*
>> THEY SHARE A COMMON BOND,
YOUNG PERFORMERS DRIVEN BY
DESIRE, DEDICATION AND A PASSION
TO PURSUE THEIR DREAM.
MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN AND
THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
WELCOME THE FOUR FINALISTS TO
OVERTURE HALL: MONONA SUZUKI,
HOLLY VENKITASWARAN, GRACE KIM
AND ANTONIO WU.
IT'S YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE, "THE
FINAL FORTE."
MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
DIANE BALLWEG·
A. PAUL JONES CHARITABLE TRUST·
JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO·
STEPHEN MORTON·
FRED AND MARY MOHS·
JOE AND MARY ELLYN
SENSENBRENNER·
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND·
W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI·
KATO PERLMAN·
CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM·
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION·
NICK AND JUDITH TOPITZES·
MARC VITALE AND DARCY KIND·
FOCUS FUND FOR YOUNG PERFORMERS·
THE BOARD OF THE FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION
IN MEMORY OF ROGER HAUCK·
AND FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
HELLO.
AND WELCOME TO "THE FINAL
FORTE."
THE CULMINATION OF THE 2019 BOLZ
YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION.
I'M LORI SKELTON, HOST OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S
"AFTERNOON CLASSICS."
>> AND I'M ANGELA FITZGERALD,
HOST OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION'S "WISCONSIN LIFE."
2019 MARKS THE 13TH YEAR OF THIS
HISTORIC COLLABORATION AMONG THE
MSO, WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO AND
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION, A
PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO RECOGNIZE
THE TALENTS OF SOME OF
WISCONSIN'S BEST YOUNG
PERFORMERS.
>> TONIGHT, LIVE FROM MAJESTIC
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.
>> THE SECOND PLACE WINNER WILL
RECEIVE THE STEENBOCK MUSIC
AWARD, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A
$2,000 SCHOLARSHIP.
TWO HONORABLE MENTION
SCHOLARSHIPS OF $1,000 WILL BE
AWARDED AS WELL.
>> TONIGHT'S FINALISTS ARE FROM
A GROUP OF 36 STUDENTS.
THEY ARE MONONA SUZUKI OF
FITCHBURG, HOLLY VENKITASWARAN
OF LISBON, GRACE KIM OF WAUNAKEE
AND ANTONIO WU OF MADISON.
>> EACH WILL PERFORM HERE
TONIGHT ALONG WITH THE MSO UNDER
THE BATON OF MAESTRO JOHN
DEMAIN.
>> LET'S MEET OUR FIRST
FINALIST, MONONA SUZUKI.
>> MY NAME IS MONONA SUZUKI, AND
I'M A SOPHOMORE AT MADISON WEST
HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE VIOLIN
SINCE I WAS THREE.
>> EVERY DAY, THE VIOLIN HAS A
DIFFERENT SOUND, BECAUSE OF THE
HUMIDITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND
EVERYTHING.
SO EVERY DAY, I HAVE A DIFFERENT
FEELING TOWARDS THE VIOLIN.
AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THING
FOR ARTISTS.
>> I'VE BEEN TAKING LESSONS FROM
MR. EUGENE PURDUE FOR ABOUT
SEVEN YEARS NOW.
>> YOU WANT THE AUDIENCE TO MOVE
LIKE THAT WITH YOU THERE.
CAN YOU TRY THAT AT 18?
>> HE ALWAYS SAYS TO PLAY TO THE
ROOM.
SO IF YOU'RE IN A HALL, LIKE,
PLAY TO THE FULLEST THAT YOU
CAN.
AND HE'S ALSO TAUGHT ME A LOT
ABOUT SOLOING.
LIKE JUST UNDERSTAND THE
MUSIC WELL AND KNOW HOW IT
COMBINES WITH YOUR SOLO.
>> MOCK TRIAL IS...A MOCK TRIAL.
WE GET A CASE EVERY YEAR.
EACH PERSON'S, LIKE, A WITNESS
OR A LAWYER.
WE GET THE AFFIDAVITS OF OUR
CHARACTERS AND MAKE, LIKE, A
SCRIPT.
WE'RE JUDGED BASED ON, LIKE, HOW
WELL WE PRESENT IT.
