THE FOCUS FUND FOR THE
ARTS.
AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.