- My name is Lucy Wu.
I play the cello
and I am a junior at Whitefish Bay High School.
[applause]
- Announcer: And now Lucy Wu is taking the stage.
[orchestral music]
- This is my second time in the Final Forte.
The first time with an orchestra is very daunting.
But after a while, you realize
how everyone behind you is there to support you.
[orchestral music]
I've gotten to play with three more orchestras
since playing with the Madison Symphony:
the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra,
the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra,
and the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago.
My quartet at the Music Institute of Chicago's Academy
had a very successful year and won many national titles.
I love chamber music because it is all about working in a team.
- Good, good, good, good.
- I will be playing the third movement
of the Dvorák Cello Concerto.
This piece is definitely the most intense piece
I've ever played.
I've really enjoyed learning how to approach that.
- Stefan Kartman: Here we go, boom!
- I've been studying with Dr. Stefan Kartman
for over seven years, which is a long time.
I really enjoy studying with him.
I think he always has super inspiring ideas.
- Okay, you need to make us dream a little bit.
- Lucy: We go beyond playing the notes in tune
and with good tone.
We go into what kind of story you want to tell with this.
- I can tell that you have a big task ahead,
and that's exactly what you want at the beginning.
- Lucy: Although my parents aren't musicians,
we all love music.
My sister is a violinist. [sister laughing]
She's very good.
[sister talking]
- Oh, yeah, it's like, F C minus...
My mom is a math professor,
so I grew up under her instruction.
- What the interval is, right?
The interval is, in theory, AB. - Lucy: Oh, yeah, yeah.
It's definitely helped me with math at school.
I started working at Mathnasium last September.
Hi, Ruby.
And I really enjoy it.
Let's do two more, then.
I primarily work with elementary school kids.
And they are just the sweetest people ever.
It's also very rewarding to witness their growth.
Oh, that's perfect.
[cello and piano music]
I think music is all about storytelling.
The story with Dvorák third movement
is definitely a great narrative
of a hero's culmination of their journey.
I really enjoy playing it.
[ending note]
[applause]