>> AND THEN THE NEXT QUESTION
WAS LIKE, "THEN THE DOOR
OPENED."
>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE WE
REALLY HAVE TO GET OUR HEADS
TOGETHER AND THINK ABOUT A LOT
OF THINGS.
>> I'M PLAYING "TZIGANE" BY
MAURICE RAVEL.
IT'S A FRENCH PIECE THAT'S BASED
ON GYPSY MUSIC.
THE LAST PART, WHICH IS ALSO MY
FAVORITE PART, THERE'S A LOT OF
TEMPO CHANGES, WITH, LIKE,
STARTING REALLY SLOW, AND THEN
BUILDING UP, AND THEN SUDDENLY
PULLING BACK AND THEN, BUILDING
IT UP AGAIN.
*
>> MUSIC IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
PART OF MY LIFE.
THE MOMENT YOU STEP ONTO THE
STAGE, IT'S REALLY DIFFERENT
FROM JUST PRACTICING.
THE POWER THAT THE ORCHESTRA HAS
IS REALLY INSPIRING, AND I FEEL
A LOT OF ENERGY FROM THE
AUDIENCE THAT'S WATCHING.
SO, WHEN I GET TO STAND THERE
IT'S, LIKE, REALLY SPECIAL FOR
ME.
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW MONONA SUZUKI IS
TAKING THE STAGE, ALONG WITH
MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN.
MONONA WILL BE PERFORMING
TZIGANE BY MAURICE RAFEL, A
FRENCH COMPOSER OF THE EARLY
20TH CENTURY.
HIS NAME IS DERIVED FROM THE
EUROPEAN TERM FOR GYPSY,
ALTHOUGH IT DOES USE ANY
AUTHENTIC GYPSY MELODIES.
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 16-YEAR-OLD MONONA
SUZUKI, PERFORMING TZIGANE BY
MAURICE RAFEL.
MONONA IS THE FIRST OF FOUR
COMPETITORS IN THE FINAL ROUND
OF THE 2019 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST
COMPETITION.
>> 2019 MARKS THE 93rd YEAR OF
THE COMPETITION AND AS MENTIONED
EARLIER, THE 13TH YEAR THE
FINALS HAVE BEEN BROADCAST TO A
STATEWIDE AUDIENCE ON WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO, WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND MILWAUKEE PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
>> OUR NEXT COMPETITOR TONIGHT
IS FLAUTIST HOLLY VENKITASWARAN.
>> MY NAME IS HOLLY
VENKITASWARAN, AND I LIVE IN
LISBON, WISCONSIN.
I'M 18 YEARS OLD.
I TOLD MY MOM WHEN I WAS SIX
YEARS OLD THAT I WAS BORED IN
SCHOOL.
AND SO SHE SAID, "WELL, WHY
DON'T YOU TRY AN INSTRUMENT AND
YOU CAN CHALLENGE YOURSELF?"
AND I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TAKING
LESSONS, AND I HAVE NEVER
STOPPED SINCE.
*
>> I'VE BEEN PLAYING WITH THE
MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY FOR
SEVEN YEARS NOW.
WHEN I STARTED, I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYONE IN MYSO, BUT I'VE MADE A
LOT OF FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS.
I LIKE THAT MYSO IS VERY
SERIOUS, BUT YOU ALSO GET TO
HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH YOUR
FRIENDS, AND WE END UP LEARNING
A LOT IN THE PROCESS.
>> LET'S TRY IT FROM HERE.
>> I TAKE LESSONS WITH HIDEKO
AMANO.
SHE'S A PROFESSOR AT CARTHAGE
COLLEGE IN KENOSHA.
SHE'S VERY INTERACTIVE DURING
THE LESSONS.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT A LOT OF
TECHNICAL DETAILS, BUT ALSO
ABOUT MUSICALITY AND REACHING
OUT TO AN AUDIENCE AND
COMMUNICATING.
I WOULD SAY SHE IS DEMANDING,
BUT SHE IS ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE.
*
>> I'M PLAYING THE "CARMEN
FANTAISIE" FOR FLUTE AND
ORCHESTRA BY FRANÇOIS BORNE.
IT'S VERY ENERGETIC AND
EXCITING, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES
ME LOVE IT SO MUCH.
THE HARDEST PART FOR ME WAS
GETTING INTO THE CHARACTER OF
CARMEN.
SO THERE'S A SECTION OF THE
PIECE, IT'S CALLED THE HABANERA,
WHERE CARMEN SINGS.
AND, ESSENTIALLY, I HAVE TO SING
AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH I'M PLAYING
THE FLUTE.
*
>> AT PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, I
DO VARIOUS CHAMBER GROUPS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE I WAS
12.
WE COME IN A WEEK BEFORE THE
SERVICE.
WE'LL PLAY THE MUSIC AND
PRACTICE IT ONCE BEFORE GOING
AND PERFORMING IT AT A DIVINE
SERVICE.
I LIKE THAT I GET TO LEARN A LOT
OF NEW MUSIC FOR IT.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT IT,
THOUGH, WAS THAT I GET TO PLAY
THIS WONDERFUL MUSIC IN SERVICE
TO GOD.
>> WHEN I HAVE FREE TIME, I LIKE
TO READ A LOT, AND I ALSO PLAY
WITH MY COUSINS.
THEY ARE AGES FIVE AND SEVEN,
AND WE PLAY A LOT OF DIFFERENT
GAMES TOGETHER.
SOMETIMES WE'LL PLAY HIDE
AND SEEK OR DIFFERENT BOARD
GAMES AND CARD GAMES.
*
>> MUSIC HAS TAUGHT ME TO
EXPRESS MYSELF IN WAYS THAT I
NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
IT HAS TAUGHT ME THE BENEFITS OF
FOCUS AND PRACTICE, HOW TO
HANDLE DIFFERENT LIFE
EXPERIENCES AND HOW TO PUT THAT
INTO YOUR MUSIC.
IF YOU CAN'T EXPRESS SOMETHING
THROUGH WORDS, MUSIC CAN DO IT
FOR YOU.
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> HOLLY VENKITASWARAN IS COMING
ON ST STAGE NOW TO PERFORM BORNE'S
"CARMEN FANTAISIE."
HE WAS ALSO AN INNOVATOR, WHO
WAS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE
DESIGN OF THE FLUTE IN LATE 19TH
CENTURY FRANCE.
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 18-YEAR-OLD HOLLY
VENKITASWARAN PERFORMING THE
"CARMEN FANTAISIE" BY FRANCOIS
BORNE.
>> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE'D LIKE
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU WHO
IS JUDGING TONIGHT'S
COMPETITION.
KATHERINE YOUNG STEELE IS
PRINCIPLE OBOIST WITH THE
MILWAUKEEING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
AND SERVES ON THE FACULTY AT
UW-MILWAUKEE.
>> BERNARD ZINCK IS AN ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN AND CHAMBER
MUSIC DIRECTOR AT UW-MILWAUKEE.
>> MYUNG HEE CHUNG IS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
WHITEWATER.
>> AND BENJAMIN WHITCOMB IS A
PROFESSOR OF CELLO AND MUSIC
THEORY AT UW-WHITEWATER.
>> THE JUDGES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
MATURITY OF SOUND, MUSICALITY
AND STAGE PRESENCE.
>> COMING UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING
TO HEAR FROM OUR THIRD FINALIST,
CELLOIST GRACE KIM.
>> MY NAME IS GRACE KIM, AND I'M
A JUNIOR AT WAUNAKEE COMMUNITY
HIGH SCHOOL.
I STARTED CELLO IN FIFTH GRADE.
I PICKED THE CELLO BECAUSE IT
HAD A CERTAIN WARM, MELLOW SOUND
THAT I REALLY LIKED.
IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE HUMAN
VOICE, AND I THOUGHT THAT
CONNECTED WITH ME A LOT MORE.
>> IS IT A DIFFERENT EXPRESSION
NOW?
>> I TAKE CELLO LESSONS FROM URI
VARDI, WHO'S THE PROFESSOR FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MADISON.
I'VE TAKEN LESSONS WITH URI FOR
ALMOST TWO YEARS.
I LIKE HOW HE DOESN'T SUGAR COAT
DETAILS IN YOUR PLAYING, AND HE
REALLY TELLS YOU HOW TO FIX
PROBLEMS.
>> YOU SHOULD NOT SOUND EXACTLY
LIKE A BORED REPETITION.
*
>> I USE MIRRORS SO I CAN FIX
THINGS THAT I'M DOING WRONG, AND
LOOK FOR HOW TO DO THINGS
BETTER.
I LIKE TO BAKE AND DRAW WHENEVER
I GET THE TIME.
I GOT INTERESTED IN BAKING FROM
WATCHING "THE BRITISH BAKING
SHOW."
I THINK THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
THING I'VE BAKED IS PROBABLY·
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
THERE ARE A LOT.
I LIKE TO DRAW LOTS OF JUST
REALISTIC DRAWINGS.
WHENEVER I GET A REALLY BIG IDEA
IN MY HEAD, I JUST START TO DRAW
RIGHT AWAY.
THEY TURN OUT PRETTY GOOD.
I WILL BE PERFORMING THE FIRST
AND THIRD MOVEMENTS OF
SAINT-SAËNS FIRST CELLO
CONCERTO.
I LIKED IT BECAUSE OF ITS
POWERFUL PERSONALITY, RIGHT FROM
THE FIRST MEASURE, AND THE
DIFFERENT EMOTIONS THAT JUST
FLOW THROUGHOUT THE PIECE.
*
>> FOR ME, PERFORMING MUSIC IS A
WAY TO, LIKE, EXPRESS MYSELF.
IN, LIKE, DAY-TO-DAY LIFE, I'M
MORE, LIKE, INTROVERTED, I
GUESS.
WHEN I PERFORM, I FOCUS ON JUST
ENJOYING THE MUSIC.
AND I HOPE THAT THE AUDIENCE
ENJOYS IT AS MUCH AS I DO.
I*
>> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR,
17-YEAR-OLD GRACE KIM, IS NOW
COMING ON STAGE.
SHE'S CHOSEN TO PERFORM THE
FIRST AND THIRD MOVEMENTS OF
SAINT-SAENS CONCERTO NO. 1.
HE COMPOSED THIS CONCERTO IN
1872 WHEN HE WAS 37 YEARS OLD.
THE WORK WAS WRITTEN FOR A
BELGIAN CELLOIST.
NOTE *
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS GRACE KIM PERFORMING
THE FIRST AND THIRD MOVEMENTS OF
SAINT-SAENS CELLO CON TERRITORY
OWE NO. 1.
>> THE FALL YOUTH CONCERTO
COMPETITION IS OPEN TO AGES
EIGHT THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THE WINNER PERFORMS WITH THE
MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
>> NEXT WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE
YOU TO TONIGHT'S FINAL
COMPETITOR, PIANIST ANTONIO WU.
>> MY NAME IS ANTONIO WU, AND I
AM A SOPHOMORE AT JAMES MADISON
MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE BEEN TAKING PIANO LESSONS
WITH MY MOM FOR ALMOST 11 YEARS.
>> WHEN I WAS REALLY LITTLE, MY
OLDER SISTER BEGAN TAKING PIANO
LESSONS WITH HER.
AND THEN MY OTHER SISTER
FOLLOWED AFTER HER.
MY MOM WOULD ALWAYS HOLD ME IN
HER LAP WHILE SHE WAS TEACHING
THEM.
AND SO, FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, I
ALWAYS DREAMED OF PLAYING PIANO.
*
>> MY MOM IS A VERY DETAILED
TEACHER.
SHE DOESN'T LET ANYTHING SLIP
BY.
SHE'S JUST AROUND THE HOUSE, SO
SHE'LL HEAR SOMETHING AND SHE'LL
BE LIKE, "YOU NEED TO FIX THAT."
I'M NEVER OFF THE HOOK!
SHE ALWAYS HAS A VERY UNIQUE AND
CREATIVE IDEA FOR EVERY NUANCE
OF A PIECE.
>> I'VE PLAYED TENNIS, ON AND
OFF, SINCE ABOUT SECOND GRADE.
I JOINED THE TENNIS TEAM IN MY
FRESHMAN YEAR.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I CAN
DO TO GET SOME EXERCISE AND
SPEND SOME TIME WITH FRIENDS.
>> THIS YEAR, WE'RE AIMING FOR
30 VOLUNTEERS, WHICH IS A LOT, I
KNOW.
>> I AM A BOARD MEMBER OF
SPARTAN YOUTH SERVICE, WHICH IS
THE LARGEST VOLUNTEERING
ORGANIZATION AT OUR SCHOOL.
SO LAST YEAR, I WAS ONE OF THE
THREE ORGANIZERS FOR SPIRIT DAY.
WE HAD ABOUT 270 VOLUNTEERS GO
TO OVER 10 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS
THROUGHOUT THE MADISON DISTRICT
AND THEY HELPED OUT DURING THE
DAY.
>> I WANTED TO BECOME A BOARD
MEMBER BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING, AND IT HAS
ALSO HELPED ME A LOT IN LEARNING
HOW TO BE A LEADER.
IF I COULD GET FOUR TO SIX
VOLUNTEERS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
*
>> I WILL BE PERFORMING
RACHMANINOFF CONCERTO NO. 2, THE
THIRD MOVEMENT.
I LIKE THE THIRD MOVEMENT
BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A
REFLECTION ON THE FIRST TWO
MOVEMENTS, BUT IT ALSO TAKES ON
ITS OWN CHARACTER.
*
>> THE ORCHESTRA BUILDS UP TO
THIS REALLY CRASHING MOMENT AND
THEN IT SUDDENLY STOPS AND THEN
THE PIANO TAKES OVER IN A VERY
PASSIONATE, EMOTION-FILLED FEW
MEASURES.
*
>> IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR ME,
MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
I ENJOY THE FEELING RIGHT AFTER
A PERFORMANCE WHEN YOU KNOW
YOU'VE DONE WELL AND YOU HAVE NO
REGRETS ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE
PLAYED.
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN IS COMING
ON STAGE NOW WITH PIANIST
ANTONIO WU, WHO WILL PERFORM THE
3rd MOVEMENT OF RACHMANINOFF'S
CONCERTO NO. 2.
>> RACHMANINOFF WAS A RUSSIAN
COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND VIRTUOSO
PIANIST OF THE LATE ROMANTIC
PERIOD.
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS OUR FINAL CONTESTANT
FOR THE EVENING, 15-YEAR-OLD
ANTONIO WU FROM MADISON.
LET'S GIVE ALL OUR CONTESTANTS A
FINAL ROUND OF APRAWS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND WE HAVE SOMETHING TO
APPLAUD FOR YOU, MAESTRO.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS
MAESTRO DEMAIN'S 25TH SEASON AS
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT
SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS CONCERT IS THE WORK OF,
WELL, CERTAINLY THIS WEEK ALONE
SOME VERY INTENSE DAYS.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD
TAKE US THROUGH THE PREPARATION
PROCESS FOR THE ORCHESTRA AS
WELL AS FOR THE SOLOISTS GETTING
TO "THE FINAL FORTE."
>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE
SOLOISTS HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS
AND MONTHS ON THESE PIECES WITH
THEIR EXTRAORDINARY TEACHERS
WHICH REALLY LIFT THEM.
WHEN THEY PLAY IN THE SEMIFINAL,
WE REALLY HEAR THE LEVEL THAT
THEY ARE AND WHETHER WE THINK
THAT THEY'RE READY TO PLAY WITH
ORCHESTRA.
ONCE THIS WEEK STARTS, I TRY TO
GIVE THEM A PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE AS THOUGH IT WERE THE
SAME WAY AS ONE OF OUR MAJOR
ARTISTS COMING IN TO PLAY WITH
WITH ARKANSAS.
ON MON -- THE ORCHESTRA.
ON MONDAY I HEAR THEIR
INTERPRETATION.
IF WE HAVE ANYTHING TO DISCUSS,
WE DISCUSS IT.
THEN THEY PLAY WITH THE
ORCHESTRA.
WE GO THROUGH IT, WADE THROUGH
IT AND GO BACK AND REALLY WORK
ON IT.
AND I TOOK VIRTUALLY T TWO-THIRDS
OF THE REHEARSAL SO EACH ONE HAD
REALLY A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND THEN ON TUESDAY, WE DO A
DRESS REHEARSAL WITH YOU.
WE JUST GO THROUGH THE PIECE.
AND THEN AFTER -- WE DO A
TELEVISION DRESS REHEARSAL.
AFTER A BREAK WE COME OUT AND DO
ANY SPOTS, JUST LIKE I WOULD DO
WITH A NORMAL ARTIST.
AND THEN TONIGHT.
SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE HAVING A
REALLY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
OF WHAT IT LIKES TO PLAY WITH A
FULLY PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA AND
ONE AT THE LEVEL OF THE MADISON
SYMPHONY.
AS I'VE SAID, VERY NICE CASH
PRIZES TONIGHT.
THE THRILL OF PLAYING THESE
CONCERTOS WITH AN ORCHESTRA, THE
WINNERS WILL HAVE PLAYED FOUR
TIMES THIS WEEK.
THURSDAY MORNING IS THE SPRING
YOUTH CONCERT.
SO IT'S A LOT OF TIME WITH THE
ORCHESTRA, WHICH IS INVALUABLE
IN THEIR GROWTH AT THIS STAGE.
>> AND THE ORCHESTRA HAVING TO
LEARN FOUR DIFFERENT CONCERTOS.
PRETTY GOOD FOR THE ORCHESTRA, I
WOULD SAY.
>> ESPECIALLY COMING FROM LAST
WEEK'S SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT THE AUDIENCE
TO TAKE AWAY FROM "THE FINAL
FORTE"?
>> EL WELL, THE TELEVISION AUDIENCE
SEES INCREDIBLE VISUALS.
BUT I THINK ALSO PRACTICING PAYS
OFF.
YOU CAN TELL YOUR KIDS.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET TO PLAY
THIS WELL, IT'S A LOT OF FUN AS
WELL AS A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE
YOU GET REWARDED.
BUT WHAT WE ALL LEARN IS THAT TO
BE A VIRTUOSO, IT'S ALL ABOUT
STARTING YOUNG.
WHEN I WENT TO JULLIARD, BY THE
TIME YOU'RE 14, MY TEACHER SAID,
IT'S TOO LATE.
I WAS 18.
I WORKED PRETTY HARD.
BUT THESE KIDS, LOOK AT THE
LEVEL THAT THEY PLAY, YOU KNOW,
AT THIS AGE.
AMAZING.
>> THANK YOU, MAESTRO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW, WHAT WILL THE
ORCHESTRA BE PERFORMING TO CLOSE
OUT TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE?
>> WE WILL PERFORM THE WALTZ,
FROM TCHAIKOVSKY'S OPERA "EUGENE
ONEGIN."
>> THANK YOU, MAESTRO.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAESTRO
JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
[APPLAUSE]
*
[APPLAUSE]
>> JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH
TCHAIKOVSKY'S "WALTZ FROM EUGENE
ONEGIN."
AND NOW, THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL
BEEN WAITING FOR.
IF WE COULD ASK MAESTRO DEMAIN
AND OUR FOUR COMPETITORS TO JOIN
US BACK OUT HERE ON STAGE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BEFORE WE PRESENT THE AWARDS,
WE FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
IMMENSE TALENT OF OUR YOUNG
PERFORMERS.
THEY ARE ALL DESERVING OF
PERFORMING HERE TONIGHT WITH THE
MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
>> INDEED.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SO, STARTING WITH THE TWO
HONORABLE MENTIONS, WE HAVE:
HOLLY VENKITASWARAN AND MONONA
SUZUKI.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER FOR
TONIGHT IS ANTONIO WU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WHICH MEANS THAT GRACE KIM
HAS TAKEN THE FIRST PLACE AWARD
FOR
THE "2019 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.
>> AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
JOINING US THIS EVENING.
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 BY:
DIANE BALLWEG.
A. PAUL JONES CHARITABLE TRUST.
JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO.
STEPHEN MORTON.
FRED AND MARY MOHS.
JOE AND MARY ELLYN
SENSENBRENNER.
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND.
W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI.
KATO PERLMAN.
CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM.
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION.
NICK AND JUDITH TOPITZES.
MARC VITALE AND DARCY KIND.
FOCUS FUND FOR YOUNG PERFORMERS.
THE BOARD OF THE FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION
IN MEMORY OF ROGER HAUCK.
AND FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC